Lungworm / Parasite control.

[lilac26]

Can anybody help me work out a worm / flea / tick / general parasite plan for my year old springer spaniel please? Or offer reassurance that the current regime is adequate.

I use a Seresto collar for her and so far have not noticed a single flea or tick causing. I worm her monthly with Milbemax (she is a bit of a filthy beast when out on walks and I don't want to take any chances with worms from the yucky stuff she carries around / eats at times.)

I keep reading about Lungworm - she eats grass, drinks muddy puddles etc so is, I imagine at risk of this? Any thoughts on what I could do to offer protection against lungworm, or is she already covered?

Going round and round in circles with this, help!

Advocate is what the ewok has instead

I get very confused about worming but my terrier has Advocate monthly and then a drontal or milbemax every 3/4 months . We've never had a problem with ticks but I have a tick remover tool incase .So far we have not had any problems and he's 3 now.

We use advocate too

I have been concerned about this after finding out I was horribly out of date on what is recommended as a good anti-parasite protocol, but after reading all the recent threads on the doghouse about it and having a chat with my vet I think I finally have it sussed:

Advocate monthly for worms and fleas (including lungworm, but excluding tapeworm)
Drontal every three months for tapeworm
Seresto collar for ticks

Thank you all for your replies. Glad to hear that the Seresto collar I have recently renewed may still have a place in it all!

How long does the Advocate linger on the coat after application - that is what put me off it originally. Bit worried about my dds getting it all over themselves.

I am off to work now, but will check back in the morning when I get in.

Thanks again.

I always put the advocate on last thing at night that way nobody touches him for several hours . You have to part the hair so that it goes on the skin IYSWIM

Gold standard
Seresto collar April to November
Advocate once every 4 weeks
Tapeworm treatment once every 6 months
Advocate is dry in 2 hours and is not known to pose a problem to children.

Thought I had finally cracked it with all the help from MN. Then I went to the vet to buy Advocate and they have told me not to use it with Seresto as that would give too much / unnecessary levels of flea treatment...

So, much as I can ask for what I want, they are the prescriber I am using at present so it is their decision. They have suggested using Advantix in addition to Advocate for the tick cover? Then tapeworm treatment six monthly.

Shall I trust them? Does this provide protection equivalent to Lonecat's regime or shall I discuss it with them some more?

Thank you all for the help you have already given, I really appreciate it.

I must say I'd asked my vet about adding a seresto collar to my regime and she had the same concern as your vet ( my dog is 12.5kg if that makes any difference) . Also my dog is clipped every 6 weeks and in water a lot so we thought that might be awkward with the collar . Do you actually have an issue with ticks . My dog is 3 and always rummaging around in long grass yet we've never picked up a tick yet ( touch wood) .

That's a good point, whether ticks are an issue. The thing is, I don't know. She has always had a Seresto collar. It may be that I need to decide which I am more worried about, lungworm or ticks.

Bayer advise both Seresto and Advantix are safe to use with Advocate (they make all three). Either combination is recommended in areas with lungworm and ticks.
There is greater profit for the vet in 8 months of advantix than in 8 months of Seresto.
This is why I will never be really rich. Plus Seresto does not have permethrin in it so is much safer if you have cats that like your dogs.

Oh yes if your dog is bathed a lot and swims a lot seresto is actually better than the others as it's effectiveness is not reduced whereas the others are. I have a swimming clipped ever 8 week dog so asked all these questions when it was launched.
I have to add I am the most cynical person about flea products and have to be really convinced to add a new product to my range and whilst the profit for me is less on seresto than some of the other the benefits of it for owners and pets had me sold.

lonecat That is very, very helpful. I had wondered about the profitability of Seresto versus Advantix.The cost to me is certainly different. I know that extra cost does not necessarily translate into higher profit. Except on this occasion it clearly does.

It's a shame, I wanted to believe that they are fully informed, up to date, and basing decisions on clinical reasons - clearly one of these qualities is lacking.

Oh dear, I'm going to have to assert myself aren't I .

Sorry to hijack your thread OP but lonecat do you leave the collar on for baths / swimming etc without the efficacy being reduced?

Yes floral you do very special novel technology.

Update - Just called the surgery and spoke to the VN I saw this morning. They are happy to prescribe the Seresto / Advocate combination after all. It was just a little tip from them this morning, of course they weren't saying I could not have it. They agreed that Bayer Licenses the products to be used together - they were just expressing concern about the double dose of anti flea stuff.

Lonecat, I have seen you on this board a lot and I trust your judgement, my surgery are an unknown quantity to me tbh.

I was keeping her regular swimming up my sleeve in case of further resistance but it never came to that.

Thank you for helping me understand and giving me the confidence to get back to them.

Always happy to help. I try to give unbiased information with no financial gain for me.
I did a huge amount of research at the back end of last year to get the right golden standard combination for my practices healthplan.

I shall get him a seresto collar tomorrow, thanks.

Thanks lone at from me too

Should be thanks LONECAT!