Dewormer, Heartworm, Flea/Tick Medications - What do you use/recommend?

[andersonjk4]

My female Vizsla will and does eat anything she comes across.  She eats grass like she is a grazer.  She has always done this and rarely ever throws it back up.  She always passes it.  Her poop looks more like horse terds than typical dog poo. 

Anyway, she has been having absolutely horrible gas (frequent and bad smelling) lately without any diet change, so I am going to start trying to figure out why.  One thing I read was that worms can cause stomach issues and bad gas.  This seems like an easy place to start.  We normally only get her wormed yearly at her yearly checkups, but I figure an extra dose won't hurt and will actually be good to get her on a de-wormer regimen.  I have two other bird dogs as well (2 GSP's), so I figure I will get them on a de-wormer regimen as well.

So, after that long winded rant.... what does everyone use and recommend as a de-wormer?  What is a good, economical, option? 

After RadSav brought up some good points (see below). I think this might be a good place to discuss dog maintenance in general. 

[RadSav]

Depends on the worms.  Hook and round are taken care of through your monthly Heartgard dosages.  And, if you keep up on Advantix, for fleas and ticks, you shouldn't get any additional tapes once cleared.  Dogs are not going to get tapes from eating garbage.  Those come from fleas.  Usually transferred from jacks, cats, rats, squirrel or raccoons in my experience.

I have never had much luck with killing tapes with over the counter meds.  Always take the pups to the vet (with fresh stool sample) if I think they have gotten tapes.  Every single time they contracted them was when I got cheap and lazy letting the Advantix lapse by 30 days or more.  Cat gets them all the time but OTC paste seems to work ok on cats.

[Houndhunter]

Strongid, order it off amazon super cheap

[andersonjk4]

I don't have my dogs on a regular heartworm medication.  I have seen all of the commercials on TV, but I have never had a vet or anyone bring it up as something I should be doing or recommend I do it?  Doing some quick research, it looks like heartworm (while found all over the U.S) is primarily found on the East coast,  the Southern and along the Mississippi River.  Basically coastal and/or humid locales. Is this something I should be doing?  What do you other "dry siders" do for heartworm and other worm protection? 

Same goes for flea/tick prevention.  I use a tick spray or generic Advantix type stuff during tick season, but I have never been to worried about fleas as it is so dry in our area that fleas have a hard time reproducing.  Other "dry siders" opinions? 

Maybe I should just change this into a full out dog maintenance thread....       

[Colin]

My understanding from my vet was heart worms are commonly contracted from moskitoes. My vet said west side no need to treat unless going to the east side in warmer months. This may be incorrect so don't take it as gospel.

I've used panacur, can't remember the medical name, for worms and giardia.

[JJD]

Only time my dogs DVM has ever recommended that my dog be pre treated for Heartworm was when we went to Louisiana to hunt ducks some years back.  I believe we treated 30 days before we left.  The DVM had a supply as his practice is a short distance away from an AFB.  People coming and going from all parts of the country with their dogs.

God only know why, but Fleas don't thrive here for some reason, never treated for them, never seen one on my dogs.  Ticks are another issue, 1 or 2 doses in late spring/early summer with Frontline does the trick.  I have not had reason to take a dog west of the Cascades since the early 90's

Talk to your DVM, they will know what dogs need in your area.

[jjaba]

I just got my lab on Bravacta(sp) for flea and tick.  it's a 3month pill that I got from my vet.  been working great.  it's about $55 per pill but one lasts 3 months vice monthly with fronline ect... one thing is i think the vet needs to do an exam before they will let you have it. but i'm going to put my pointer on it as soon as i can get an appointment.

[scottr]

I use Sentinel on my dog. You can order it from Petmeds or Foster & Smith.