Flea and Tick protection
Submitted by Mojo_Gomez on June 8, 2011 - 6:55pmDoes anybody have any suggestions when it comes to Flea and Tick protection? I know the weather has something to due with fleas or ticks in the area but I live in southern California so I don't think Mojo (5 1/2 months old) is at that much risk but I don't want to take that chance. I have tried the cheables, I took Mojo to get groomed and they found fleas, the lastest one I tried is Liberty something similar to Advantage or Frontline, but I didn't due that good of research on the product before I purchased it and I read into what the actual product has and found that there are some pretty dangerous substances in there so I am not going to continue with that. Right now I am debating on either Advantage or Frontline, any suggestions?
Mojo_Gomez
They all have dangerous stuff
in them.
If I ever have to use flea protection I use Revolution, but I typically don't have a problem with fleas. The only time I have is they have picked them up from my dog show weekends.
Holistic Methods
Garlic or food grade Diatomaceous earth are a couple of different methods.
I used Vectra the last time and my girls did well with it.
Plus it lasted longer than Advantage. If you live in Southern California, your pup will have fleas without protection. And make sure to get going on heartworm preventative as well.
Amy and Sophia
I use holistic methods
sprinkle with diatomaceous earth if I notice more than 2 fleas and if I see flea poop on her. I only use a little bit, about 2 teaspoons worth and rub it in well.
I flea comb her every day.
After she is flea combed, especially if I found a flea , I rub essential oils thoroughly onto her stomach, especially her back end and armpits. I have lately been using Cypress oil mixed with sweet almond oil and 100% pure argan oil. Only a few drops are necessary, and I comb it through well with the flea comb then massage her whole body. She HATES!! anything sprayed on her, and is not real fond at first of the strong cypress smell, but she DOES enjoy her massage :-) The argan oil is a new find, it makes her coat LUXURIOUS, it is SO soft and shiny!
I also use peppermint oil sometimes, it just depends on what I feel like smelling. The cypress is my favorite-it smells WONDERFUL on her!
If I had to rub her with DE, she gets a bath within a day or 2, then rinsed with about 50/50 apple cider vinegar and water. DO not rinse this off, let it dry on their coat. The smell does NOT last long! I do not use de frequently, so far I have only had to use it once a year on her.
I sprinkle de into the carpet where she naps and LIBERALLY in and all around her crate
I feed her fresh crushed garlic daily, and feed her food grade de daily. Fleas bring tapeworms, the de is an excellent wormer.
I also feed her a raw diet, add fish oil for omega 3's, and do NOT use any kind of chemicals on her or in her to keep her immunity at it's best.
She went through a period this year when I slacked off on combing her and using the oils, and she had about a week of me finding several fleas on her a day, and LOTS of flea poop on our bed where we all sleep. (Now THAT"S motivation to handle the flea problem!) It gradually decreased til now it is rare to see poop and only an occasional flea.
Cathy and Audrey
need an edit button!
from what I wrote it makes it sound like I only put the oils on her stomach, but I do put them all over her,just mainly concentrated on her stomach and back end where I generally findthe most fleas/flea poop.
Cathy and Audrey