Yearly boosters

[nycbullymama]

In order for a mosquito to transmit heartworm, it has to be above 70°F for two weeks consecutive day and night. This rarely happens in the Northeast.

That's not uncommon for NYC in the summer.

 

[2BullyMama]

That's not uncommon for NYC in the summer.

I was thinking same for here near Philly.... heck we have been in a heat-wave 4 or 5 times, where night temps did not go out of the 80's

 

[mb190e]

I'm not disputing that it can happen once or twice a summer. I'm not medicating my dogs for 12 months a year, for a chance once or twice a summer that it may get above 70° for two straight weeks and my dog happens to get bit by mosquitoe. In the last 14 days New York City had five days at night that dropped below 70. I would say that the past two weeks has been pretty warm in the Northeast.

 

[Roseann]

I don't know what to think about the vaccination truthfully. If I was late getting them I felt like a terrible mom. Now I'm considering not giving them?? As far as heart worms go, I will only give to Clyde Henry and Macon during danger months. Rootbeer contracted heart worms before he was mine and he gets it year round. I have been stretching the flea and tick as to not go overboard with the chemicals. I'm going to talk to the vet about it tomorrow but I'm guessing I know her thoughts on it. Lol.

 

[nycbullymama]

Temps. Have stayed at around 70 where I am. 67,68,69 etc is all close enough. It's not like once it hits 68 the mosquitoes carrying heartworm automatically die off.
Also not all of nyc has been below 70 these last few weeks. Temps are going to vary by a few degrees depending on where you are.
If you don't feel it's necessary to give your dog heartworm meds, great, don't. To each their own.

 

[aprilemari]

Skeeeeeeeteeerrrrrsssss!

sent from my droid mini

 

[1Chumly]

This was on Dr. Becker's page and it explains how a dog can be infected.

How Heartworm Disease Happens

Heartworms are a variety of roundworm with the clinical name dirofilaria immitis. They are spread by mosquitoes.

Dogs can only get heartworm disease through infected mosquitoes. They can't get it from other dogs or other types of animals, from dog feces, or from their mothers while in the womb or through nursing.

Only certain mosquitoes can transmit heartworm to your dog. These mosquitoes must meet certain precise criteria, including:

They must be female.
They must be of a species that allows development of the worms in the cells of the body (not all species do).
They must be of a species that feeds on mammals (not all do).
They must have bitten an animal infected with stage 1 (L1) heartworms about two weeks prior, since approximately 14 days are necessary for the larvae from the other animal to develop to stage 3 (L3) inside the transmitting mosquito.
This mosquito must then bite your dog. When the larvae reach stage L4-L5, which takes three to four months, under
the right conditions they can travel via your dog's bloodstream to the lungs and heart.

If your dog's immune system doesn't destroy these invaders, they will reach maturity (L6), the adult stage, in which males can grow to six inches in length and females to 12.

Two other critically important features in the transmission of heartworm are:

The right temperature. During the time the heartworm larvae are developing from L1 to L3 inside an infected mosquito, which is approximately a two-week period, the temperature must not dip below 57°F at any point in time. If it does, the maturation cycle is halted. According to Washington State University heartworm report from 2006, full development of the larvae requires "the equivalent of a steady 24-hour daily temperature in excess of 64°F (18°C) for approximately one month."
Humidity and standing water. Mosquitoes are a rarity in dry climates.
As you can see, in order for your dog to develop heartworm disease, a number of things have to happen with near-perfect timing under a precise set of circumstances.

Information on how many cases of canine heartworm disease occur each year in the U.S. is scarce. The AHS provides a heartworm incidence map for the years 2001, 2004 and 2007 which you might find helpful. Keep in mind it is a very general guideline and shouldn't be viewed as the only decision-making tool at your disposal.

 

[Texas Carol]

[MENTION=13737]1Chumly[/MENTION]...sincere thank you for
researching & sharing this important information.
I use Dr. Karen Becker advice a lot, very trustworthy
and uses both, conventional & holistic methods to heal.

It is very controversial and new advice still coming out.
Best to be up to date on these new guidelines, understand
your environmental conditions and personal issues then
act according to personal beliefs & income.

I believe in providing the best nutrition & care, for myself &
my animals to give a strong defense against illness, etc, in
my belief that healthy systems are designed by nature to do
battle against disease, pests, etc, restoring health & balance.
If not, then medicines are useful. The idea of using TOXINS
on a continuing basis that may or may not work to PREVENT
an event from happening...just NOPE. I'll deal with an actual
problem, if & when it might occur. I follow this philosophy with
my own health too. I do not get flu shots, etc & research very
carefully, any prescriptions the Doctors advocate for me. My
experiences of dx'ed with incurable atoimmune diseases then
diabetes (mine is adult autoimmune & difficult to control) then
Fibro in my mid 40's and dealing with medical convention was
eye opening, unpleasant, expensive, scary & frustrating. This
is not an indictment of the many wonderful professionals that
care deeply and do a fabulous job, it's about the SYSTEM being
deeply flawed & insurance companies running everything. I was
put on too many drugs with terrible & damaging side effects,
expected to just do it, endure it, shut up & suffer silently. Not
for me! So...I don't want any of my beloved companions on any
thing toxic unless absolutely needed and then, as short a time as
possible.

I send love, support & compassion to every member & their beloveds
along with my prayers. We all do the best we are able and then give
God the rest of the burden, life is stressful in every way and y'all...

STRESS KILLS! Today is the exact day, my beloved, wonderful, young
husband died 3 years ago, at just turned 52 and on the ER room floor.
Gone in the blink of an eye, no time to even turn to me and say goodbye.
Stuart was a worrier & internalized everything, he also trusted his doctors
who ultimately failed him in various ways. One more thing, all the earthly
things he worked himself to death to give me & his son, he didn't get to
take with him, not ONE thing! Things can never replace people, no comfort
or love to give & lose all value in grieving aftermath. We lived large but I'd
live in sackcloth & a box if given a choice to have wealth or Stuart beside
me in life again. My heart is still & forever will be, broken, the world has lost
it's joy, excitement, security & contentment I once felt, broken, I struggle
every day. Please, find a way to live fully & gratefully EACH DAY, taking
nothing for granted, express often, LOVE & thankfulness to your loved ones,
do not stress over life, live in the moment, be content, be happy, be loved,
it IS a choice.

May God bless y'all...I give thanks to be part of this wonderful group, my many
friends here, my Cami who provides unconditional love, comfort & laughs & my
son, all of these are my treasures on Earth and nothing more.

 

[1Chumly]

Everything you say is true, Bless you Carol.

 

[2BullyMama]

[MENTION=13737]1Chumly[/MENTION]...sincere thank you for
researching & sharing this important information.
I use Dr. Karen Becker advice a lot, very trustworthy
and uses both, conventional & holistic methods to heal.

It is very controversial and new advice still coming out.
Best to be up to date on these new guidelines, understand
your environmental conditions and personal issues then
act according to personal beliefs & income.

I believe in providing the best nutrition & care, for myself &
my animals to give a strong defense against illness, etc, in
my belief that healthy systems are designed by nature to do
battle against disease, pests, etc, restoring health & balance.
If not, then medicines are useful. The idea of using TOXINS
on a continuing basis that may or may not work to PREVENT
an event from happening...just NOPE. I'll deal with an actual
problem, if & when it might occur. I follow this philosophy with
my own health too. I do not get flu shots, etc & research very
carefully, any prescriptions the Doctors advocate for me. My
experiences of dx'ed with incurable atoimmune diseases then
diabetes (mine is adult autoimmune & difficult to control) then
Fibro in my mid 40's and dealing with medical convention was
eye opening, unpleasant, expensive, scary & frustrating. This
is not an indictment of the many wonderful professionals that
care deeply and do a fabulous job, it's about the SYSTEM being
deeply flawed & insurance companies running everything. I was
put on too many drugs with terrible & damaging side effects,
expected to just do it, endure it, shut up & suffer silently. Not
for me! So...I don't want any of my beloved companions on any
thing toxic unless absolutely needed and then, as short a time as
possible.

I send love, support & compassion to every member & their beloveds
along with my prayers. We all do the best we are able and then give
God the rest of the burden, life is stressful in every way and y'all...

STRESS KILLS! Today is the exact day, my beloved, wonderful, young
husband died 3 years ago, at just turned 52 and on the ER room floor.
Gone in the blink of an eye, no time to even turn to me and say goodbye.
Stuart was a worrier & internalized everything, he also trusted his doctors
who ultimately failed him in various ways. One more thing, all the earthly
things he worked himself to death to give me & his son, he didn't get to
take with him, not ONE thing! Things can never replace people, no comfort
or love to give & lose all value in grieving aftermath. We lived large but I'd
live in sackcloth & a box if given a choice to have wealth or Stuart beside
me in life again. My heart is still & forever will be, broken, the world has lost
it's joy, excitement, security & contentment I once felt, broken, I struggle
every day. Please, find a way to live fully & gratefully EACH DAY, taking
nothing for granted, express often, LOVE & thankfulness to your loved ones,
do not stress over life, live in the moment, be content, be happy, be loved,
it IS a choice.

May God bless y'all...I give thanks to be part of this wonderful group, my many
friends here, my Cami who provides unconditional love, comfort & laughs & my
son, all of these are my treasures on Earth and nothing more.

Bless you Carol.... You are one very strong and smart woman!! Love to you