Promeris

For those who have not seen the commercials or cute print ads, Promeris is Fort Dodge’s new flea and tick control product. It is a spot-on, applied once a month.  It is in the same product category as Advantage, Advantix, Advantage Multi, Frontline, Vectra, Revolution, Comfortis, and a score of over the counter products. Oh, and Novartis (who brings us Interceptor) has a new product on the way, Prac-tic, already on the market in other countries.

Are you now thinking about how much money must be involved in flea and tick protection for all these products to be out there? Millions? You bet, lots of them. Whether they are being sold by veterinarians, pet pharmacies, pet stores, or your local supermarket, it is very easy to get a serious chemical “solution” to your pet’s bug problem. People do tend to reach for the simple solution…but people don’t tend to consider the risk of applying these chemicals before they do so. Or maybe that should be before their pet has a reaction.

I have seen and heard of a few serious reactions to the Promeris product, beyond all the internet stories, which are significant even if only half true. (Note: It was supplied by another veterinarian. I neither carry nor recommend it.)  One dog was still losing hair and having skin eruptions 5 weeks after application. Two others were seen at an emergency clinic. One area hospital that was dispensing Promeris has pulled it from their shelves after dealing with the reactions. The active ingredient that seems to be causing most of the reactions is amitraz. (Let the Googling begin

So, you may be wondering what I use on my own dogs from control of fleas and ticks. The answer is nothing. No spot-ons, sprays, or medications. I believe a healthy dog is more resistant to parasites, and that is where I focus my energy. A quality, natural diet. Appropriate supplements. Enough mental and physical activity. Grooming and bathing, because clean is healthy.  (Where did that idea of not bathing dogs more than twice a year or not in winter come from? Would you want to not bathe from November to April?)

I also do a bit of management of where my dogs go. For example, we do not go trooping around the woods in Lyme, Connecticut. We stick to well mowed areas in places I do not know. And I check them over after a walk. Rarely do I find anything. And lest you think I am living in Nirvana, three of my dogs are Lyme positive, as well as many of my neighbors’. My dogs go to work with me, whether at an animal hospital, shelter, or dog show.  I have not had flea issues, except when I had a dog with severely compromised health.  Remember, parasites seek out the weak.

My advice to any of you who have read this far is this:

1. Feed your dogs as well as possible.

2. Avoid over-vaccination and over-medication, as well as other physical stressors.

3. Manage the other aspects of their lives as well as possible.

4. If you are still having problems, investigate gentler options for parasite control. Safe products do exist, but are not at the front of the shelf as the “BIg Pharma” products are.

As always, thank you for reading. Please spread the word. And please feel free to comment.