Hi All
I have a new puppy! Lucky me! A Bracco. He's divine. Anyway, my first dilemma is on the subject of worming/flea control!
The breeder used Advocate, of which she gave me one sample to use on him. But what to do after that?
Personally, I don't like using a sledge hammer to crack a nut - and the less pharmaceutical drugs I can pump into my dog the better as far as I'm concerned! I'd go 'natural' if I could. But I won't. I recognise the importance of worming - especially for lung worm.
Any view points here, bearing in mind my feelings on 'not too many drugs' would be really appreciated!
I feel like a new mummy at the moment...!

Probably already know this but garlic is good, we use it on our dogs and for flies on our horses

There is a natural remedy called four seasons. My mother in law's GSD breeder uses it and has never had worms. I also have bought it recently

Hi

congrats on your new pup ... a lovely breed.

I worm my dogs every three months and use either drontal or panacur. IMO this is vital for both canine and human health.

For fleas I use frontline (advantix if I know I am travelling to a tick hot spot as this is better at repelling ticks IME) I use it monthly in mild weather but stop using it when it gets cold (main winter months - dec/jan/feb) Treating dogs for fleas is not a big job but ensuring the house etc is free of "pets" if your dog is infested is a nightmare, very strong chemicals need to be used so for me regular frontline is the lesser of two evils. Personally I wouldn't depend on garlic / herbal mixes to prevent fleas. JMHO.

K

Advocate is the only product to use if you are concerned about lungworm. Milbemax has a mild effect, but advicate is the treatment of choice.

> Advocate is the only product to use if you are concerned about lungworm. Milbemax has a mild effect, but advicate is the treatment of choice.

Yep i use this too its the best  jmho

garlic and brewers yeast are good to protect against fleas and I use 4 seasons wormer which is a natural wormer, and garlic helps protect agains some worms too.

Neem products to wash your dogs are also excellent, I get mine from www.neemgenie.co.uk

 

My dog has been on monthly Advocate treatments since I got her.  So far - no problems, no worms, no fleas!

Hi Susie and conrgats on your puppy, Bracco's are a lovely breed.

Our dogs are on Advocate monthly(due to where i live) and then Drontal Plus every 6 months.

My pup has now taken to it and no side effects on any of our dogs as it stands now.

My dog has been on monthly Advocate treatments since I got her.

I think monthly for something so strong is far too much, if you are going to use chemicals maybe cut it down to 3 monthly, I think, but not sure that it does advise every 3 months?  I might be wrong but I would definitley check it out.

>not sure that it does advise every 3 months?

Advocate is supposed to be applied every 4 weeks for flea treatment and prevention.

It's also one of the products which needs careful use with collie-types and their crosses.

> I think monthly for something so strong is far too much, if you are going to use chemicals maybe cut it down to 3 monthly

That is what I thought when Zuma had lungworm - very mild as I caught it early - and was prescribed Advocate but after 6-7 weeks he had the same cough for two days so he had to be done again. I now do him at 5-6 weeks, would not risk leaving it longer while its mild and damp, maybe over the winter I will leave a longer gap, depends a bit on snail/slug population and the weather.
Chris

> Advocate is the only product to use if you are concerned about lungworm. Milbemax has a mild effect, but advicate is the treatment of choice.

As I understood it Panacur at a higher dosage given monthly is the treatment for lungworm, it was a few years ago when one of the pups I bred had it, one of the first cases I had heard of.

Thank you all so much for your advice and comments. Very much appreciated. I'll take everything on board.
I'm new to the site and its a great comfort to know that such a forum as this exists. It will make Gabriel & me feel part of the wider doggie community.
thanks again. susie