FLEA, TICK, and HEART-WORM PROTECTION

(Because what goes on or in your puppy matters)

At Raised Right Pups, we take a balanced and thoughtful approach to your puppy’s long-term health. Not all preventatives are created equal, and while we believe in protecting against heartworm, we avoid unnecessary toxins and chemicals whenever possible.

Heartworm Prevention

We use Interceptor Plus for all of our dogs. It’s a trusted, broad-spectrum heartworm and intestinal parasite preventative that’s safe even for dogs who carry the MDR1 gene mutation. All of our parents are fully health tested and clear of MDR1, so our puppies are not at risk for medication sensitivity.

Heartworm prevention is one thing we do not take chances on. There is only one option for prevention. Skipping it can be dangerous, especially in states like Oklahoma where mosquitoes are active nearly year-round.

Flea & Tick Prevention

At Raised Right Pups, we personally choose to prioritize environmental management and lower-toxicity prevention methods whenever appropriate for our dogs. Flea and tick prevention should always be tailored to your individual dog, lifestyle, and geographic risk level in consultation with your veterinarian. The commercial brands contain insecticides that can build up in a dog’s system and have been linked to neurological issues, seizures, liver damage, and even cancer.

These insecticides are toxins, and we simply don’t feel comfortable putting toxins month after month into our dogs’ bodies. Many prescription flea and tick preventatives work by targeting the nervous system of parasites. While these products are widely used and FDA approved, we prefer to explore alternative or integrated prevention strategies.

You wouldn’t go spray your yard with insecticides and then eat the grass right?

Instead, we take a natural and effective approach using:

• All-natural flea and tick chews made from plant-based ingredients

• All-natural flea and tick spray made from plant-based ingredients

• Food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) lightly dusted through the coat and bedding or given once daily mixed into food.

For puppies, the amount is based on weight, not age.

General guideline for food-grade DE once daily mixed into food:

Under 5 lbs

About 1/4 teaspoon per day

5 to 10 lbs

About 1/2 teaspoon per day

10 to 20 lbs

About 1 teaspoon per day

20 to 50 lbs

About 1 to 1.5 teaspoons per day

Over 50 lbs

Up to 1 tablespoon per day

Both work to naturally prevent, repel, and kill pests without exposing your puppy to harmful chemicals.

Our Recommendation

• Continue using Interceptor Plus monthly for heartworm prevention

• Choose a natural flea and tick solution that aligns with your comfort level

• Keep your yard and home clean, vacuum regularly, and wash bedding weekly

• Avoid chemical collars, spot-ons, and oral flea/tick medications unless absolutely necessary.

Preventative decisions are ultimately a conversation between you and your veterinarian. Parasite risk varies by region, environment, and lifestyle. Families living in high tick or heavy flea regions, hunting environments, boarding situations, or densely wooded areas may require prescription preventatives for adequate protection.

Our goal is to educate families on available options so they can make informed decisions that best support their puppy’s long-term health.

Resources:

American Heartworm Society, Heartworm Prevention Guidelines

Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), Parasite Prevention Recommendations

American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Parasite Control and Preventive Care Resources

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Flea and Tick Product Safety Communications

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Pet Pesticide Safety Information

World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), Global Parasite Control Guidelines

National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC), Pet Exposure and Insecticide Safety

Genchi et al. (2011), Heartworm Infection in Dogs, Veterinary Parasitology

McCall et al. (2008), Heartworm Disease in Animals and Humans, Advances in Parasitology

European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP), Parasite Control Guidelines