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Fleas

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • I noticed that most of you seem to have your B's on flea medication. My Senji is 11 years old, and he's never been of flea meds. I just always assumed that basenjis didn't get fleas. Maybe he just has some strange body chemistry that keeps the fleas off. The same thing with mosquitos. I've literally seen a mosquito land on him for about a second and fly off. He was on Heartguard for most of his life. His previous vet used to test his blood and stool for heartworms, but always came back negative. Now that his new vet diagnosed his liver disease, he gets blood tests on a regular basis. (The previous vet, I found out, never tested him for anything other than heartworm!) I live in western PA and we get a fair amount of mosquitos in the summer. I think I've only ever seen him with one mosquito bite. He likes to walk through poison ivy too. Unfortunately, I'm always the one who suffers then! Dogs don't usually get poison ivy, do they?

  • To my knowledge, dogs don't get Posion Ivy…..

    As far as Fleas.... while we don't have a big problem here in No. California... I do need to use flea protection.. at times....

    To be on meds for heartworm is responsible... and I would never take a chance...

    Liver problems with Basenji is not uncommon... that to me is the biggest plus for blood work up at least once a year... especially with our old Basenjis... some as with the Kidney's starting to shut down... my 15 1/2 yr old has been Kidney failure (nothing to do with Fanconi, but just old age) for almost the last year.... we have kept her going to SUBQ fluids since we found this out... and while I would do no more then this, since she accepts the fluids well (we at this time give fluids 2 to 3x's a week...) we take each day as a bonus day until the time she is ready to cross the bridge....

    As far as flea meds.... if they don't have fleas... I would not worry about it.... of couse different then meds for heartworm... since that is a mosquitos born problem...

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    L
    @Zande Alright, thanks for the info. I will contact my Vet as well to educate me a little more on this stuff.
  • 0 Votes
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    tanzaT
    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

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
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    DebraDownSouthD
    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. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?A=545
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    nobarkusN
    @MacPack: We are in Florida and some years fleas are terrible in the summer. We use either Advantage or Frontline when we start to see a few fleas, and re-apply when we start to see fleas again, usually about every 6 weeks through the summer and fall. I have used it on an 18 year old with no problems. I feel that the problems fleas can cause outweigh the occasional use of a fairly benign chemical, and certainly keep the dogs more comfortable! If we lived where fleas were not a big problem, I would try some of the more natural remedies. Anne in Tampa You have an 18 year old? Wow how is he or she doing? I had a Tri color many years ago live to be 17-1/2.
  • Another tick/flea medicine question

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
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    Nexgard fan I personally do not like topical meds.