Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 22, 2008 10:37:02 GMT -5
Well I have been in knots trying to figure out what to do about heartworm preventatives. The ferrets used to go outside EVERY DAY for 1 hour in the spring. When summer (and mosquito season) hit, I kept them inside for fear of them catching heartworm.
I dont use harsh chemical preventatives on my ferrets or cat for fleas/ticks/mites, I use natural preventatives (see the sticky in this section) and that combined with a good diet keeps THOSE pests at bay. But heartworm worried me. Its pretty much deadly to a ferret (not so much to a dog). I was debating putting the kids on a preventative so that they'd be able to go outside and be safe. But with the recent passing of Chaos due (most likely) to promectin, I worried even more about putting chemicals on/in my kids. I came to a "compromise" because the kids are starting to hate me for keeping them cooped up:
Sams and De (who are 6 and 8 years old) WILL NOT be put on any preventatives. I still plan on taking them outside, but I plan to use a natural mosquite repellent on them. I've thought long and hard about this, and I dont want to expose them to chemicals. I realize that not having them on a preventative puts them at risk for getting heartworm, but at their old age I feel that even if (god forbid) they got heartworm, it would still be worth it taking them outside. They need to feel the grass under their feet in their "goldon years' and they certainly dont need their sick bodies pumped full of chemcical preventatives.
I've made this choice after ALOT of thought. I weighed the risks/benefits of my choice, and you should do the same when deciding whether or not to use preventatives on your pet. I fully understand that Sams and De COULD get heartworm (which mostly likely would kill them) but I that is a risk I am willing to take. It (to me) is less of a risk then the ferrets getting ill from having chemicals in their (already ill) bodies.
As for Fugue and Mizu (who are both under 1 year old) I feel that it would be best to put them on a preventative. I dont want to do it, but the boys want outside, and since they are so young, I dont want to risk letting them get heartworm (its not like they've lived long, full lives like Sams and De). I plan to talk to the vet about using Ivermectin, but I still have some reading to do to make sure everything goes smoothly and safely with that.
Hopefully the kids will "perk up" from being able to go outside. I am hoping all goes well and that they enjoy their time outdoors.
Oh, and Zephyr will NOT be put on a heartworm preventative. Likes Sams and De she will get a natural mosquito repellent sprayed on her before we go out.
I wish everyone luck when it comes to deciding whether or not to use heartworm preventatives.
I dont use harsh chemical preventatives on my ferrets or cat for fleas/ticks/mites, I use natural preventatives (see the sticky in this section) and that combined with a good diet keeps THOSE pests at bay. But heartworm worried me. Its pretty much deadly to a ferret (not so much to a dog). I was debating putting the kids on a preventative so that they'd be able to go outside and be safe. But with the recent passing of Chaos due (most likely) to promectin, I worried even more about putting chemicals on/in my kids. I came to a "compromise" because the kids are starting to hate me for keeping them cooped up:
Sams and De (who are 6 and 8 years old) WILL NOT be put on any preventatives. I still plan on taking them outside, but I plan to use a natural mosquite repellent on them. I've thought long and hard about this, and I dont want to expose them to chemicals. I realize that not having them on a preventative puts them at risk for getting heartworm, but at their old age I feel that even if (god forbid) they got heartworm, it would still be worth it taking them outside. They need to feel the grass under their feet in their "goldon years' and they certainly dont need their sick bodies pumped full of chemcical preventatives.
I've made this choice after ALOT of thought. I weighed the risks/benefits of my choice, and you should do the same when deciding whether or not to use preventatives on your pet. I fully understand that Sams and De COULD get heartworm (which mostly likely would kill them) but I that is a risk I am willing to take. It (to me) is less of a risk then the ferrets getting ill from having chemicals in their (already ill) bodies.
As for Fugue and Mizu (who are both under 1 year old) I feel that it would be best to put them on a preventative. I dont want to do it, but the boys want outside, and since they are so young, I dont want to risk letting them get heartworm (its not like they've lived long, full lives like Sams and De). I plan to talk to the vet about using Ivermectin, but I still have some reading to do to make sure everything goes smoothly and safely with that.
Hopefully the kids will "perk up" from being able to go outside. I am hoping all goes well and that they enjoy their time outdoors.
Oh, and Zephyr will NOT be put on a heartworm preventative. Likes Sams and De she will get a natural mosquito repellent sprayed on her before we go out.
I wish everyone luck when it comes to deciding whether or not to use heartworm preventatives.
