Worming my dogs

RE: Worming my dogs

Martin Atkinson — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 11:23:01 GMT

[quote user="Emily Rainbow"]

Monthly nexgard spectra (does all apart from tapeworm).

[/quote]....and mites, although Merial are allegedly applying for a licence for that. Problem is the likely supply issue for Nexgard Spectra for the foreseeable future. Merial are supplying me like for like with FREE Nexgard in place of the Spectra we would normally order and we then will sell Milbemycin tablets to go with it. I assume this deal applies to all practices who have previously bought Spectra.

RE: Worming my dogs

Thomas Johnson — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 11:12:07 GMT

[quote user="Julie Innes"]

I do agree to some extent, Mariette, but on the other hand we have the recommendation that monthly worming is necessary to prevent lungworm. Given that dogs can and do die from lungworm, and they have wound owners into a frenzy with their adverts ("There's a slug in my garden!!") it's difficult to recommend anything else, for fear of being reproached should one of our patients develop lungworm! The stats on roundworms in the environment also make uncomfortable reading, especially given the human health risk. So we are between a rock and a hard place, really.

[/quote]

It's also worth considering that for most small animal parasites there is a large reservoir of parasites in the wild animal population that aren't exposed to parasiticides so there may be less pressure to develop resistance.

RE: Worming my dogs

Julie Innes — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 10:19:50 GMT

RE: Worming my dogs

mariette asselbergs — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 19:17:40 GMT

Having worked for many years in Africa and then in large animals in the UK, i am always about the contrast between small animals practice re prevention of endo and ecto parasites and large animal practice. Resistance against wormers and ectoparasite treatments is a huge problem in countries where these used to be used as a routine for prevention (of very serious diseases). The development of new drugs takes decades and is not done if there is no economic benefit perceived. Strategic and integrated pest control were developed in the last 35 years for large animals. (Not that they are ideal yet|). But in small animal practice we go on promoting blind monthly or three monthly treatments as if there is no resistance problem coming up at all. And then there is the aspect of all this stuff, or their metabolites, ending up in the environment. Think imidacloprid and bees.

I think we need far more studies on what is really going on, parasite wise, in our small animals, and how to manage living with pets in an environment without building up large loads of parasites. There are many ways of preventing worms and ectoparasites without resorting to pesticides.

Look at the changes in guidelines for horse and sheep worming nowadays compared to even 10 years ago.

The focus should not narrowly be the risk for the pet. It should take into account the wider effects of using these drugs. And we as vets should be the people to understand the risks and think about/work for a more sustainable solution.

Mariette

RE: Worming my dogs

Emily Rainbow — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 19:27:55 GMT

Monthly nexgard spectra (does all apart from tapeworm).

RE: Worming my dogs

Julie Innes — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 17:22:13 GMT

Bravecto plus milbemax will cover all bases. I'd still worm regularly to prevent round, tape and lungworm.