I know a lot of you have pets so I'm wondering if ya'll know of maybe an organic or home remedy for fleas and ticks. I use Frontline (vet recommends) faithfully but it's been so hot and dry outside my dog is still getting bitten. I'm wondering if the Advantage is better. I'm stopping by my vets office when I go back to the Dr. Any ideas>
Linda what do ya'll do at your brother's pet exhibit?
Oh and my vet did say to bathe dog in Dawn dish soap, kills fleas, but doesn't keep them offI do use bag balm for any bites or scratches that I see. Its also great on their putty pads when the winter cold makes them chapped!
Those little buggers are so hard to get rid of. We had a problem last year, and inspite of treating my home, washing the dog's bedding in hot bleach water, and flea dipping and spraying I couldn't get rid of them.
I finally, as a last resort, shaved my American Eskimo and found that the fleas were imbedded deep in her undercoat, and that the flea dips and shampoos were not reaching them and their eggs in there at all. The shaving finally got rid of them!
This year, before the season I shaved her again, as well as my bichon, and then I began my normal procedures of using Frontline.
But then the ticks began to be an issue so I bought Advantix which is better for ticks. I ended up alternating Advantix one month, Frontline the next and I haven't seen a single flea or tick in months!
Humm rotating sounds like a good idea Karen, and I meant Advantix not anvantage
This dog stays outside so I don't have a problem with fleas in the house or on my little dog. I wish he would stay inside til it gets cooler but he hate it inside
Another thing I hate is that the outside dog is mostly white and I can't get her clean, even at the groomers. I bought "whitening shampoo" for dogs but it didn't do a thing. Can I clorox him?
I have often wondered if the fact I make my own moisturisers (carrier oil almond and add citrus esential oils - orange, lemon, citronella, geranium, lavender) (yes all in the same carrier.... I just love the smell), anyway, I rub this stuff on pillow cases, cats bedding, my skin, the cat smells of these oils and I wonder if the fleas dont like it... just an idea. I'd be interested in any other view about this topic...
All Right I'll do that! Whats bluing?
Michele my vet told me fleas were harder to get rid of off cats than dogs. Don't know why, do you find that to be true. I don't have cat anymore
The last time my dog had fleas was 21 years ago and it was a different dog. Had to take him in to get dipped and bomb the house at the same time. Spent that day shopping with my mom for baby things, I was 22 and had number two on the way!!
Not THAT number two, Joonie
hello love the pics of the boys, but really admire the attitude of your big boy kitty, a pic worth a thousand words....
rose
OOPS Linda , didn't mean to yell. didn't see your post here
Michele your babies are precious! What's up with that cats tooth? It needs braces
I do think it is a bit more difficult dealing with fleas on cats, just because I am much more careful about doing anything toxic to my cat, knowing he will be licking himself all over to bathe. I do use the frontline on him between the shoulders where he can't reach, but I don't do anything else.
I also went many years without any fleas at all, but we got our infestation when my daughter brought home a puppy that apparently was infested. They had spread and had become a problem before we realized. The ticks are just a fact of life here in Connecticut. They are everywhere. Lyme disease was discovered here, and named for Old Lyme, Connecticut!
k I'm off to the dr and wal-mart to see if I can find bluing
Oh years ago we had a kitten my daughter found on the side of the road and became infested in fleas. finally had to call OrkinThats his snaggle tooth!! How cute is the picture of puss in bed with dad? I'm desperate to put a picture on of my baby but have had no joy. Have set up a web account etc but when I put the url in it just gives a square with a red cross in it.Soooo frustrating.I have a 90 pound large fuzzy chow chow and found that using advantage was better than frontline. She is terribly allergic to fleas, and if she gets even one bite she will chew off all her fur to get to her skin and I end up giving her prednisone as it turns into a hot spot. When she sheds in the spring I do shave her and then apply the advantage so it will sink in properly. She is my baby girl!
The funny thing is she has arthritis too and is on pred! We both look a mess in the morning. She sleeps upside-down with her paws curled up and her back legs spread wide open. She is a zany-dog.
My dog, a golden, is chewing up my daughter's hair brush right now. Think this will make her put her stuff away? Charlie's a good dog too. He's gonna be 2 in November. He's just my loyal friend and I love him so much. Very sappy, but it's true.We're in the desert now and the cats don't get fleas here in the dry desert. Last year they got infested when we were in the jungles of Mexico and I had to resort to using Advantix and spraying the inside of the motor home. I had no choice but to use chemicals. I usually carry one of the natural flea control lotions with us but it was so bad nothing worked except for the "big guns" Lindy
Lindy...I assume your place in Mexico was unharmed by the hurricane???I am so glad that I am not the only that takes pics of their hubby sleeping with their pets lol.
Yeah they were a little mad at me that the flash woke them up. But they were so cute sleeping together!!!
Wills...if you are still having problems posting a pic shoot me a PM amd I will walk you thru it.
Good ole fleas & ticks...uggghhh
I'm happy to share my knowledge and give my personal opinions on flea/tick products...hope it helps.
We have had several clients that use Frontline and the product for whatever reason stops working. I don't know if there are bad lots or if some pets build an immunity to it after awhile. The reps swear this can't happen but we've seen it...so it certainly does happen. Most of the time if people switch over Advantage it solves their problem and they end up alternating every so often between the two. Unfortunately neither of these products repels, it only kills once they have gotten on your pet therefore they can still be bitten. Advantage kills fleas but does nothing for ticks and because it is not oil based will wash off. Frontline kills fleas and ticks and is oil based so it will not wash off.
There's also a great tick collar called Preventics that you can only get through a Veterinarian. They're the only tick collar I've ever seen actually work and run about -.
I don't personally recommend Advantix and we will not carry it in our hospital because there have been too many cases where pets have had severe reactions or even died from it. I do know people that have used it and love it as it does work great for ticks, fleas and mosquitoes but if I won't use it on my pet there's no way I'd recommend it to someone. The reps used to send us free samples and we'd take them directly to the dumpster. If you do decide Advantix is for you, never never put K-9 Advantix on your cat. Advantix contains Permethrin which is fatal to cats.
There's also a product you can get from your Veterinarian called Capstar which is perfectly safe for dogs and cats and safe to use with any of the flea/tick products. Capstar comes in pill form and kills all live fleas on your pet within about 30 minutes. Unfortunately, it only lasts 24 hours and does not give them any further protection. It's a great start though if you're having an infestation.
If you have carpet and the fleas are in your house, Borax works great. It's cheap and you can get it in the laundry soap aisle. Dump it on the carpet and work it in with a broom, let it sit for an hour or so and then vaccuum it up. Borax will kill live fleas and the eggs.
Okay, one more product...hope I'm not boring you all to tears. I'm very passionate about animals and their care in case you haven't noticed.
Sentinel....my personal favorite. It's costly but I absolutely love this one and use for my own dogs. Sentinel prevents heartworms, internal parasites and has a flea sterilizer (flea birth control). The flea will live out it's life cycle but it's eggs will not hatch therefore helping to control the flea population in the enviorment as well. I seldom ever find fleas on my dogs and if I do it might be one or two and I live in a state where fleas are a major problem all year around. If I see a flea, I throw on frontline or advantage (whatever I have on hand) but honestly, I think I've done that 3-4 times in 5 years. If you chose to go with Sentinel make sure you give it right before or right after your dog has a meal or it the flea medication won't work.
I hope this has been helpful to those of you struggling with flea/tick problems. Oh, and the bag balm post for bites was fantastic! Bag balm was a fantastic invention...wish it would of been mine.
Peace & Love...Neasy
Great help Neasy! Thanks. I forgot about Capstar, I have some I bought last year for a booster to Frontline
I'll get some borax too just in case, but I couldn't find any bluing for whitening my dog that Hill suggested.
A vet gave me chrsanthamum spray for my cats about 15 years ago - it is made from the flower. It wasn't toxic and it worked. I have not been able to find it in AZ. Does anybody know about this product?Welcome sweetie....
Yeah that capstar can be pricey. The sad thing is, most of the time it's given to the Vet's for free and they turn around and sell it.
Peace & Love...Neasy
Marian....I'm not familiar with it but I'll ask at work tomorrow and see if I can find out anything. Night night time for me...have a good one all.
Peace & Love...Neasy
Moana,Thanks Lisa
Oh and welcome to the board! Jump right in and tell us a little bout yourselfI use Revolution for my cats. I adore it as it's an all in one drop, and so far I've had WONDERFUL results with it. While my cats don't go outdoors, our door seals and window seals are terrible and things are always getting in. If I use revolution on a regular basis, they have NO fleas, ticks, etc etc. I believe Revolution also kills worms, mange, and ear mites. Not bad for a 3 month supply. Revolution is also avlb for dogs, though I think it does a few different things for dogs.
Yeah Katie I think my vet said I could try that and gave me a big box with all the info in it. It's fairly new I think. Or it was to me
If it works for cats I'm about positive it'll work for dogs.