Hershey Health Protocol
The full holistic health plan for [[Hershey]]. Source of truth for flea/tick, dental, heartworm, diet, and [[Organs and Lipoma Diet|lipoma]] management.
About him
- ~75 lb black Lab, fully healthy, loves to swim.
- Black coat → can't spot ticks visually, flea comb essential.
- Lipomas managed holistically. On Heartgard Plus 7 years, tolerates perfectly.
- Active: softball fields, beaches, trails → high hookworm/roundworm risk (stay on Plus, not plain Heartgard).
Flea & Tick Stack (final)
Order list: The Resistance (Wildly Blended), animalEO EVICT 5ml, Edens Garden Rose Geranium oil 10ml, metal flea comb, Project Sudz oatmeal/Manuka shampoo, bandanas.
- Daily in food: The Resistance, 1 tsp — internal repellent, alters scent so bugs won't land. Full effect in 4–6 weeks. The only layer swimming can't wash off. Start immediately.
- Before every outing: EVICT 4–10 drops massaged into coat (legs, neck, shoulders, ankles) + rose geranium 1 drop behind each shoulder blade and near tail base (safe undiluted).
- After every swim: bandana with 2–3 drops rose geranium + 2–3 drops EVICT around neck — keeps releasing without re-coating.
- After every outing: metal flea comb (ears, neck, armpits, groin, toes); run over wet paper towel — flea dirt turns red/brown.
- Bath days: Project Sudz (cleaning only, not protection).
Skipped & why: FleasGone tag (EMF concerns, no studies), Woof Creek powder (redundant), Woof Creek spray (EVICT stronger), coconut oil supplement (already high-fat → pancreatitis risk), shampoo-as-protection (washes off swimming dog). Validated by Dr. Judy Morgan's "Flea and Tick Prevention Revisited." Rose geranium is her #1 tick rec. See [[Hershey Tick Story]].
Heartworm
Heartgard Plus monthly — do NOT downgrade to plain Heartgard given his lifestyle. Paws absorb hookworm larvae from wet ground; he swims = high risk. The Resistance + EVICT cut mosquito exposure as a bonus.
Dental
- Imperial Pet Deer Velvet & Manuka Oral Spray (from Fetch RI) — daily.
- Raw Manuka Honey UMF 10+ — tiny amount on gums.
- Coconut oil — occasional brushing only (not a daily supplement; high-fat diet).
Diet (transitioning off kibble)
Status (March 2026): moved from 50/50 cooked+kibble → 70% gently cooked / 15% freeze-dried / 15% kibble. Goal: 100% whole food. Noticeably more energetic.
Target rotation:
- Simple Food Project (freeze-dried) — daily 25–30% constant, anchors omega-3 ratio (~0.85:1), anti-inflammatory baseline for lipomas.
- AllProvide (gently cooked) — preferred base when in stock (minimal ingredients, no grains/legumes, whole-food nutrients). Often sold out.
- Primal (freeze-dried) — variety + backup when AllProvide is out.
- Single-ingredient toppers (beef liver/heart/kidney, Stella & Chewy's, Vital Essentials) — 10–20% only.
- 1 raw egg every morning. No fish-oil supplement needed (SFP covers the ratio).
Protein intro protocol: new protein at 25% ~1 week → 50% → 75% if stool normal. One new thing at a time. Duck already tolerated (March 2026). TCVM priority detailed in [[Organs and Lipoma Diet]].
Drop kibble when: AAFCO "complete and balanced" confirmed on both AllProvide + SFP → kibble is redundant.
Lipoma & detox support
Four Leaf Rover Liver & Kidney Clean — triple duty: manage lipomas, support liver detox from monthly Heartgard, kidney health for a swimming dog.
Deficiencies to watch (months, not days)
Zinc (crusty nose/pads, dull coat), B vitamins (low energy), Vitamin D (muscle weakness, rare), iron/anemia (pale gums — caught at bloodwork), omega-3 (lipoma flare — SFP protects), Ca/P (only a home-cooked risk).
Clumpy shedding (noticed March 2026): most likely diet-transition detox shed (resolves 4–8 wks) or winter dry skin. Watch for hypothyroidism (Labs are prone) — add a thyroid panel (T4) to next annual bloodwork. He was very energetic = good sign against it.