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- I need your help to plan vaccination and treatment anti-fleas&ticks for Camilla
according to Camilla’s hematologist and her vet , after the episode of IMHA camilla is no longer vaccinated except for leptospirosis, no longer receives the annual injection of Guardian for heart worm – but she takes the tablets of cardotek – she use the pesticide collar (seresto) only in the months when there is a high risk of ticks and sandflies, vectors of leishmaniasis (which in Italy is about from April/May to November/december). Unfortunately we live in Tuscany where the climate is temperate, our home is in the countryside and the area is endemic for heartworm and leishmaniasis. natural pesticides like neem oil in the warm months are absolutely insufficient. camilla since she was born receives the vaccine of leptospirosis in April, this means that the vaccination and the onset of pesticide treatments often coincide but of course since she was sick I try not to do everything toghter at once but to distance a little bit the various treatments . Last year, I distanced vaccine lepto, from the beginning of cardotek and the flea collar about 15 days of each other. Do you think it would be appropriate a greater distance ? how many days? a month? to do for example in April: lepto vaccine; in May: to start seresto collar; in June: to start cardotek, could it be a good solution? do you think it could be useful to make an antibody titration to see if we can postpone the lepto vaccination for some time? what dr. Dodds says about this? thanks a lot <3
Camilla can NEVER EVER be vaccinated again for ANYTHING! EVER! She is not to have ONE SINGLE vaccination!!!!! As far as heart worm I know Dr. Dodds has a protocol about it but I do not give heart worm so it is not something I worried about. Someone else will know the answer to that. Also I use essential oils as mosquito repellent on the girls. For fleas and tick all the dogs use Seresto Collars. we have never had a flea or tick on any dogs with the collars. I am sure someone will get back to you about heart worm meds.
Eleonora, it’s so so hard. We want to keep our babies safe and to decide between one thing or another is not fair.
I would definitely do the titration. Hopefully you won’t need to do the injection. I chose not to do heartworm, but the vets here (Sydney) told me that because most people here DO use heartworm preventatives, neither my vet or the specialist had ever treated a case of heartworm, so despite what they advertise HERE, the risk of heartworm was very remote. I must admit though I was always very worried about Bingo not being medicated.
It’s different if you live somewhere where heartworm is a possibility. In that case DO use Dr Dodds protocol which is here:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/hemopetresources/
It’s the last article on that page.
I think if it were me, I would do a consult with Dr Dodds and get her opinion on the dangers of yes and no. She was in Italy not very long ago, so I’m sure she knows the reality of the situation there with diseases and she knows the immune diseases so well.
Vally
xxx
thanks girls. Unfortunately here in Italy, and especially where I live, the risk of heartworm disease and leishmaniasis are very high. many stray dogs that are rescued by volunteers are positive for leishmaniasis, for example. I live in the country and despite using specific products for the garden, in the summer there are lots of mosquitoes and sandflies. There are fallow fields near my house and ditches where leptospires can proliferate. Camilla is a golden retriever which means that I can not force her to a reclusive life in her garden or on a leash … if not every day, at least sometimes i have to free her in the fields, otherwise she goes into depression … and as veterinarians here argue that depression may not cause IMHA I’m not so convinced. seven months before Camilla got sick, my daughter was born and, in spite of all our efforts because this doesn’t happen, Camilla has suffered a lot from the birth of the child. that’s why I can not get out of my head that the strong psychological stress may have played a role in her illness. Vally, it ‘s possible to contact Dr. Dodds by her website, isn’t it? I could seriously consider the idea of an online consultation ….
thanks Vally for the link to the dr Dodds ‘s protocol on heartworm, I’ve read it. when she speaks of monthly treatment she refers to something equivalent to the italian cardotek (ivermectin)?
Eleanora as long as you understand the the lepto vaccine could cause her to get sicker. I would never risk my dog getting another vaccination knowing what I know now.
Camilla, Dr Dodd’s article suggests Dimmitrol (diethylcarbamazine) for heartworm for our dogs, but to use that you must be certain there are no circulating microfilariae, so a heartworm test would be required first. When dosing Dr Dodds suggest not doing monthly but doing every 45 days. The drug is tested to work for 45 days. The only reason they suggest monthly is because it’s easier to remember to dose monthly. So if you do the 45 days, make sure you write in on a calender. I used to do this years ago, and noted it on the calendar every 44 days to make sure I didn’t muck it up.
As paranoid as I am now, I would do the consult. I understand the dilemma. Amy is right in that there will always be a risk in using any product. I would definitely get Dr Dodd’s suggestion on it.
The link to the owners consultation is on this page. It’s the second box. Dr Dodds responds very quickly. Please let us know.
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/hemopetresources/
Vally
xxx
One of my dogs had IMHA last year after her routine vaccines except we added Lepto because we purchased property in the mountains. We nearly lost her and I really think it was from the Lepto (not rabies/DHPP). The vet techs even mentioned “it’s highly reactive” AFTER the injection. Didn’t bother explaining what highly reactive meant neither. My dog’s internist said no more vaccines ever.
I had been using the natural spray stuff, but this year the fleas were bad and it just wasn’t working. I finally had to put the topical K9 Advantix II on the dogs again after being off it over a year and a half (we stopped it when the IMHA happened). Needless to say, we’re keeping a close eye on her, checking the gums, etc. Last year after her 6 month follow-up from when all meds were stopped, the internist had said it was safe to resume the Advantix. Since she never had a reaction with it before the IMHA, there’s very low risk of any issues now (fingers crossed!).
Whatever plan you decide on, I wish you the best!
![bingo-14-5_1200x775](https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/wp-content/gallery/aiha-dogs_2/bingo-14-5_1200x775.jpg "Vally\'s Bingo \\"Smile\\"")
![Brigitte_Cleo_Ripley_Enzo_4](https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/wp-content/gallery/aiha-dogs_2/Brigitte_Cleo_Ripley_Enzo_4.jpg "Brigitte\'s Cleo, Ripley, Enzo and Guest \\"Rockin\\"")
