BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Dogs best flea remedies?

What does everyone use for fleas? My 3 dogs never had a problem in the country but now, in the city, with so many squirrels, etc around, they got fleas and my one dog just can't seem to get rid of them.

I started giving them Brewers yeast and read that you can add apple cider vinegar to their water also to help with fleas. I put Advantage on them, but not sure it's working even.

What is everyone's opinion of the best product and natural flea remedy?

Thanks
Joan

Miss Pico is on K-9 Advantix, which has the advantage of also helping with mosquitos (Heartworm and West Nile carriers). It's not natural, but it works amazingly well. Also, a few years ago we went hiking in the woods in Texas with about 30 dogs. The dogs not on Advantix or Frontline ALL had a bunch of ticks - Pico had none!.

Spraying your yard with pyrtherines (a pesticide made from daisies) seems to keep the fleas off your animals as well. Here in Oregon it is also useful because it keeps carpenter ants out of your house.

Pennyroyal herb is very effective against fleas, but it is really strong medicinally as well and can cause abortion and liver damage in humans (and presumably animals) if too much is taken internally. I'm honestly not sure it's any safer than Advantix. I used to put pennyroyal between the mattress pad and the sheet at the bottom of my bed where my animals liked to sleep to keep fleas out of my bed and it worked really well. Like I said, I use Advantix now.

Julie

Thanks, I'll try that. I'm kind of at my wits end about the flea problem. I've done everything natural I've read about which hasn't helped. I think the rain and damp, hot conditions are making them worse this year.

Thanks again.

Joan

Lucas aka Mr. Pretty uses Frontline. I've never had any problems using it. Do make sure you put it on every month to keep the ticks away. It keeps fleas away for 3 months, but in the summer the ticks are out like mad, so I use it every month from April to September.

I use Frontline on my cat too, but I swear I think he's like Reagan from the exercist. I have to keep him on my lap for at least an hour after putting it on him. He can lick the back of his neck...creepy kitty. =)

You can usually find the topicals like Frontline cheaper online rather than buying from your veterinarian. Just be sure you get it from a reputable place.

I started using some apple cider vinegar in my pets water and adding brewers yeast to their diets (3 dogs and 3 cats) It took a month or so, during which I had them on Advantage, but didn't have to reapply any chemicals.

I just put about 2 tbs apple cider vinegar into a 4 gallon water reservoir.

If you do this, make sure all your animals will drink it. Don't know if some sensitive noses might not like the apple cider vinegar smell. I don't have a problem with mine.

with 3 dogs and 3 cats and living in the country fleas can get OUT OF CONTROL. Frontline has been amazing!!! we haven't had a problem in years now.

Here is two natural fle powder recipes. Try it.

1 Flea Powder with Fennel

Mix and grind 1 cup each of rue, wormwood,
rosemary, fennel, and peppermint. When the herbs
have been ground to a powder, dust the animal with
the herbal mixture, working it in as you go.


1 Flea Powder with Pennyroyal

Mix together 2 tablespoons each of powdered
wormwood and rosemary. Add 4 tablespoons of
powdered pennyroyal, and 2 teaspoons of cayenne
pepper. Use as often as you would a commercial flea
powder. Caution: Do not get this into the animal's
eyes.

Wanted to say that the apple cider vinegar and brewers yeast seems to be working. I did one round of K-9 Advantix but after that didn't use anything chemical and no fleas!

I'm glad everyone is getting relief with the apple cider vinegar and brewers yeast, but our WV fleas must be immune to both, as I've had the pets on both and it hasn't even slowed down their torment with fleas. Any more suggestions? One dog is even on Frontline and that's not doing anything either.

I've used K-9 Advantix with good results. I don't like chemicals but sometimes it's necessary.

I also vacumn my carpets daily and wash area rugs where the dogs sleep frequently.