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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Fleaing/worming etc

32 replies

Mydogsnotfat · 21/01/2022 17:24

Hello,

Interested in other opinions really. I have 2 dogs and had another previously. All wormed regularly as puppies. As adult dogs I do faecal testing and worm as appropriate (so far no worming needed)but do worm periodically for lungworm. I don't ever flea them unless there are signs of fleas but so far never and eldest dog is coming 7. We also have 3 cats in the house who do not have fleas. Why the current seeming to me obsession with continual worming and fleaing for a problem that does not exsit? Surely it can't be good for the animals to ingest or have topically chemical they don't need. Does anyone else work like this or am I a strange or bad dog owner who should change their ways? BTW all up to date on jabs etc but on no kind of package from the vets which is where I think the trend may have arisen. I'd appreciate others views though.

OP posts:
BiteyShark · 21/01/2022 17:51

Each to their own. I think some people on here do the same as you so no I don't think you are unusual.

Having moved into a house with a flea infestation from previous owners which took a professional company to spray everything to fix it I won't risk going through that. Mine gets a monthly table which also covers lung worm and ticks. I live in a high lymes disease area and have multiple ticks on my dog around his eyes after every walk at the peak of tick season so no way to pull them off so prefer to use treatment which kills them.

BiteyShark · 21/01/2022 17:51

Table = tablet

RunningFromInsanity · 21/01/2022 17:51

In the last 5 years I have wormed and flead my dog once.

AwkwardPaws27 · 21/01/2022 17:54

Regular flea and warm treatment existed well before health care plans. I don't have one - I just buy a years supply of Advantage online for the cats & Advocate from vets for dog - but I do treat monthly.

However I'm on the outskirts of London, have v regular fox visits and there is a high concentration of people and pets. Lungworm isn't uncommon, one of my cats hunts, & fleas are definitely about. Flea infestations are a bloody nightmare (once moved in to a property that was infested, was awful) so I'd rather not have one, & therefore treat monthly. I also Indorex the house once a year (it kills dustmites too which helps DHs asthma).

If you live in a more rural area and have v infrequent contact with other animals, it might not be as essential. My nan lived rurally and didn't have an issue, whereas as a kid I can remember my mum struggling to find an effective flea treatment for our cats when the resistance to certain treatments started becoming a real issue.

PollyRoulllson · 21/01/2022 18:01

Totally agree with you OP.

I do worm counts for all worms including lung worm. Only one dog in 35 years has ever had worms.

I groom my dogs daily and check for fleas etc.

I do treat for ticks as that is a real issue in our area.

The damage to the enviroment and dogs health by needless worming concerns me. Also the resistance to the treatments is meaning the drugs are needing to be stronger and stronger.

BVA have recently bought out a report saying vets need to consider the impact of overtreating animals but as usual did leave it pretty vague on what should be the alternative. vet time article on need to shift approach to parasiticide use

I absolutely will treat worms if my dogs get them but to treat when there is no need is folly expensive and damaging on a large scale.

doggydaft · 21/01/2022 18:01

I use a treatment for ticks in the spring/summer as without it daft dog gets loads of the horrible things, we often walk in fields with lots of long grass.
I've never wormed or flea treated any dog I've had past puppyhood and I've never had a dog with either.
Maybe we've been lucky?

PollyRoulllson · 21/01/2022 18:04

I think people are under the impression that the worm treaments prevent worms. It doesnt it treats the worm infestation if the dogs have worms.

Only a few tick treatments prevent the tick attaching to the dog and then the tick is killed after 24 hours so on many dogs it is easier and safer to remove the tick when seen if checked daily. Tools make it very easy to remove from all parts of the dogs body eyelids etc included.

It is assumed that a tick can not pass lyme disease to its host with the first 24 hours so a tick remover is as safe as the tick treament in many cases.

Chuechebache · 21/01/2022 18:22

I worm/flea treat not every month.I dont think,there is a need.But if I go to a particular "tick area" like Devon and Somerset,I def Advocate them before.

BiteyShark · 21/01/2022 18:24

Tools make it very easy to remove from all parts of the dogs body eyelids etc included.

I'm sure there are if you have a dog that doesn't freak out given all the manhandling he has had from being in and out of the vets. Much easier for all of us to let the treatment kill them so they just fall off Grin

AnotherFuckingUsername · 21/01/2022 18:33

Live in an area where ticks are common (seen a few this month already). Dog freaks out when she sees the tick tool (memory of unsuccessful extraction on get webbing) so keep her up to date with tick/flea (one tablet every 3 months) treatment. Aware the tick/flea may still bite but an additional line of defence (on top of others). I worm her regularly but not as fastidious about it as feel it's less of a risk.

Original poster
Mydogsnotfat · 21/01/2022 18:52

Interesting to see I'm not alone. We do the same with the horse as well. Do check for ticks daily, he has worn a tick collar but not always. Happy healthy dogs as far as I can tell.

OP posts:
PollyRoulllson · 21/01/2022 18:57

Much easier for all of us to let the treatment kill them so they just fall off I do understand that for some dogs it is hard to desensitize to some things and there will be a need for medication in some cases however many dogs will be happy to have ticks removed if tick tools are introduced correctly to the dogs.

However the overall reliance on drug treatment when it is not always the only option , is causing major issues environmentally and also making the parasites drug resistant.

It may not be a much easier option soon unless steps are taken to look for alternative methods as BVA agree a shift is needed now to change how we deal with parasites.

XiCi · 21/01/2022 19:29

I'm amazed you have never had fleas with untreated cats in the house tbh. I missed a month of flea treatment and my pup got fleas, they were a fecking nightmare to eradicate from the house so there's no way I'm going to miss another treatment

AnotherFuckingUsername · 21/01/2022 19:45

It's not only about introducing tools, though @PollyRoulllson, also need to consider the frequency they're likely to be used.

A couple of ticks a week is one thing, 10 ticks a walk x 3 walks daily is another (no exaggeration on this front - last summer seemed to be dreadful for them and it's when I upped the ante).

My greyhound has a scream of death if I don't butter her toast the correct way, let alone show her something she doesn't like!

Glasgow Uni are coordinating a study and the ticks identified this year so far is eeeeek.

Fleaing/worming etc
PollyRoulllson · 21/01/2022 20:00

I agree we have counted 35 ticks after one walk between 6 dogs.

However even with tick treatment many of those would attach and then drop off in your house within the next 24 hours.

Personally I would much prefer to get them off before the dogs entered the house so a quick roll over with a lint roller after a walk and that will stop the ticks attaching at all. Very easy to do and with a short haired dog like a greyhound it will be highly effective.

I am not saying everyone should stop parasite treatment - far from it - those who can should look at other ways of lessening the impact of medication.

Use tick treatment if that is the only way for you but think if you really need to treat for parasites that your dog has not got eg worms.

Tthe same situation is the same as with anti biotic over use .....use the medication but only when needed.

PollyRoulllson · 21/01/2022 20:04

I do disagree however that the frequency of using a tool affects how a dog feels about it.

Some of my dogs (wcs and lab) would love to have 10 ticks removed after each walk as the treat they get each time would be amazing, or the collies that get their favourite ball as a reward when the tick is removed.

Maybe my dogs are actually seeking out the ticks to get the reward.....

AnotherFuckingUsername · 21/01/2022 20:16

Hopefully we can agree that it depends on the dog - once in a wee while, doubt my dog would mind. Often, not a chance - her tolerance isn't there. She's a rescue and suspect she spend a lot of her racing life being poked and prodded. I respect her and not pushing that on her. I'm glad that your dog, and countless others, are happy with tick removal. Mine isn't. I respect that.

She gets skooshed with conditioner before walks to make it difficult for them to cling, brush when we come back. Unfortunately, we mainly find them in her toes, but thankfully rarely with Bravecto.

It's a huge problem and understand concerns re over medication - my field of work is antimicrobial stewardship.

PollyRoulllson · 21/01/2022 20:37

AnotherFuckingUsername we are on the same page. Consent in dogs is my mission and I spend my life educating owners on this.

It is good to have the discussion and good for individuals to think abour impact, risk and all the options open to them re parasites and medication.

CovoidOfAllHumanity · 21/01/2022 21:02

Every days a school day on Mumsnet
I honestly thought that you basically had to get the monthly flea and worm treatment to be regarded as a good pet owner
I thought it was another one of those things that people never did back in the day but was considered basic and necessary now.
Obviously have bought the Kool Aid
I just assumed that what the vet tells me is gospel.

cherrypie66 · 21/01/2022 21:17

We flea every Month and worm every 3 months. The month we were a week late with treatment our dog was covered In fleas and taught me a lesson to never be late again. All the people saying they don't treat I don't understand how you arnt infested i really don't do your animals not go outside

TurquoiseBaubles · 21/01/2022 21:23

I flea and worm because I walk with other dog owners, and we walk dogs off lead so they meet more dogs. I also walk on beaches and in parks and although I obviously pick up after him, there may be traces left and the consequence to children can be appalling. In a way I view it in the same way as I viewed vaccinating my children. Mine might not need it, but if most owners do it most of the time, then the population (dog and human) is generally protected.

The treatment I use is a non-distressing tablet and also covers tics (a massive problem where I live) and roundworm - also a problem.

However I no longer worry about kennel cough as (a) he doesn't ever go to kennels and (b) the nasal treatment really upsets him.

TurquoiseBaubles · 21/01/2022 21:26

There is also a significant problem with Lyme disease where I am, which means keeping on top of ticks as much as possible, again for the sake of both dogs and humans.

TurquoiseBaubles · 21/01/2022 21:29

Sorry my post should refer to lungworm not roundworm! Very common here.

XiCi · 21/01/2022 21:30

@cherrypie66

We flea every Month and worm every 3 months. The month we were a week late with treatment our dog was covered In fleas and taught me a lesson to never be late again. All the people saying they don't treat I don't understand how you arnt infested i really don't do your animals not go outside
Same. I was only about a week late and he was covered in them. Never again.
Whyisitsodifficult · 21/01/2022 21:41

@PollyRoulllson

Totally agree with you OP.

I do worm counts for all worms including lung worm. Only one dog in 35 years has ever had worms.

I groom my dogs daily and check for fleas etc.

I do treat for ticks as that is a real issue in our area.

The damage to the enviroment and dogs health by needless worming concerns me. Also the resistance to the treatments is meaning the drugs are needing to be stronger and stronger.

BVA have recently bought out a report saying vets need to consider the impact of overtreating animals but as usual did leave it pretty vague on what should be the alternative. vet time article on need to shift approach to parasiticide use

I absolutely will treat worms if my dogs get them but to treat when there is no need is folly expensive and damaging on a large scale.

Can you explain what you mean by ‘worm count’? I don’t really agree with medicating my dog every month for a just in case reason but obviously want to keep her healthy.