Fleas

[mymaxx]

Does anyone have a home remedy for fleas on dogs?

[wildcat180]

I don't think you're going to have much luck finding a "home remedy". Fleas are tough creatures that have built immunities to many of the commercial dips, shampoos and sprays.

You're best bet would be something like Frontline or Advantage, in all honesty.

[mymaxx]

I use advantix which is the best one I have found, Had the house sprayed, had the yard sprayed but the dogs are still getting them.

[lelo2006]

Add Tea Tree Oil to some shampoo and use that. Flea's for some reason really dislike Tea Tree Oil.

[SweetPea&Sage]

I have read, but not yet tested this, (and as long as your dog is not a collie and is on regular heartworm treatment) you can use a solution of Ivermection and Rubbing Alcohol, much like you use Frontline, putting it between their shoulder blades. There is some more information here, including the formula I mentioned (it is listed at the bottom of the page)

http://www.gloryridge.com/bugrx.htm

[wildcat180]

If your dog is still getting fleas with the Advantix, it is not working. (Obviously.) Some common mistakes people make when using the spot on treatments are to 1. apply it right after a bath. The shampoos usually strip the dog's skin of oils, which is what the spot on treatments use to dissipate through out the body. No oils=no coverage. 2. Use on dogs that have dry, flaky skin. Dogs that have dry skin, again, goes to no skin oils. The best course of action for these types of dogs is to address the dry skin issue (ei: if it's food related or give them a hot oil treatment.) Then use the spot ons. 3. Allowing the dog to get wet, or bathe the dog while it's got the spot on on. I know the "say" they're waterproof, but that's not always the case. If you bath the dog, well, see number 1 because the spot ons go with the skin oil.

I have used Advantage any time I ever see a flea on my dogs. If I find a flea, they get bathed, then 2 days later, they get the spot on. I've never treated my house or yard because the Advantage kills whatever jumps on the dogs. In essence, I've used the Advantage to treat my dogs, house, and yard.

If you've read the common mistakes and you still don't know why the Advantix isn't working, then it could be that that product won't work on your pet. (Frontline, for example does nothing on my dogs, while Advantage does.)

[For8tune]

As a Veterinary Technician, I would not recommend using Ivermectin on the back of the neck unless it is applied by a Vet Tech or Vet. If you use too much, it can kill your pet and the amount is very small even for big dogs.

I would recommend using Frontline, Advantage or Advantix. If your dog is Heartworm negitive, you can use Revolution which as helps with dogs with skin issues. DO NOT use store brand flea preventions. Very bad for your pet. In order to get rid of fleas, you have to treat home, yard and pet.

Sometimes just using a differant product does the trick. All 4 products have differant ingrediants.

I have heard from some of my clients that giving a garlic tablet keeps fleas off their dogs but I have never tried it. Just to warn you, it will make their breath smell

[wildcat180]

Originally Posted by For8tune

In order to get rid of fleas, you have to treat home, yard and pet.

Nope, not all the time. If the spot on treatment works like it should, any flea the dies because of it can't go on to breed. Interrupt the breeding cycle and by the end of the month, you have no fleas. But walk into any place that sells foggers and sprays and all the works. They'll tell you have to. How do I know this? I used to manage a pet store...Worst part is, all that treatment you'd have to do and it only kills what's in the immediate area, and sometimes not even then. You could end spending hundreds of dollars to treat home, pet, and yard only to have fleas the following week...You protect the "food source" with something that's long lasting and actually works? Now you're talking!

As I said, if I find fleas, I treat only the dogs and let the spot on do its thing. I've never treated the house, or yard.

Oh, and I haven't had a single flea yet this year. My dogs haven't had Advantage since June of last year...