flea/tick/heartworm while preggers?

[KingstonTodd]

What treatments are ok if a bitch is going to be bred. our last liiter was in the winter so it didnt come up. what do you use that is safe for pregnancy?

[Lucky Me]

I have no flea problems, stay away from the areas I know are ticky, but with heartworm, I don't give in the first part of gestation, but will in the latter part.
I just read somewhere that a vet slipped a told someone that a heartworm pill actually lasts 6 weeks. They say once a month for those who forget, so that the dog is covered.
I am now going to start stretching my HW prevention out more. I haven't had a problem remembering. I just hate loading them up with all kinds of chemicals....
I use Interceptor.

[Doodlesville]

Good for you Judi, all those chemicals are not good for any dog

I use natural flea repellants on my dogs, the link is on my page for the repellents,
i was dog about a week before they whelp with baby shampoo so all is off for pups arrival
there used to be a spot on called defend that was safe for nursing moms and pups over 4weeks
however i cant find it now i dunno what happen to that brand, no flea product is safe for nursing moms that i can find

[KingstonTodd]

From what a few websites say, Frontline is safe for pregnant moms, but is only flea/tick. Nothing for heartworm? Just wondering what the usual protocol is for summer pregnancies.

[Doodlesville]

frontline says on the package that not for pups under 12weeks,

[Lucky Me]

I asked my vet, (she breeds too), about the Interceptor for HW. She doesn't use it at all when her dogs are pregnant.
The company claims it's safe to use though, throughout the pregnancy.
I asked another breeder,and she told me not during the first half,but okay during the second part. So.....I just stretch it and give towards the end.
It just doesn't seem right to give during the developement period...

BTW.....I have said before that I use 2 different vet practices.
The one that I said pushes too many drugs and shots.....I had to use them about 2 weeks back when the mini-pin pup wore a hole in his leg & I discovered it on a Sat.
The one Tech at the counter was telling me how the drug Rep brought a bunch of Tequilla & drink mix and gave it to the practice to celebrate them being the top sellers in their region..... DRUG PUSHERS!!! did I call it!!
The other vet that saved Tuesday & is working on my pup (and is a breeder) is the who doesn't use HW meds during pregnancy. I felt better about using her after I heard that!

[Jac]

Well, Todd, this is a tough one. While I strongly believe that it is wrong to put too many chemicals into the bodies of our pets, especially when pups are involved, I also weigh the value of the treatment to the potential damage if the dog is not protected.

Here is an excellent list of various things that can and cannot be given to pregnant dogs: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm ... 03&aid=856

I have asked my vet, several in fact, and I have researched it...Heartworm preventative is said to be okay for pregnant dogs. The dillemma, of course, is if it kills worms, what can it do to developing pups as fetus?

This is something that we all have to address, in our own way and using our own best judgment.

I think that if you are giving regular Heartworm preventative to your female and she then mates, I would withhold the treatment for the first month of pregnancy. She will likely be protected and it won't cause a major disruption in her protection if it is eliminated for a while...but I still think it is important to protect her from not only heartworm but the other parasites that are controlled by this med.

True, you may be able to control the problem with natural products, and many breeders use them...while I believe that there are some good alternatives out there, I also know what it is like to have a litter of puppies get worm infestation.

I can't imagine if a female is pregnant AND she is battling heartworms! So, I do protect her by giving the preventative...just not in the first few weeks.
I have used Frontline on my pregnant girls...I don't want them to get fleas/ticks and bring them in to the pups...

I have never had a problem yet so, for me, it seems to be working.