Frontline killed dog - Page 3

Steve1, I really did not care about that part.  I understand where you are coming from.

Nans -- how has Frontline changed?  I use the Frontline Plus ... so far, no problems... now this is scary.   I use Advantage on my Yorkie, but he is not outside that much.

Is it manufactured in China?

Hodie,
As always, excellent reasonable post. 

Luvmidog wrote:

"Chlorox and Chlorine in water is also very toxic...WE need to get back to basics of LIFE> If you don't grow it or find it in the woods or on earth or under the water don't eat it or use it...Many many old remedies to keep us clean and to eat and be healthy"

Unh-huh, sure. Let's see, where does one locate hemlock?  Deadly nightshade? Angel-of-death mushrooms?  I do believe they're all found growing in the woods...and they're all deadly!  Foxglove is also found growing in the woods, and the heart medication digitalis is derived from this plant--but for a heart patient, the commercially produced pharmaceutical delivers a consistant and known dosage of the agent, whereas simply ingesting the plant is a good way to kill them by either over- or under-dosage.  I'm not going to go strolling through the woods looking for old remedies, that's for sure.  I've got an old animal husbandry book that dates back to the early 1900's, and covers all domestic species; reading the instructions for what used to pass for medical care makes me shudder every time I turn the pages--'to treat wormy cattle, cut off the end of their tail.'  'To treat lice on hogs, coat them with used motor oil'.  Maybe I'll pull that book out tomorrow and post some of the 'old time' remedies suggested for dogs...

Just because something's 'natural' doesn't mean it's safe.  Grapes and raisins are natural, but they've been killing a fair number of dogs in recent years. 

I do feel badly for the owners of Drago; I'd hazard the guess that the condition he developed was most likely an immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (based on the OP's description of the clinical signs, the rapid progression of the illness and the expected prognosis) which is not unheard of in GSDs, especially youngsters--yes, even in European working lines--and could well have been unleashed by any event, not just by the application of a pesticide.  Not to say that the Frontline couldn't have played a role in  the appearance of the condition, but if a predisposition to it wasn't underlying to begin with, it couldn't have developed.  Unfortunately, there are certain health issues that simply can't be predicted, and that surface unexpectedly in dogs with no family history of such a thing--they're called idiopathic cases, because science can't tell us why the patient's system responded in such an adverse manner.  That doesn't make it any less harrowing for the owner of an affected dog, but it should at least help alleviate any feelings of guilt they may have, blaming themselves for having caused the illness by administering something meant to keep the dog more comfortable by freeing him of external parasites. 

He was a lovely dog, and from the photo the OP posted, clearly had a stable disposition since he was tolerating having that child sit on him (which I have to say is something I find totally unacceptable for the child to have been permitted to do, even if it was just long enough for the photo, BTW).  I know he'll be missed by his people, and for that I am sincerely sorry.  Sometimes things like this happen to the best of dogs, with the best of owners and the best of care, out of the best of bloodlines, and it's always sad.

 

It seems that you Guys in the USA have more problems with Bugs  vs Dogs than we do over here in Europe, but that is expected i guess because of the size and diversity of the country nature made it
We are very lucky over here just normal fleas which to me should never be on a dog if the owner is careful. That if allowed to go on is neglect by the owner,  Ticks well those little buggers are everywhere not so high over here perhaps but they are here i know Goran has had two in his life, So we are fortunate really and it must be a worry to some of you who live in places where these pests are rife or more of them , it is a job to combat them
I really cannot see any company selling something which is so dangerous to an animal, the risks are not in there favour to do so, Like all drugs and poisons it will affect some subjects more than another, and it is unfortunate it happened to this dog, but the good of the product outweighs the side effects on some animals, Would i say that if it were my dog then i think i would have to however hard it is, a terrible thing to happen for an owner and we all feel for that person,
But only an autopsy would establish the cause of death to be sure, and i would have gone down that route myself just for peace of mind
Steve1

Very sorry to hear of the loss of their beloved dog.. I also would have had the dog tested, just to make sure that the Frontline was the actual cause.
Stacy

Well I do like DE as it is natural and kills insects by rubbing off the exoskeleton. I use it in my yard and it has cut down on flies and other insects, and I also use it in the food as a wormer. I prefer it as it is natural, but I do use topical flea/tick medication as well, I will however mix the DE with water and spray my dogs down if we will be going in dense vegetation. It really does work, I wouldn't go so far as to say that is the only product you would ever need, but I do believe in using natural remedies whenever possible.

Theresa

Very sad to hear of the loss of such a beautiful dog.

I've had some sucess with this.......

To reduce fleas and other external parasites - Mix 3 drops of each oil into shampoo - Lemongrass, tea tree, eucalyptus (all types), citronella, and peppermint and shampoo as usuall.

To remove ticks -  apply 1 drop cinnamon or peppermint on cotton swab and swab on tick. Then wait for it to release the head before removing from animal's skin. Then drop it on the floor and then stomp it.

During the height of flea and tick season, we still have to use something stronger to keep them off.

And here is the proof!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35914331/ns/health-pet_health/?GT1=43001