I'm right there with you. I've been using DE like crazy since it stopped raining week before last, which is when the fleas came out. I've never seen them so bad and finally I bought some Sentry Natural Defense at Petsmart but I'm not sure if that's going to work very well. I'm about to cave, too.

 

Bought it, Tried it, didnt work. I used it for about a week two weeks ago. I hope you have better luck!

 

I did bathe him with Melaleuca dish soap, which is made with tea tree oil, and it took care of all his fleas instantly... I just don't want to have to bathe him every week.

 

I vary between melaleuca dog shampoo with extra teetree added along with lavendar and equliptis oils, and Neem soapless shampoo. With both, it takes them off instantly, but they are back on in a day or so. I havent bathed them since we moved. I should have done that before we put the meds on!

 

I bought some Revolution today. Lola had issues with fleas last year and it seemed to irritate her skin where she was bitten. From what I read Revolution is a little more gentle than most of the others. Plus it has heartworm protection. Guess I will see if it works since the Frontline I used last year did not.

 

I can't use revolution because Annie is allergic to ivermectin.

 

I haven't used anything at all on Aspen as I haven't seen a single flea or mosquito...and I'm in so cal, so it gets pretty warm. I've been meaning to get DE but from what you guys are saying...that it dries the skin, I might not. I hope I don't see any fleas, but if I do, debating between Advantix II and Comfortis.

 

What is comfortis?

 

It worries me that your running into fleas. I get the feeling I might see them for the first time this year. I don't want to use chemicals and I don't want to over bath. This must be what they call a catch 22.

 

I hate it. i've never had fleas in five years of not useing chemicals.

The box said 55+ extra large dogs. So I'm going to start useing half a tube per dog every 8 weeks and see how it goes. Then they are getting 1/4 the dose they usually would. I just can't stand to see them itch

Also I'm allergic to fleas and break out in hives when bit. then I itch too.

 

I've used bug off garlic, with great results, for years. Last year, one dog had just a couple ticks; other dog, who we had only had for six months and hadn't been on bog as long, had ticks and fleas. our holistic vet had us use Advantage. It's only for fleas and i felt guilty but we did what we have to. This year, we are getting cedar chips to put on the outside of our fence, it repels them (that's what the vet said)

 

bug off is a hot topic...since garlic is suspected to be bad for dogs.

 

If we get fleas this year I will be getting flea busters....or what ever the little buggies are called that kill the fleas. There was a girl on here when I first joined(who I'm friends with on fbook) who speaks VERY highly of them....and I don't want any fleas!!LOL

I also have heard that all the bugs are suppose to be bad this year, time of fly preditors and flea busters I'm thinking!!

 

Of course, the first year I decide that I want to try it chemical free and there might be a huge increase in fleas -.-'

 

ugh now im nervous..comfortis is the safest flea product..but it doesnt kill ticks..also it reacts BADLY WITH ivermectin....so if anybody is using ivermectin for HW..buy trifexis which is comfortis plus interceptor in one.

right now winston isnt on any flea or tick stuff...confortis would be a waste as it doesnt kill ticks..we have frontline here(was included with Winston's adoption) but it is the 100-130 pound dose an wisnton is only 117....i' prefer the 50-100 dose


and yes give it every 8 wks...i know heartworm meds last 2 months...so flea mes should be fine

if comfortis killed ticks iwould give trifexis every 2 months..but since it doesnt im just going to use heartguard.

 

I keep reading how DE can really dry out the skin and coat. For flea/tick/mosquito repellant im going to use a mixture of citronella, geranium, and lavender essential oils in an almond oil base to spray on Ruby for every walk. Do you think the almond oil would offset the drying effects of DE? Or could it cause clumping? This is going to be my first year using either DE or an oil based bug repellant (im making the repellant myself)

 

We are getting the nematodes for the yard as this is promising to be a bad year. I used them before in So. California and they were wonderful and cost effective.

 

That's what I did last year and the nematodes did their job!

 

This link was in a group email I just opened:

Natural Flea & Tick Control | Pest Repellent - Mercola.com

 

I bought Advantix for the time being. I need to get some lavender, because I would really rather not keep putting the chemicals on them.

 

liz and malluver, where do you order your nematodes from? I definitely want to try that this year for my yard and garden. probably have to wait until all threat of frost is gone though unless they can survive colder temps

also has anyone tried steeping lemon and rosemary in boiling water and bottling it to spray on your dog? i was going to use an ACV/water/essential oil combo but just read about the lemon one on another forum

 

I get mine from fleabusters...

Flea Control Treatment Kills Dog Fleas and Cat Fleas - Fleabusters

 

I am using Bug Off Garlic for the first time this year. No, it is not bad for my dogs to eat it. They would have to eat a TON of garlic (like more than they would probably willingly eat on their own anyway), for there to be a CHANCE that they might have a problem.

I’m also going to spray them with Avon Skin-So-Soft before we go into any woodsy areas. This is our first summer being chemical free, so we will see what happens. I can’t use topical treatments on Tux b/c he has skin issues, and I’d rather not use them on Cabo either.

 

I'm going to try the bug off garlic and the skin so soft. I'll just check for ticks after each visit in a woody area. My dog sheds a lot so getting combed is no big issue for her.

I actually hated off with deet. It felt awful on my skin. The smell made me sick. Ruined everything I touched. Overall, it just wasn't good for night fishing and I still was bitten by bugs. I switch to skin so soft myself and I've noticed fewer bites and it doesn't ruin everything I touch. Was going to ask how safe it was to use on a dog.

 

Was going to ask how safe it was to use on a dog.

Before I even thought to use it on my dogs as bug repellant, my vet had mentioned to me that it is good to use for dogs who have dry skin. I do dilute the skin so soft with water before spraying it on them, I probably do about 1 part skin so soft to 4 or 5 parts water, combined in a spray bottle. Shake it and then spray. My vet had also said you can rinse them with skin so soft diluted with water in the bath tub, that would work for moisturizing and the scent would also linger for bug repellant.

 

Well, I just got done working in the yard, went to take a shower, and found 3 ticks on ME! None on the dogs. :twitch:

Life in North Carolina sucks. Literally.


It's only March......I may end up taking the Advantix and using it on myself before the summer is over. We don't get fleas here (cross fingers) , but once you've starting picking ticks off yourself every night before you go to bed, you get a little twitchy.

 

Earlier, I posted a link from Mercola. The spray is out of stock so I did some research and found that VetriScience makes a flea and tick repellant. I like VetriScience products so i figured I'd try it. Only Natural Pet has it for $18.95 a bottle, KV Vet has it for $10.95 a bottle!

 

First & foremost, the chemicals in each tube are calibrated according to the weight of the dog PLUS putting it on the skin of the dog & it absorbing in. So you may want to stick with using the correct dosage for each dog. Otherwise you are compromising the effectiveness of the chemicals.

Also, if you are not using it according to directions regarding the duration, it is not going to be of much use: the chemicals are only effective for a certain length of time, given that dogs get wet, are bathed, etc.

If you don't want to use it, don't. But if you are, use it properly.

 

Bluntly put.

I hate the stuff. It turned white and powdery on their coats. And it stinks. And I don't want to poison my dogs.

I'm looking into a few things others have mentioned. I'm getting rid of this crap.

 

That's true but DE has never caused a puppy to loose all motor control and Black Walnut has never caused neurological issues like heart worm preventative did. So for us naturally occurring toxins for flea and parasite prevention are a better option. There are many cases of problems with topicals and other conventional preventatives. I am glad you have not seemed to have issues with any.

 

I don't think anyone was saying you were bad for doing chemicals. I don't think you are. I think we do the best by our dogs that we can. Some have a harder time with fleas, ticks, mosquitos, etc. These are hard decisions to make. There have been some years fleas have been so bad I have wanted to use topicals desperately - but for me, naturally rearing and using naturally occurring remedies is what I have promoted for years so I really have to stick to my guns. For my placed pups I would love to have them continue to be naturally raised - but reality jumps in and about half are vaccinated although thankfully on a minimum schedule for the most part, most will be given flea/tick topicals though I do hold my ground on the heart worm. I believe you need to be comfortable with your plan for your pets. We just rarely use conventional medicine of any kind. I hope you don't feel you need to defend yourself - I don't. I try to be sure I am doing what I feel is right and the best I can by my guys as well as ethical because I state I am a naturally rearing breeder. :smile::smile:

 

DE dust inhaled can cause silicosis

 

im not one to obsess about this stuff i mean sure im gonna do what i can to keep my pets as healthy as possable and keep as many harmful things out of there systems that i can but somethings i just have to use it and hope for the best. Cesar needs a spot on living here. hes been on a walk thru hte woods once this year and has already had 15 ticks on him this is an awful year for them hes gotten 5 ticks just from going out into the yard to go potty. ive tried the natural stuff on him and myself it doesnt work here the ticks just ignore it hell half the time the ticks ignore the chemical bug sprays i use on myself like off deep woods.
even went so far year before last to take a can of raid home and garden to spray my pant legs with didnt faze them little buggars. also the misquetos are also awful for us this year and the deer flies are already coming out and biteing and Cesar has allergic reactions to fly bites and last year nothing worked on the deer flys they were so bad tried avon skin so soft,all natural cittronella lotion/spray, all sorts of herbs and oils to no avail so this year he is getting a specfic fly ointment to repel them.

are those alot of dangerous chemicals going into his skin? yes. am i happy about doing it? not really but its either keep him happy and contented with chemicals now and deal with him maybe deal with him having an illness later or deal with him being miserable from the bugs forever.

we are all going to die we cannot even predict when or how or how awful it will be we cannot predict how or when our pets will die or from what so we have an obligation to keep there lives as happy and misery free for as long as we can untill that day comes for them. an if that means putting chemicals onto there bodies a few times a year to keep them happy for a while then ill do it at least untill somthing all naturally and safe does come along that REALLY works for our yooper super bugs.
(this is the only place ive seen that the deer flys are out biteing till 11 and midnight..not kidding)

 

Dogs being carnivores is a fact. They are not obligate carniviores like cats but they are carnivores. Let us notbe silly about actual facts. Even the Smithsonian lists dogs as carnivores.

 

if cats are obligate carnivores why do they eat cat chow???
and scarletto emma or amy or w/e her name was...was coached by jon and nat in person and ithink they know how to feed raw .

 

thn why do they eat cat chow? obligate means only meat.

 

Taken from a website I found when I googled "what does obligate carnivore mean"

"What does it mean to be an ‘obligate carnivore’?* It means that your cat was built by Mother Nature to get her nutritional needs met by the consumption of a large amount of animal-based proteins (meat/organs) and derives much less nutritional support from plant-based proteins (grains/vegetables). It means that cats lack specific metabolic (enzymatic) pathways and cannot utilize plant proteins as efficiently as animal proteins."

So long story short....."Why do cats eat kibble?" BECAUSE HUMANS ARE STUPID AND LAZY thus came up with kibble to make it "easy" on them selves!!!