Dogs and fleas
By lucy02
@lucy02 (5015)
United States
May 5, 2008 11:58am CST
I have 4 dogs and I have been using the Frontline flea control for them. Lately it hasn't been working as well. The vet's office said that's getting to be a common problem. Plus its really expensive. I know that feeding dogs garlic will help keep away the fleas. Is there any other inexpensive home remedies for flea control? My dogs are in the house except to go out to the bathroom and sometimes they play awhile out there. I don't have carpet so I don't have to worry about it getting in the carpet.
3 people like this
6 responses
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
5 May 08
I believe garlic is deadly to cat & dogs. I have heard that apple cider vinegar added to the water bowl helps out.
We started using frontline on our cats a few months ago and it worked great. I don't think it is still working though. Our cats are indoor only. They go on our balcony made a few times a month, outside on a leash maybe 2-3 times a year. I am not even sure how they even pick up fleas (other than we may be bringing them in the house when we walk through the courtyard at our complex. Up until maybe 6 months ago we never had to treat them for fleas.
4 people like this
@lucy02 (5015)
• United States
5 May 08
Oh my gosh! I had never heard that about garlic. I looked it up and found if it is given in large quantities over time it is dangerous to dogs. I remember it being an ingredient in one of the flea capsules I use to buy so I thought it was okay. thanks for enlightening me!
2 people like this
@MichaelJay (1100)
•
3 Jun 08
Make sure it's cider vinegar you give your dog and not the normal malt vinegar or 'non-brewed condiment'. It's something about the apple origin. Kep just a tiny amount in the dish, nort enough to make it unpleasnt to drink. It gets into the bloodstream and deters the pests from biting.
@snowy22315 (180533)
• United States
5 May 08
I used to use Frontline but it's too expensive for me right now ,so I am using Seargeants. He isn't scratching, so I guess it's working.
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
1 Jun 08
I have two dogs and one cat. I spend recently over $150 for Frontline. I am not happy and I am not ready to spend about the same in the next 3 months.
I have feeling that dogs medications cost more than one for human....
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
6 Aug 08
I always have used Provantage for my cat. I have never used Frontline. I know it is expensive. That sucks that they are starting to not work any more. Especially considering how much they cost!!!
I remember when I was a kid my mom used to make up dog food for our dog which combine dry dog food with ground beef, and garlic powder and brewer's yeast. I remember that supposedly the brewer's yeast keeps fleas off. I don't know, but maybe you could try that.
Good luck with this. So far the Provantage has been working for my little guy.
[i][b]
Have a great day and happy myLotting!![/b][/i]
I remember when I was a kid my mom used to make up dog food for our dog which combine dry dog food with ground beef, and garlic powder and brewer's yeast. I remember that supposedly the brewer's yeast keeps fleas off. I don't know, but maybe you could try that.
Good luck with this. So far the Provantage has been working for my little guy.
[i][b]
Have a great day and happy myLotting!![/b][/i]
@lucy02 (5015)
• United States
7 Aug 08
I haven't tried Brewer's yeast but I have tried garlic and it did help. I quit using the garlic because I was told there was a danger of it causing bleeding in dogs. I don't know how great that risk is though. Other people have told me they have used it for years with no problem and I've heard its only an excessive amount of garlic.
The doctor has put my dog on some pills now (I can't remember the name but it has got rid of the fleas really well) but it is even more expensive than Frontline. He said I could go back to the the Frontline or something else once we got the flea problem under control.
@tech_sue (2)
• United States
7 Aug 08
Do you by any chance bathe your dogs within 24 hours of putting the front line on? If so this may be the problem, that product needs 24 hour to travel thru its system to be completly effective. OR do you live in an apartment and may your neighbors have flea problems?
You should treat your yard with this stuff called 7dust, that you put down with a spreader, not sure how long you have to wait to let your pets back on it again, I would read the bag...I have clients at work that swear by that stuff!!
Fleas are bad everywhere this year...Good Luck and I hoped I helped you out some!!
@lucy02 (5015)
• United States
7 Aug 08
Thanks Sue. I don't bathe them for at least 48 hrs. after using Frontline. The vet gave me some pills and they have got rid of the fleas. Its a new product and very strong (also very expensive). I used Borax in my yard a month or so ago at someone's suggestion. I may try the 7dust next as it might be more effective.
