Best Flea Preventative?

[SlyBella]

Originally Posted by Yorkiedaze

Seems I'm always posting this site........but here goes again.

Chinaroad Lowchens of Australia - Ticks, fleas, bees, flies, snakes and other gremlins! And how to deal with them!

Just an FYI...

I told my vet on Saturday that I was treating Bella with diluted Tea Tree Oil (as listed on that site) and she told me to STOP immediately. She said she had first hand knowledge of Tea Tree Oil being toxic to small dogs. She had a client who was putting it on her yorkie's brittle nails after the groomer had recommended it. The vet couldn't do anything except monitor/comfort the poor furbaby on the way out of her life. The vet said she would NOT recommend any dose of Tea Tree Oil on any dog.

[shannon3563]

I'm a new yorkie owner, but at our vet visit they used Revolution.

What It Is

Q: What is Revolution® (selamectin)?
A: Revolution is the first-ever FDA-approved, topically applied medication for dogs that:

Prevents heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) disease


Kills adult fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) and prevents their eggs from hatching


Treats and controls ear mites (Otodectes cynotis)


Treats and controls sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes scabiei)


Controls American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) infestations

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by SlyBella

Just an FYI...

I told my vet on Saturday that I was treating Bella with diluted Tea Tree Oil (as listed on that site) and she told me to STOP immediately. She said she had first hand knowledge of Tea Tree Oil being toxic to small dogs. She had a client who was putting it on her yorkie's brittle nails after the groomer had recommended it. The vet couldn't do anything except monitor/comfort the poor furbaby on the way out of her life. The vet said she would NOT recommend any dose of Tea Tree Oil on any dog.

It is more toxic to cats than dogs but it still does pose a risk, especially if ingested. I would not use it at all. It is in some dog shampoos too.

[bellasmomok]

Originally Posted by shannon3563

I'm a new yorkie owner, but at our vet visit they used Revolution.

What It Is

Q: What is Revolution® (selamectin)?
A: Revolution is the first-ever FDA-approved, topically applied medication for dogs that:

Prevents heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) disease


Kills adult fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) and prevents their eggs from hatching


Treats and controls ear mites (Otodectes cynotis)


Treats and controls sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes scabiei)


Controls American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) infestations

Revolution, as I understand it (according to my vet, etc...), isn't as good a heartworm protector as Heartgard or Interceptor, and he said that it wasn't good for ticks either really, because the medicine is absorbed and then is secreted in the dog's natural oils....but the main place ticks attach on dogs is in between their toes and on/around the ears, which are places dogs don't secrete (much?) oil. I haven't heard any negatives as far as flea, ear mites, and mange are concerned....but it not being a good protector for heartworm was enough for me. I think if I were to use Revolution, I'd use a backup heartworm preventor unless I was in an are where heartworms weren't much of a concern....I guess a place where mosquitos aren't a problem.

[dundeemax]

This is a remedy I used on Max for Berry Bugs in the summer, and it worked. Below is an excerpt from the site I found it on.

Harvest Mites

There are several mite species that may annoy animals and humans directly, especially during the late summer and autumn. They tend to be found in areas of grassland and cornfields.

Their larvae have various local names such as:


Harvest mites
Harvest bugs
Harvesters
Berry bugs
Bracken bugs
Chiggers
in Ireland, Orange-tawneys

the minute, reddish larvae, which are the size of a pin head, suck the lymph and blood of humans and other mammals.

They puncture the skin and inject a substance that dissolves the skin tissue to form a kind of feeding-tube. Their bites produce small spots that itch intensely and are often called 'heat-spots'.

Dogs may be considerably annoyed by these larvae, which attack them between the toes, on the tummy and the groin areas. The itching can last for days to weeks. Once fully developed the larvae turn into nymphs, which later become adult mites. Neither the nymphs nor the adults suck blood and both these more mature stages are quite harmless.

Treatment


Prevention is the best treatment for harvest mites, but if you can't keep your dog off grass then you could try making up some "Bug Oil". Add one drop each, of essential oils citronella, peppermint and lavender to a bowl of water. Dip your dog brush in this and brush through the coat. These oils help to repel parasites and keep your dog smelling fresh
Try shampooing your dog regularly with Dorwest "Pennyroyal Shampoo". The Pennyroyal plant has a strong minty aroma and has been used since Roman times to ward off insects and mites. In olden times people used to place it on their floor and on their beds to repel parasites. Dorwest have incorporated it in to a pleasant, gentle shampoo that can be use on all coat types and for puppies and kittens
Reduce the irritation and repel parasitic mites, Denes have prepared a natural "Mite Cream " containing the essential oils, Cedarwood and Sweet Flag. Cedarwood has soothing properties, and Sweetflag essential oil is used as an insect repellent and insecticide. It is also effective against houseflies and is said to repel mosquitoes.
We have found "Thornit" to be effective against mites. It is a remedy that we generally use for ear mites, but it also seems to be very effective for a variety of mites. Thornit is a powder that is based on Iodoform - an old fashioned dental product. The powder can be lightly dusted on to the itchy areas, or in to itchy ears. Relief usually comes within 2-5 days. In numerous situations where a dog has been suffering from continual skin itching or paw biting, anti-biotic and anti-inflammatory treatment has given only temporary relief. Thornit has been seen to be a much more effective long-term relief in many cases.

With the exception of the "Bug Oil" all of the products can be bought immediately and delivered to your door. Just click here to go to the section you need.

We hope your dogs aren't bugged, bitten or bothered by mites!

Please ring us if you have any questions, or see our website Welcome to the Canine Therapy Centre

Carol Martin (AACC)
Edmiston House

[dundeemax]

I have used almond oil to prevent ear mites, it is also supposed to kill them.

Max has very hairy ears and had a yeast infection for which his vet gave him ear drops. These ear drops made him demented, and I looked for an alternative treatment.

Clean the ears two or three times a week, using one part water, one part distilled vinegar.

Max hasn't had another yeast infection.

[mblab]

We went to the vet's office Wednesday. She said I should worry about ticks for only 2 reasons: if Zoë is in or near by a heavily wooded area or if our house is somehow a tick zone. Well I have some grass, trees, and the tiniest bit of man made woods between houses but nothing I think that would qualify as woods.

The vet didn't give me very convincing info on anything really. I'm assuming that I shouldn't be concerned about ticks so I'm thinking I can use a product that works against ticks but it's not necessary.

So back to the drawing board, as the vet basically said use whatever works. Ugh, I'm not liking this vet. (Between her less than stellar input on what I should and shouldn't use for this AND the whole "there's no such thing as an all life stages food" she doesn't exactly instill confidence when we see her....) In fact Zoë's last booster shot(s) are scheduled this week with another vet in the practice...

Anyway, if I'm not necessarily concerned about ticks and I could use whatever I wanted (as the vet said Advantage, Advantix, Frontline, and Comfortis are all good options) is there a "best" or "better" option?

[bellasmomok]

Originally Posted by mblab

We went to the vet's office Wednesday. She said I should worry about ticks for only 2 reasons: if Zoë is in or near by a heavily wooded area or if our house is somehow a tick zone. Well I have some grass, trees, and the tiniest bit of man made woods between houses but nothing I think that would qualify as woods.

The vet didn't give me very convincing info on anything really. I'm assuming that I shouldn't be concerned about ticks so I'm thinking I can use a product that works against ticks but it's not necessary.

So back to the drawing board, as the vet basically said use whatever works. Ugh, I'm not liking this vet. (Between her less than stellar input on what I should and shouldn't use for this AND the whole "there's no such thing as an all life stages food" she doesn't exactly instill confidence when we see her....) In fact Zoë's last booster shot(s) are scheduled this week with another vet in the practice...

Anyway, if I'm not necessarily concerned about ticks and I could use whatever I wanted (as the vet said Advantage, Advantix, Frontline, and Comfortis are all good options) is there a "best" or "better" option?

I agree....I don't think she'd be my favorite either. I'd be inclined to find somebody I really love (for me it's like finding a good pediatrician...I don't want just some old doctor. I want to feel like they are excellent at what they do and keep me informed and give me good advice for every single thing!!)

As for as "best" or "better", as I said before, I didn't have good luck on my CATS with Advantage (Advantix adds in tick protection). However, I hear from other people that Advantage and Frontline are pretty equivalent in flea protection (not taking into account my bad experience...maybe I just got a bad batch or something?? still, that's not good....) I would say if you don't care about tick protection, go with either Advantage or Frontline....but if you care about ticks, go ahead and go with Frontline. I think they're basically the same price, and if it were me I'd go for broke and go with the Frontline. I would NOT go with Comfortis because it's protection is limited--adult fleas only and only if they bite !! For me, that's inferior to the other 2 options. Everyone has their opinions, but mine are: Frontline > Advantage > Comfortis. (I don't know/hear enough about Advantix to be confident in that product, but I'd say it probably rates the same as--or possibly a little better than--Advantage. I think I remember too that Advantage doesn't get one of the life stages of the flea that Frontline does get....larvae maybe?? Check me on what I wrote before--I've slept since then! )

[mblab]

Hey all! I know it's been 2 months but I thought I'd give an update. Before I get to that I have to give a GIANT thank you!!!! to everyone who wrote in with some comments. You were all so helpful, I can't begin to even explain. Everything is so complicated you need to know more info but it's hard to find it. So THANK YOU!!!

Okay, well, per the vet's recommendation Zoë got her first flea preventative (Advantage) the beginning of September. She didn't seem to react to it and no fleas yet. That said she didn't have any fleas before her getting Advantage. In its defense Zoë went to the dog park and several other locations that I wouldn't have taken her otherwise (for fear of her getting fleas). So our opinion: Advantage worked well enough, only complaint is that it smelled kind of funky and she was a bit greasy while it first settled (only about a day) and during that I did really fear her eating/licking it.

While it worked well enough I don't know if I want to spend that much money on a flea preventative. It was just under $20 for one dose and while it'd be a bit cheaper per unit buying a few at a time (~$10+ per unit but that's multiplied for the amount of doses I'd have to buy, eg. $46 for 4 doses) it still seems a bit expensive.

Zoë just loves going out for adventures and for her sake I'll keep her on some flea preventative year round so she can do just that. While Advantage seemed to work, I am 98% sure I'll be buying the Frontline spray today as her newest preventative. I'm hoping that it works just as well as it seems to be much more cost efficient.

-Vicky and Zoë

I am Zoë and I approve this message. (This is me flea free at Dog-O-Ween at a Dog Park!)

[Desiree1027]

Thanks for the update, I am glad you are satisfied and confident in your situation.. I have two dogs and they are both around 3 lbs so I split the smallest tube of Frontline between them, it saves me money and they get plenty of coverage this way.

[mblab]

Yeah, I did ask my vet about splitting doses. Of course I expected her answer, to not do that. But her reasoning made sense: that while it's a high dosage it's not toxic and with the intense fleas in Florida it's helpful/important to give full doses, just in case.

So it's easier for me to give her a smaller dose and be meeting the instructed dosage with the Frontline spray, or so I think....

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by mblab

Yeah, I did ask my vet about splitting doses. Of course I expected her answer, to not do that. But her reasoning made sense: that while it's a high dosage it's not toxic and with the intense fleas in Florida it's helpful/important to give full doses, just in case.

So it's easier for me to give her a smaller dose and be meeting the instructed dosage with the Frontline spray, or so I think....

Frontline is not toxic?
Fipronil
It is a possible human carcinogen, so the same would go for a small dog...
I wonder where the vet is getting her info.

[mblab]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Frontline is not toxic?
Fipronil
It is a possible human carcinogen, so the same would go for a small dog...
I wonder where the vet is getting her info.

I guess I need to clarify. She said that deaths from Advantage are very low. From that I inferred that the dosage prescribed is not toxic on its own. I inferred that because she said that the deaths that did occur were from a dog getting way more than the prescribed dosage. That's what she said.


On a side note I feel like I almost lied in my update. After talking to my Mom about what I should do she came up with a few new topics to keep in mind. At the rate Zoe loves to play everywhere, she would benefit from some form of preventative (since I don't want to guarantee having a flea infestation on her). That said, application, effect (on her), cost, and of course effectiveness are all important. While Frontline spray seems to be the most cost effective the practical application of it is a bit troubling. The directions say for me to wear GLOVES! and for it to not get near the dog's mouth or eyes. Forgetting that what about the areas I accidentally don't get that spray on, I assume those would be unprotected areas which wouldn't be good if I didn't know I'd missed any spots!

So now I'm kind of back to where I was before. Right now my next step is to ask my vet what their prices are for things. Depending on what they say I may just get a few months worth of a topical (still debating Advantage versus Frontline) either from them or online I guess.

I don't know. I feel like I'm back to that original crazy frustration and confusion.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by mblab

I guess I need to clarify. She said that deaths from Advantage are very low. From that I inferred that the dosage prescribed is not toxic on its own. I inferred that because she said that the deaths that did occur were from a dog getting way more than the prescribed dosage. That's what she said.


On a side note I feel like I almost lied in my update. After talking to my Mom about what I should do she came up with a few new topics to keep in mind. At the rate Zoe loves to play everywhere, she would benefit from some form of preventative (since I don't want to guarantee having a flea infestation on her). That said, application, effect (on her), cost, and of course effectiveness are all important. While Frontline spray seems to be the most cost effective the practical application of it is a bit troubling. The directions say for me to wear GLOVES! and for it to not get near the dog's mouth or eyes. Forgetting that what about the areas I accidentally don't get that spray on, I assume those would be unprotected areas which wouldn't be good if I didn't know I'd missed any spots!

So now I'm kind of back to where I was before. Right now my next step is to ask my vet what their prices are for things. Depending on what they say I may just get a few months worth of a topical (still debating Advantage versus Frontline) either from them or online I guess.

I don't know. I feel like I'm back to that original crazy frustration and confusion.

I was thinking you were using Frontline...active ingredient fipronil.
They can all cause problems but you have to do what you have to do.

[Bizzymammabee]

I usually just give the brewers yeast with garlic daily. I have been slacking lately with the kids being back to school and running around like a nut bag in the morning. I did notice that they have been itchy lately. I checked to see if I found anything on them but nothing..I really need to make sure I give it to them to keep them covered. I worry too much about the frontline and all the other chemically derived stuff especially as my kids are handeling them all the time.