To get rid an kill fleas and ticks i just sprinkle diatomaceous earth on my dogs and around their bedding. it works really well. you can feed it to them to.
my backyard has tons of fleas an ticks and i sprinkle my pups with diatomaceous earth before they go outside. they have yet to bring anything in the house :-D
O yea and its not poisonous to our animals in anyway unlike the frontline and all the flea an tick preventative we get from the vet or buy from the store