What are you using for fleas and ticks? - Page 1

 Buying flea and tick medication for 5+ dogs can be expensive.  What are you using? 

Cheers

I don't have many (if any) ticks in my area, but we have serious fleas because it rarely freezes here. I'm finding, however, that I don't have a flea problem while my dogs are eating raw. Is this my imagination, or has anyone else experienced it? There's an old organic gardening maxim that says parasites attack the unhealthy plants and leave the healthy ones alone. I have NO IDEA if that is true, but maybe it generalizes onto animals as well. My dogs NEVER get worms, but then usually fleas are the culprits for bringing worms anyway. I don't have a way to compare raw fed dogs' tick issues. Seems like my dogs did use to get ticks out in the country. Out there I used DE for almost all insect problems. Another good way is get guinea fowl! They will clear the ticks out of your yard pronto, noisy buggers.

Anyway, this for me is one more example of why it's cheaper in the long run to feed "expensive" raw diet. Never had a tooth cleaned, that's for sure...but I don't use the commercial raw diet.

I hate putting poison on my dogs.

Thank you for sharing your experiences

Do an online search.. you can find good prices on products..... I use K9Advantix as infrequently as possible ... and have used Frontline again as infrequently as possible every 3 months or so.. except when the ticks are fierce....
I have never had issues... proper application is important..... I apply early in the day and then spend at least 10 -15 miinutes outside exercising.. it helps the product translocate from hair follicle to hair follicle the way it should....
If at all possible the dogs spend time out in the kennel that day as well..... 

A suggestion here might be to check into using Melaleuca (tea tree) oil on your dog's coat, or bathing with a shampoo infused with tea tree oil.  Tea tree oil kills a good many bugs and it was recommended for getting rid of mites of various types in the house.  It would work on a dog's coat, I'd imagine, as well, but it's strong smelling.  Some people don't like the smell, although it doesn't bother me.

Fleas haven't been a problem for me.  I won't use poisons like Advantix and Frontline...Wonder how much of the skin issues come back to the use of anti-flea and tick topicals like those?  We know it kills some dogs.

Of course, as VM pointed out above, keeping the dogs really healthy seems to have a lot to do with keeping the parasites out and off of them...

Crys

After reading another thread and reading some info on it, I will be trying Diatomaceous Earth (DE - human grade) for my dogs this year.  Fleas and ticks laugh at poison-based preventatives.

FWIW, though, I like the smell of Tea Tree Oil.  My dogs get baths with Tea Tree-based shampoos in the Summer with it. They LOVE it!

I use a combination of Hartz flea/tick and Diatomaceous Earth. I use the Hartz sparringly except when tick season is bad, then monthly. I use DE mixed in water and sprayed into my dogs coats, especially when we are training in heavy vegetation. I also use the DE in my yard for insects.

Theresa

OK:  sounds great but where do you get the Diatomaceous Earth?   That sounds like the way to go and someone mentioned they actually use it for worming their dogs??  What strength??  Thx  Nan

I get the DE from www.dirtworks.net They also give you a chart for dosage based on weight,
Cats – 1 teaspoon/day
Kittens – _ teaspoon/ day
Dogs – 100lbs+ - 2 tablespoons/ day
50 – 100 lbs – 1 tablespoon/day
under 50lbs – 2 teaspoons/ day
Minidogs – 1 teaspoon/ day
 
I also use it as a wormer, but it is not effective against heartworm

Theresa

Thank you Theresa;  I think I am going to go that route also.  Nan