Nasty flies - Page 2

There is a phenomenon that I know of around the Cologne area of the common fly "mist Fliege" that seems to be attracted to certain homes.  The flies seem to swarm to a house and try to get in.  It has nothing to do with cleanliness.  And they have not figured out what causes the phenomena.  I have seen it myself as I rent out a house in the area and was told of the plague of this common fly.  The flies will actually lie right down the side of the house trying to find an entry.  I had to have the entire attic completely sealed off but they still find a way to get in.  Why?  They wind up dying in the attic.  If the attic is not completely sealed off to the rest of the home you can wind up with hundreds of flies in the house, dying (and pooping).  According to the people who lease the house the entire attic floor is covered with dead flies.  This phenomena has occurred in the past 5 years there.  When I go visit in the Summer, you can see the flies congregating around the eaves on the ornamental shale. 

Very strange.  Nothing to do with cleanliness.  I have told the renters about the pennies in a baggie with water.  LOL.

I spray my dogs with a dog-safe horse product called Rio Vista coat-so-soft. Its all natural, pesticide free, and it makes them smell good and shiny as well.

My dog uesd to get fly bite on the ears. The nasty buggers would suck blood from the tips of his ears. I bought a cream from a farm supply store, I can remember the name but it smelt like pine needles.

I personally have found going out and spritzing some weak bleach-water around the kennels and premises quickly dries and disperses all flies and also helps keep down some potential virus/etc potentially lurking around on the premises. Helps with lingering smell a little, too, not that you should have a problem with such (you can clean poo and pee but sometimes the smell still lingers).

As far as stuff to use to keep those biting flies off (especially the ears), Avon Skin So Soft bath oil does wonders plus smells heavenly! That's an ole horse trick I was told years ago. Good for the coat and skin, too! just apply it sparcely or else you'll have a messy-oily dog!

If you want something a little more commercial, you can break open a pack of the monthly flea/tick treatment (comes in the vials, usually 3 monthly treatments per pack-doesn't have to be the real expensive stuff-Hartz brand works decent for this-get the biggest sized pack for biggest dogs to stretch it the furthest) and apply some of that oil treatment to the ends of every dog's ears and rub it in to the first 3 inches of the ear tip (apply to the outside where the hair is-where the flies are usually worst, not inside the ear). This also keeps off biting flies, fleas and ticks and mites don't like it, either. I can use 1 vial and nicely treat 4-5 of my GSDs ears-it doesn't take much, but I work it in real good into the ear tips. Redo monthly just like if it was monthly flea treatment along the back.

Beware of using any of this commercial stuff if your female is pregnant. If you have an expecting female, I think the Avon SSS stuff is best and won't cause problems.