Do Newfs get fleas?

[Thule's Mom]

I'm serious... I just was given advice by a long-time newf owner questioning why I was putting this poison in my dog (I do agree, it's poison).

Has anyone here actually had a Newf that got fleas? Keep in mind, ticks are not a problem in Newfoundland - yet! :whistling:

 

[Sun Valley]

Yep, they certainly can and do get fleas.

Lou Ann

 

[new_2_newf]

I suppose it might be slightly more difficult for the fleas to work though a newf coat, but I'm sure they can, and can probably hide in there a good while...I shudder at the thought of trying to de-flea a newf. I think you are right on with prevention, the other owner can blow it out their hole if they don't like it. You need to do what you think is right for your pup.

 

[Thule's Mom]

Oh no, don't get me wrong, I really value my friend's opinion. I think I'll try the garlic pills, like Angela suggested. I don't think I'm comfortable not using any sort of protection.

 

[Angela]

I have never used any of those flea preventatives during my 22 years of owning Newfs, just a garlic pill daily. They don't have fleas and we are one of the flea capitals of the world.
We don't get heartworm here so they don't need protection from that.

 

[JackandKelly]

Debbie,
We have 7 dogs and never use anything for them for fleas or ticks and have never had either on them. With that said, we do not live in a tick area. In my whole life I have never seen a tick on a dog here. There are fleas in the area, but we have never gotten any and I have owned dogs my entire adult life. My vet said to look at it this way...We have went decades without fleas so why put anything on them. If they get fleas and you put the topical stuff on them, within hours you are flea free again. So just treat if you get them. The new products get rid of them so fast that you can do it that way.
This is all because of where I live, now if you live somewhere with ticks, I definitely would use a preventative, the same with fleas. My dogs are in the yard or on a leash and do not romp through trees so depending on what Thule does and where she goes this may or may not be a good thing for you.

*knocking on wood, I sure hope they don't get fleas now that I said they have never had them

 

[new_2_newf]

I've just experienced rounds and rounds of medicating my friends cats and dogs for fleas, combing them, picking them out, treating the house and washing EVERYTHING...it can be a really big PITA once they get into your house. We were dealing small, short haired dogs. I shudder, really it scares me, to think of trying to de-flea a newf. So I'm all for prevention, and if garlic works for you and your pup, that is super.

 

[NessaM]

One episode of Lymes in Pooka was more than enough for me. Although the only creature in this house that has EVER been flea-bitten was my husband, at a casino in Atlantic City! Hah!!!

I can attest to garlic being useful in keeping off the bugs though - I self-medicated myself with huge quantities of garlic the summer I did my summer scholar project and archaeology field school at Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest. Tick and other bug bites decreased impressively once I started eating the garlic.

However, no one else could stand to be around me either...

 

[Thule's Mom]

I've done a quick search of the government veterinarian's website and there were a few PDF files.. lyme disease in Newfoundland, French Heart Worm in Newfoundland. It said that lyme disease is rare, and that conventional deworming has no affect on the french heart worm that has been found here (brought in by foxes), unless it specifically states that it is effective on the french heartworm. I think I'll give the office a call and see what I can find out. I don't think we have the common heart worm here. Very interesting .. have to do more investigating....

 

[dannyra]

Ticks are horrible hear. Haven't heard of anybody getting a disease in this area from them but better safe than sorry. We don't have heartworm here either, but we do have lots of other parasitic worms. The cats get them and we have to de-worm them...and the dogs get into the cat poop occasionally so we use heartworm preventative a general dewormer and to protect them in a rare instance that heartworm does start in the area. Don't want my dogs to be the first.

 

[Sue M.]

Of course Newfs can get fleas or ticks... just like any other breed of dog.

There are a number of people who do not want to put the preventatives on their dogs. All of these preventive meds are poisons. That's why they basically stopped doing the flea dips. The dog then licks or chews on him or herself and are literally ingesting poisen. That's also why the front line and other brands tell you to put it on the back of their necks. Thay can't reach around and lick or chew there.

Those I know that do not use flea/tick preventatives have blood work done on their dogs twice a year. By doing this, they can catch a potential problem before it has a chance to do any damage to major organs.

 

[Thule's Mom]

Of course Newfs can get fleas or ticks... just like any other breed of dog.

There are a number of people who do not want to put the preventatives on their dogs. All of these proventive meds are poisens. That's why they basically stopped doing the flea dips. The dog then licks or chews on him or herself and are literally ingesting poisen. That's also why the front line and other brands tell you to put it on the back of their necks. Thay can't reach around and lick or chew there.

Those I know that do not use flea/tick preventatives have blood work done on their dogs twice a year. By doing this, they can catch a potential problem before it has a chance to do any damage to major organs.

I guess I'm asking more for myself, here in Newfoundland. Although ticks are not a problem here; we do have fleas.

 

[Thule's Mom]

I had a very interesting conversation with the Provincial Veterinarian's office today. Turns out, the heartworm meds being distributed here have not been proven effective on the only heartworm established in Newfoundland - the French Heartworm. This particular heartworm is not established anywhere else in north america, so the drug companies have not come up with a prevention for it. There has only been one case of the common north american heartworm. It could not be proven that it was contracted on the island, or on the main land. I find this extremely vexing and this information was not given to me by my vet. The only proven way to test, and prevent the french heart worm is to have stool samples tested regularly.

I can't believe I wasn't given this information by my vet. :banghead:

So, what I need for Thule is a regular, intestinal parasite prevention and a flea prevention. I'm told if a dog spends much time in the woods, it is a very good idea to get the stools tested, about a month afterwards. This french heartworm is a very scary thing. You guys don't have to worry... its ONLY IN NEWFOUNDLAND :uglyhammer:

 

[victoria1140]

is it garlic tablets or ordinary garlic you give the dogs for the fleas

 

[Sue M.]

This french heartworm is a very scary thing. You guys don't have to worry... its ONLY IN NEWFOUNDLAND :uglyhammer:

Oh no... there is a legitimate worry about dogs contracting heart worm here too. Since it is transmitted by mosquitos, there is a risk just about everywhere. I was talking to my vet just yesterday about this. It is becoming more of a problem than it ever used to be. I understand that dogs that get the heart worm can be cured but they endure a lot of pain.

 

[Thule's Mom]

Oh no... there is a legitimate worry about dogs contracting heart worm here too. I was talking to my vet just yesterday about this. It is becoming more of a problem than it ever used to be. I understand that dogs that get the heart worm can be cured but they endure a lot of pain.

The heartworm you have on the main land of North America is not this particular French Heartworm. This one has only made it as far as Newfoundland and, there is no medication approved for prevention, although I understand it can be cured, if detected. The heartworm that you have on the mainland, is not established here. That one can be prevented, and cured. Sometimes its not so nice to be special!:banghead:

 

[Sue M.]

Well, I understand that you are saying the heartworm there is a bad one with no current vaccinations to fight it. But heartworm here is just as bad, curable, yes... but the dog will experience a lot of pain in the process. No matter where it is located, it is bad.

 

[Thule's Mom]

Well, I understand that you are saying the heartworm there is a bad one with no current vaccinations to fight it. But heartworm here is just as bad, curable, yes... but the dog will experience a lot of pain in the process. No matter where it is located, it is bad.

Oh my yes! of course it is just terrible! I saw a picture of a heartworm filled heart on a vet's office wall one time..... Shiver!!!

What really makes me sore is that my vet - in particular - has been selling this stuff as heartworm prevention - but it doesn't prevent our particular 'brand' of heartworm. I really have to have a talk with that woman before I leave for the new vet.

 

[Lori]

Oh no, don't get me wrong, I really value my friend's opinion. I think I'll try the garlic pills, like Angela suggested. I don't think I'm comfortable not using any sort of protection.

Just be careful with the garlic pills, as too much can cause problems.

 

[Pipelineozzy]

French heartworm is not transmitted by mosquitoes. They get it from snails and slugs. It's also called lungworm. I think Milbemax dewormer works for the parasite.
It's only in certain areas of Newfoundland also...not the whole province.
http://www.nr.gov.nl.ca/agric/animal_diseases/domestic/pdf/angio04.pdf