[duffysmama]

Hi everyone!

So I am wondering what everyone uses on their fur babies for flea/tick prevention. I got Duffy off of Trifexis after reading the horror stories and on Heartgard Plus. I am feeling much better about that. But now I need to get him on a flea and tick med. The vet gave me Advantage II to try, but after reading up on it and how harsh the chemicals are - I can't bring myself to put it on him. I even saw that the EPA put out a warning on spot-on treatments. I am looking for something natural that someone can verify will work...has anyone tried the EasyDefense Flea and Tick Tag? It's gotten some really good reviews and I'm considering ordering it tonight to give it a shot. But what else?? His Trifexis has worn off by now, so I know I need to make up my mind quickly...help! Taking any and all advice.

(We live in south Florida. Duffy is an inside dog, plays in the yard throughout the day with me, we visit our dog friendly malls to socialize and he goes to doggie daycare occasionally. He's not really in woods, fields, sand, etc)

Thanks guys!
Ashton & Duffy

 

[Yaichi's Mom]

I have used all natural flea/tick repellents for Brisby over the last 3 years. I do not use heart worm preventatives either, however I have her blood tested regularly for HW.

What has been successful for myself with Brisby and for others is giving Brewers Yeast, Garlic with Linoleic Acid daily/body weight combined with tea tree oil on her collar every day when we go out in the bush, which we do daily.

NaturVet Brewer's Yeast & Garlic with Linoleic (5000 tables)

My homeopathic vet also suggests a product called Tickz, also known as My Best Friend in Canada. I have purchased some however I haven't used it yet. This product is given for 5 - 7 days, twice daily with no need to repeat until 2 - 3 months later.

I can't vouch for the Tickz/My Best Friend yet, however I can say that the Brewers yeast/garlic/linoleic has worked magnificently for us.

Brisby and I walk in the bush everyday. She runs through high grasses, rolls in them, swims in the rivers/creeks etc and she was tick/flea free last season, is tick/flea free this season so far, with many of our walking partners finding ticks on their dogs going through the same terrain.

Diet and and healthy immune system also plays a huge part in the attraction of these pests. Brisby only eats a combination of a home cooked and raw diet, her treats consist of a combination of small bits of meat ( cooked or raw), no grains, pet food treats/cookies etc.

Some claim that putting organic apple cider vinegar( with the mother) in your dogs water also helps. I have tried to do this however Brisby won't drink it.

With the above though, please keep in mind that I live in a totally different climate than you do. We have a lot of deer here ( ticks) etc., however I can't begin to know what it is like in Florida. For example, I don't have to worry about ticks in my back yard...only when we walk in the bush, which we do daily.

Hope that the above will help you with your decision.

 

[duffysmama]

awesome! I'm glad I'm not the only one that wants a natural remedy for their baby. so many people are quick to use the spot-on and pills without researching. have you ever heard of diatomaceous earth? it's supposed to be another all natural that dries out and kills fleas and ticks. it's a good supplement for humans and dogs to even eat supposedly!

 

[CAROLINA MOM]

I am giving my boy Nexgard, just started giving it two months ago.
I too was giving my guys Trifexis but stopped giving it when the reports of so many dogs having problems with it and several dying came out. I tried the Seresto collars and they weren't that effective.

In my area we don't have too much trouble with ticks, fleas are horrible, and HW is very high here. I've always kept my guys on HW prevention year round. I've tried every topical on the market and have not had any luck with them.

I've tried all natural flea remedies before too with absolutely no luck.

I'd talk with your Vet about which flea/tick preventive that is most effective for your area.

In general, when you live in the South or in an area that is warm and humid, you need something strong to protect your dogs from Fleas/ticks, and HW because bugs/insects are so bad in these areas mainly because we don't have enough freezing temps to kill them.

 

[duffysmama]

I've read lots of articles where doggies have had horrible reactions to the spot-ons or that the spot-ons didn't even work. I hate the idea of introducing him to more chemicals when there's even a chance that it won't work for him. I'm happy with Duffy on the Heartgard Plus now and I definitely plan to use that year round.

I'm really considering getting some Diatomaceous Earth and the EasyDefense Flea and Tick Tag to start as a natural preventative and see how that works...I will definitely need to set up a briefing with my vet to thoroughly discuss the flea/tick thing. They are so quick to give out those meds and chemicals without much explanation.

 

[Yaichi's Mom]

awesome! I'm glad I'm not the only one that wants a natural remedy for their baby. so many people are quick to use the spot-on and pills without researching. have you ever heard of diatomaceous earth? it's supposed to be another all natural that dries out and kills fleas and ticks. it's a good supplement for humans and dogs to even eat supposedly!

Yes, I have heard and read about diatomaceous earth, however I have had no need to add it to my arsenal....not yet anyway.

Personally, I refuse to give my dog neurotoxins which invade her entire body/bloodstream.... which will only kill the parasites that may attach to her, however does nothing to prevent them from attaching/biting. The treatment just kills them when they try to feed which likely indicates what is in our dogs bloodstream to enable that.

However that is my take, my decision from all I have read, consulted with veterinarians etc. and likely a very unpopular view with most here.

You are not the only one looking for something potentially less harmful for your pup.

Kudos to you for trying to do what you think in your heart is best for your dog!!

With the extremely high incidence of cancer and other diseases within the GR breed, I choose not to compromise both my dogs immune system, her blood stream, general health and all related organs with basically a "pesticide"

However that said, we all do our due diligence to do what we think is best for our beloved dogs.

This is what I chose under close supervision in tandem with a holistic vet and a homeopathic vet, both of whom feel that traditional preventatives are basically poison for our dogs.

 

[GoldenRetrieversAlberta]

Non-Toxic Flea (and Tick!) Control For Dogs - Dogs Naturally Magazine

This article may be useful!
Love this magazine!

 

[Yaichi's Mom]

You also may be interested to read this:

Why Flea and Tick Products Are a Bad Idea and 4 Natural Repellent Recipes - Dogs Naturally Magazine

I would suggest that you seek out a holistic vet in your geographic area to advise you on what they recommend for pesticide free options.

 

[Yaichi's Mom]

Non-Toxic Flea (and Tick!) Control For Dogs - Dogs Naturally Magazine

This article may be useful!
Love this magazine!

I love the articles here too!!

 

[duffysmama]

Yesss, Yaichi's Mom you said exactly what I am thinking!! I lost two Goldens to cancer, and I'm gonna do anything in my power to not have that happen again. I am the anti-chemical nazi in my home.

And thank you both for the links! I will read right now. I'm all for gaining as much knowledge as I can to make the best decision possible for my fur baby.

 

[Yaichi's Mom]

Yesss, Yaichi's Mom you said exactly what I am thinking!! I lost two Goldens to cancer, and I'm gonna do anything in my power to not have that happen again. I am the anti-chemical nazi in my home.

And thank you both for the links! I will read right now. I'm all for gaining as much knowledge as I can to make the best decision possible for my fur baby.

I lost my wonderful bridge girl Yaichi to cancer as well.

Like you, I am determined to minimize the risk with Brisby in any and every way I am able as well. I will not make the same mistakes I feel I may have done with her.

Hugs to you girl...you are a wonderful dog Momma!!

Happy Mother's Day!!

 

[duffysmama]

Thank you so much! Lots of love and Happy Mother's Day to you also!! <3

 

[CAROLINA MOM]

I would love to use all natural chemical free alternatives for flea/tick prevention, unfortunately I haven't found anything that works in a warm humid Southern Coastal State that has a very short winter. FL is even warmer and more humid than my area is.

Duffysmomma, I hope you'll update this thread if you find something that works.

 

[duffysmama]

Carolina Mom I absolutely will!! I think for right now, I am going to order some diatomaceous earth (luminopets.com makes one that is food grade and specially made for dogs) and get the easydefense flea and tick tag for his collar. I will post updates.

Also something I found very disturbing...about a month ago I killed a wolf spider in my home and babies went everywhere. I freaked and had orkin come out to spray, they said it was pet friendly. They didn't leave a list of what they sprayed with, so I went to their office and asked for a list of the chemicals used in my house. Turns out one was NOT pet friendly and I got a refund and cancelled service. I called pet poison control and asked about the chemicals and they said the dilution that orkin used allowed it to be called safe and that there shouldn't be an issue. I spoke with my vet about it and he confirmed that the spray they used was full of pyrethrins, a quick kill neurotoxin that is toxic to dogs. But said that as long as Duffy wasn't eating the baseboards or rubbing on them that he would be okay. Fast forward to helicopter mom here making sure Duffy didn't get near the baseboards for the past month...I even contemplated paying $400 to have Stanley Steamer come out and clean the floors and baseboards. Well, as I was further researching the spot on treatments last night - I find that one of the main ingredients in them is PYRETHRINS! The same thing my vet said is toxic to dogs and to keep him away from. I was appalled. It was actually in one of the links shared above in reply to my original post if anyone wants to read about it. There were two fantastic articles shared.

 

[Kevin21]

I will be curious as to what works for you since we are trying to go in the same direction. I have just heard far too many horror stories about bad reactions and I hate the idea of giving our boys a chemical that stays in their bloodstream for 30 or more days at a strong enough level to kill something that bites them.

I am much more comfortable going with the preventative route instead - repelling bugs before they bite! So far we have tried and been happy with Dr. Harvey's natural flea & tick repellent before walks. We have been hearing a lot about Wondercide lately and may give it a shot on our backyard.