[nagdu] heartworm prevention

Sun Jan 5 17:31:46 UTC 2014

My theory is that it usually pays to be safe than sorry! I'd rather spend 
extra and give Holly protection she may not need than to skip and have 
something happen. I am not ignorant on parasitology or the antics of 
pharmacutical companies who claim you need everything. I wil not fret if 
sometimes holly misses one or two iether. But, as long as no adverse effects 
occur then by all means keep it up!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Daniel Sweeney" <daniel.sweeney1 at comcast.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 05, 2014 12:27 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] heartworm prevention


>I can understand what you are saying, and I believe most all of it. The 
>only
> problem I face is who to believe.
> When it comes to Climate change - I DO BELIEVE!
> When it comes to heartworm prevention - I am not so sure. One vet says 
> yes,
> one says no.
> My vet says don't believe everything you hear, there is a REAL 
> possibility.
> What do you do?
> I will go with my gut feeling on this one until I have definitive proof.
> With food, I believe in a natural diet, and denounce all of the suggested
> crap found in all of the so called premium brands.
> I truly wish there was a single source, well documented, time-tested and
> widely accepted which I could believe and trust.
> When I get a different opinion from every vet or so called expert, I only
> remain confused and have to go with that "male intuition".
> Daniel and Cass, Lakewood, Colorado
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie J.
>> Sent: Friday, January 03, 2014 1:12 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] heartworm prevention
>>
>> I find it interesting that the reason that everyone seems to be citing 
>> for
>> giving heartworm/flea and tick preventative is not taking the chance.
>> Giving heartworm preventative and flea and tick treatments is also a 
>> risk.
>> Vaccinations are a risk and so is just about everything else you put into
> or
>> on your dog.  I think it's important to be aware of the risks associated
>> with the medication too.  Then choose which seems to be the lesser risk 
>> to
>> you in your particular situation, the medication or the actual illness.
>>
>> I do not give heartworm preventative year around.  I also use natural bug
>> prevention strategies.
>>
>> Many years ago I went to college to study veterinary technology.   I'm
> sure
>> vet medicine has changed a lot since then, but I want one thing to be
> clear
>> to you all.  Dog food companies and pharmaceutical companies give free
> stuff
>> to vets so they will in turn promote the use of those products.  It's the
>> same in people medicine.  The pharmacy sales people give out free samples
> to
>> doctors who pass them along to their patients.  Then if the medication
> works
>> the patient gets a prescription from the pharmacy for the next months or
>> years.  The pharmaceutical companies more than make up for those free
>> samples.  The thing you may never find out is if there is a cheaper
>> medication available that might work just as well.  Generics help
> somewhat,
>> but the pharmaceutical industry is still making the big bucks.
>>
>> I don't think it's as bad in animal medicine, but it does definitely
> happen.
>> When I was in college all the information for our nutrition classes were
>> provided by Science Diet for free of course.  Science Diet also provided
> all
>> the dog and cat food for our kennel animals also for free.  I left vet
> tech
>> school thinking Science Diet was some awesome food.  After all that's 
>> what
>> the college told me and they must be right, right?  It wasn't until much
>> later and a lot of vet bills with my dogs that I researched dog food on 
>> my
>> own and uncovered some startling inconsistencies.
>>
>> I do listen to my vet, but I also do my own research and I ask a ton of
>> questions.  I've noticed when the vet realizes that I am very well
> informed
>> I get a more honest approach to the situation.  I think vets are often
>> responding to what people expect.  The norm is to vaccinate yearly so the
>> vet obliges even when he knows it isn't absolutely necessary.  My vet 
>> does
>> generally promote the use of heartworm treatment year around, but also is
>> honest in admitting that it is because it is easier for people to 
>> remember
>> what to do that way and not because dogs need heartworm treatment in
>> January
>> in Nebraska.
>>
>> Julie
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nagdu:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/daniel.sweeney1%40com
>> cast.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/lkeeler%40comcast.net