BajaNomad

Dog Heartworm in Baja???

LaloinBaja - 2-21-2011 at 09:56 AM

Any Heartworm problems with dogs in Baja North and South???

comitan - 2-21-2011 at 10:19 AM

South

YES!!!!!

LaloinBaja - 2-21-2011 at 10:54 AM

OK...Thanks...We are thinking about Mulege....

mulegemichael - 2-21-2011 at 11:06 AM

dont take any chances; do your dog before you get here and bring more meds with you

Pompano - 2-21-2011 at 11:19 AM

Heartworm is just one of many animal diseases/afflictions in Baja that can take your best friend..that's why I leave my prize Labs at home these last couple years.

p.s. pufferfish washed up on the beach...no bueno!

[Edited on 2-21-2011 by Pompano]

goldhuntress - 2-21-2011 at 11:42 AM

My vet says Heartworm prevention is a must in Baja. I'm using a newer flea and tick control I get from my vet called Vectra It offers six kinds of protection. It repels and kills fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, lice, sand flies and mites. Sometimes I worry about my dog having contact with some of the not so healthy looking dogs there so I think it's better than Advantage or Frontline.

burnrope - 2-21-2011 at 06:08 PM

I asked our Vet about Vectra for our yelow lab in Nor Cal and she said that it only worked with one breed of tick, that wasn't common to Nor Cal and recommended that we continue using the Frontline Plus for fleas and ticks and the Heartgard Plus for heartworm.

Marla Daily - 2-21-2011 at 06:57 PM

BEWARE — TICKS: The deer tick, Ixodes, carries Ehrlichiosis throughout the Baja Peninsula. It is the nymph stage ("guina") of the tick that transmits the disease. The guina does not engorge when feeding. It feeds and drops off and is only the size of a grain of pepper. Make sure your dogs are protected with Frontline PLUS. However, also be aware that a dog with tick preventative can still contract Ehrlichiosis from the initial guina bite even though the guina doesn't feed. Know the signs of the disease: lethargy, loss of appetite, weight loss, sleeping much of the time. An infected dog will simply starve, sleep and die. Cure is easy and costs less than $5 in Baja! Doxycycline for 30-45 days.

BEWARE — HEARTWORM: Transmitted by mosquitoes, heartworm is very prevalent in Baja California Sur. You dog MUST be on Heartguard before coming to Baja so if an infected mosquito bites your dog, the microfilaria of the heart worm will not establish in your dog's bloodstream. The microfilaria settle in the heart muscle. Adult worms invade the heart like a bowl of spaghetti. A symptomatic dog often coughs and pants excessively. Death is long and slow as symptoms increase. Treatment is very expensive and requires multiple injections of Imiticide. Not all dogs survive the treatment. As the worms die they break apart and pieces can flow to lungs, cause clots and other complications.

IDEXX makes a "Snap test" which screens for both Ehrlichiosis and Heartworm. All Baja dogs should be tested. All Baja dogs must be on heartworm and tick preventatives.

bajabound2005 - 2-21-2011 at 07:41 PM

why is this in Baja Off Roading??? And agreed, heartworm, flea & tick prevention for dogs AND cats (well, I guess that cats don't really need the heartworm meds)

bajajudy - 2-22-2011 at 07:41 AM

We use Revolucion on our 3 mutts. Fleas, ticks, mites and heart worms.
When we first moved here our vet told us that he had never seen a case of heart worms here. A few years later he said that he was starting to see them and to get our dogs on something.
Frontline quit working on one of our dogs.

goldhuntress - 2-22-2011 at 08:28 AM

Kills 4 species of ticks (Rhipicephalus spp, Dermacentor variabilis, Ixodes spp, Amblyomma spp), 3 species of mosquitoes (Culex spp, Ochlerotatus spp, Aedes spp), and all stages of fleas
Quote:
Originally posted by burnrope
I asked our Vet about Vectra for our yelow lab in Nor Cal and she said that it only worked with one breed of tick, that wasn't common to Nor Cal and recommended that we continue using the Frontline Plus for fleas and ticks and the Heartgard Plus for heartworm.

LaloinBaja - 2-22-2011 at 02:44 PM

OK...Thanks Ya'll...We'll get our pups on the latest preventives..or ticks...moscas and the heart worms....Thanks again Lalo

WendyEllen - 4-19-2014 at 12:45 PM

Does anyone know a vet in La Paz that can give a SNAP-test to a dog?

trifexis Information

Whale-ista - 4-19-2014 at 01:41 PM

This works on fleas, heartworm and other parasitic worms, but it is not for ticks.

http://www.trifexis.com

It's a once per month pill. I have been using Comfortis (fleas only), just changed to Trifexis since I want to take the poodle to Cabo Pulmo this June and assume more mosquitoes are in that area and during warmer time of year.

Vet tested for heartworm (negative) before switching over this month.

Jack Swords - 4-19-2014 at 01:44 PM

Please don't advise blanket treatment of dogs with products such as Heartgard or others that contain Ivermectin. Collies, Australian Shepherds, etc. contain a gene mutation (MDR1) that makes Ivermectin potentially deadly. What works for a specific dog can be very toxic leading to death to another. Consult with a qualified vet before administering these medications. Plese see http://www.petmd.com/blogs/fullyvetted/2013/jan/toxic-iverme...

More information is on the MDR1 Veterinary Fact Sheet and BusterAlert.org, which is the Canine MDR1 Mutation Info Center.

Our Australian Shepherd died at 16 years in La Paz this year (of old age), and we have had her replacement for the past 3 years. They are part of a long line of Aussies and McNabs that we have had over the years. Please consult a qualified veterinarian before administering potentially deadly drugs to these loyal friends.

Always consult a vet before treatment

Whale-ista - 4-19-2014 at 02:01 PM

thanks for reminder "Jack." Excellent point that "generic" treatments can cause harm.

If other dog owners (or "ownees") know of similar breed-specific Information please share.

And FYI, Trifexis çontains the following ingredients according to their website:
"Protect Your Dog from Parasites with Trifexis® (spinosad + milbemycin oxime)"

(No, Trifexis it is not a way to place a bet at the horse races)

pauldavidmena - 4-19-2014 at 04:08 PM

Does anyone know if the Todos Santos Pet Store on Juarez has meds for ticks (e.g. Front Line Plus) and heartworm (e.g. Heartgard Plus)? Our dog is an Australian Cattle Dog mix who has tolerated both medications well - under the supervision of our vet. We've never brought him to Baja with us, but would sure love to do so in the future. :cool:

bajachris - 4-19-2014 at 11:59 PM

Completely vaccinate before heading to Baja. Parvovirus can definitely be found in Baja.

Mula - 4-20-2014 at 05:51 AM

I doubt anyone in La Paz has the snap test or Heartgard, but if anyone would have it - it would be

Dr. Gabriel at the Dogtor House in LaPaz.

He speaks English and is the only one I can think of that might know if something like this might be available or who would do it.

Location IGNACIO RAMIREZ 1650 ENTRE 16 DE SEPTIEMBRE Y DEGOLLADO, COL CENTRO, 23000 La Paz, Baja California Sur
Hours
Mon - Fri: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Sat: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sun: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Parking
Street
Products ACCESORIOS, ALIMENTOS DE LAS MEJORES MARCAS, CAMAS, PLATOS, ROPA PARA TU MASCOTA, CORREAS, COLLARES, TRANSPORTADORAS, BOLSAS.
Contact Info
Phone 612 1221626, celular 6121498576

There is an American Vet in Loreto (who is now in the states for 2 + weeks) that brings the SNAP tests down and does the tests for $50USD - the cost of the SNAP, But she is in Loreto.

You can u2u me if you want more info.

Shawndy - 4-20-2014 at 03:35 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajajudy
We use Revolucion on our 3 mutts. Fleas, ticks, mites and heart worms.
When we first moved here our vet told us that he had never seen a case of heart worms here. A few years later he said that he was starting to see them and to get our dogs on something.
Frontline quit working on one of our dogs.

X2 with Revolution. We get it from the vet down here for half the price of back in Canada.

durrelllrobert - 4-20-2014 at 04:27 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajachris
Completely vaccinate before heading to Baja. Parvovirus can definitely be found in Baja.

I thought that it was illegal to import Parvovirus into Mexico.:lol:

tecatero - 4-21-2014 at 06:17 AM

trifexis is amazing,,,,,,,all 3 of mine on it,,,,no fleas, and stops heartworm