I would never take a chance with heart worm... I use NuHeart that is just for heart worm... small pill once a month... we do not have issues with heart worm in NoCal but I do not take a chance. I use it year round. In the area that there is frost/frozen for the winter you can use it just in the spring/summer/fall months.
For fleas/ticks I use frontline but only when I see fleas... again in NoCal not too much of an issue.. I need to use it maybe about twice a year and only when need or if I am traveling with the pups.
Flea Products
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What are some good flea products to use on older Basenjis? When I lived in Houston over 10 years ago, I had used Frontline and Advantix, two different times and both for only a few months as my dogs picked up fleas from staying at a kennel. I also used a cedar spray for their bedding and kennels. The dogs I used it on were young at the time. My dogs ages are 13, 12, 10, and 6.
I know there are now generic versions of some of the monthly flea products. Do these work just as well? What about natural flea sprays? There are so many products available in the catalogs, it gets confusing, especially not knowing what should be used on senior dogs!
Thanks,
Jennifer
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I no longer use any of those type products (Frontline burned the hair off my female).
Now I use Dr. Ackermans. It has citronella it and it really works - when my dogs caught a rabbit this spring that had fleas, as soon as I sprayed the fleas were gone. No problems with ticks and generally mosquitos and biting flies stay away as well. The only problem is that I have to spray them every day.
My breeder also recommends Adams spray (no citronella but I can't remember what it uses instead) and it lasts all summer -
I have used frontline and advantage for over 20 yrs without issue, but I do the spray on frontline, not the top spot. I have had maybe 10 fleas in 6 yrs at most so I rarely use anything most years. See a flea? I hit them with frontline. It has been 4 yrs but I just found a flea so I ordered a new bottle on line from amazon. I know many give monthly pills but I hate giving my dog internal meds for external issues. (Except capstar, which I do use if I pick up a rescue with fleas and give it an hour or 2 to do it's job before taking it into my house!)
As for natural, people swear by them, but study after study after study finds they do very little. Fleas carry disease. Some of the store brands are worthless, others report major issues. If they only got them at kennel, then you might luck out with one treatment but probably you need one now, one in a month, one in 2 mos and that should clear it.
Cedar is toxic and no longer recommended at all (though some put in center of bedding, cover with other material, which is probably safe). Frontline and Advantage are safe for older dogs, and they have proven low rates of any issues if used right. Additionally, they sterilze the fleas so they help stop the problem.
