Natural flea/tick preventive or Frontline Plus....

down here in florida if i tried to use the natural stuff, my pets and i would get eaten alive...but if you can use it up there (at least in the winter) it would be great.

cheap frontline plus:

the cheapest place i have ever found is:
http://www.petshed.com
45-88# $53.95
89-132# $55.95

however, i really like jeffers pet and prefer their customer service. they also have coupon codes for free shipping or $5 off your order frequently. they mail them with the catalogue, or sometimes i just google the coupon codes:

http://www.jefferspet.com

45-88 $70.99
89-132 $72.99

petshed's comes from australia, that is why its sooo cheap.

Re: Natural flea/tick preventive or Frontline Plus

This year has been HORRID in regards to ticks. One day Tazer (the Cocker) came in with SIX on him!! I tried the natural stuff but it just wasn’t cutting it.

I bought a bottle of the Frontline spray (Dr.s F&S online). I throw out the directions and use it as follows:

Riggs (GSD) got two squirts of the pump bottle at the top of his shoulders, one in the middle of his back and two more at the base of his tail.
Tazer and Winnie (Cori mix) got one spray at the shoulders and tail.
Kaynya (Chinese Crested) got 1/2 spray at the shoulders.

That was over a month ago and I haven’t seen a tick since.

I don't worry about fleas. If the dogs catch a rabbit them bring some in but I just use a flea comb and remove them. Never had a problem with fleas.

Re: Natural flea/tick preventive or Frontline Plus

Didn't know about the Frontline spray ! Would this be a cheaper route then ? I will have to do some reading up on this stuff !

Ruth,
The links, pics, brands of the products you use ? I don't feed raw & not sure if the ticks/flea will still attack ! I like the idea of natural.....IF it will work.

I haven't seen fleas yet. I don't keep a good tick check on them. IF ticks are found, where are they normally at 100% of the time ? Head ?

We are on a wooded lot & the dogs are outside most of the day.

One of my boys had a friend here last night, they were sitting in the grass & the next thing..........a tick was crawling up his neck ! Of course I freaked & thought, NEED to get stuff on the dogs !

Thanks all for your replies/advice !

Re: Natural flea/tick preventive or Frontline Plus

Here is some info I just received on-line today from an animal communicator:

Here is my battle plan: I use a small can with tiny holes poked through it like the flour dusters you use for baking) and fill it with diatomaceous dust (available at most garden centers, make sure
its dust, not earth). Wear a mask when you do this (its safe to ingest, but not to inhale) and cover the dog's head with a sheet
or something light to keep the dust from their eyes & nose.
You will definitely want to apply this outside. Lightly sprinkle the
dust along the dog's top line, and then work it down over their body with your fingers.
It is gritty and you will not want Marshall to get on the furniture until he's flea free & bathed. The dust is a fine crystal and
literally cuts up the bodies of the fleas causing them to die. Of course every time you pat Marshall there will be a little poof
of dust for a while.

After dusting, I then spray my dogs at least twice daily with a
water & oil mixture. I use lemon, peppermint & eucalyptus globulus in my sprays, roughly 5 drops of each to one cup of water. I spray
them down liberally and rub it into their coats. It helps diminish the dust and it is also a flea repellant for any bugs living in
the yard (be sure to do legs & tails).

I also lightly sprinkle baby powder on my carpets and let it work down into the carpet (good for fleas but not asthma). Baby powder
does the same thing to a flea's body that the diatomaceous dust does--it cuts into the exoskeleton. I vacuum it up the next day.
There will be enough of it worked down into the carpet fibers to their job by then.

I also wash all the dogs' bedding in hot water
(and bleach if I can). Once it's clean, I lightly dust it with either baby powder or the D dust, let sit for a bit, then take it outside to shake off the excess (they don't need to breath in a cloud every time they lay down).

I also set a "flea trap" just in case
I've missed any. To do this, you need a lamp, a white bowl, water and some liquid soap. I use a reading/floor lamp and
position the fixture as close to the bowl as possible. Fill the bowl about 3/4 full with soapy water. Then, at night, turn off all
the lights except the lamp, which is positioned directly over your white bowl. Fleas are extremely attracted to white and
will jump into the bowl. The soap breaks the surface tension on the water and they can't jump back out.

You can also dust your yard with diatomaceous dust, but the first time it rains, it will be washed to the earth, thereby losing its effectiveness. However, if you don't treat the yard, you have a very good chance of the reinfestation.

There are pesticides that are labeled "pet safe," but I
would use those only as a last result. We don't truly know all the side effects of these chemicals and there is no point in taking a chance if there is a safer, more environmentally friendly way to win the war.

I also feed my dogs Bug Off Garlic made by
Springtime Inc., which makes them a less
palatable host to fleas.

Re: Natural flea/tick preventive or Frontline Plus

The fleas are just soo bad here and I am at a loss, I want to do the more natural way especially since my girl is allergic to flea bites and one of my fosters is in chronic renal failure so I don't want to use anything caustic...and I'd like something that PREVENTS them from biting not just kills them after they bite.

So is it Diatomaceous earth or dust...or are they they same?

What about Sevin Dust, is that bad or similar to Diatomaceous earth, it was also recommended to me for the yard issue.

I feel that no matter what I do to my dogs inside, how do I keep them from picking fleas up in the yard when I can't control my neighbors and what they do for their poor outside dogs!

I am doing the vaccumming and emptying to try to help any that came off the dogs and are in the carpet...gotta try the "flea traps"

Re: Natural flea/tick preventive or Frontline Plus

I just ordered for the 1st time from jefferspet ! They were the cheapest price wise I have found yet & thanks for posting their info !

I hate to go with chemicals, but need something & not 100% on going natural.............

Some ways sound like alot to do there ! What to do a method that will 100% work & all.

I know this Frontline Plus will work. I only apply it about 2 x's all yr anyway & feel this shouldn't be that bad on them.

The natural way I'm sure is best, but to know what exactly WILL work without a ton of work !



Thanks so much & please keep sharing natural ways that has worked !

Re: Natural flea/tick preventive--LINKS

Sevin Dust is different and is toxic to honeybees and possibly domestic animals as well. It's overall safety is under debate. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbaryl

I used nematodes for the yard: http://www.fleabuster.com/Products/Biobusters/nematodes.html

I use diatamaceous earth in the house: http://www.dirtworks.net/Diatomaceous-Earth.html

It can also be given internally but you must buy the food grade for that. Given internally it is a natural dewormer and helps protect animals from fleas and ticks. It is in my dogs' joint supplement actually.

Bug Off Garlic is here: http://www.springtimeinc.com/product/148/2

Neem Oil spray is here: http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/br...&ci_sku=BD-1028

The shampoo is here: http://www.herbalremedies.com/neem-protect-shampoo.html

And I use Bragg's organic apple cider vinegar, available at most stores!