Let's talk about Fleas!
 

I was just messing around and put white vinegar on a flea on one of my dogs. It really didn't like it and I searched for more fleas, yeah, we have a problem with fleas. I put the white vinegar on several and some it stopped immediately, others it took more than a drop of white vinegar to stop them. I took some and put into the white vinegar and it killed them.

So, I have a question: I don't think it would be a good thing to spray undiluted white vinegar on my dogs skin, the vinegar might not dry their skin out but it might burn. Anyone know anything about white vinegar and fleas? Anyone know what percentage of white vinegar to water will kill the fleas but not harm my dogs?

I'm asking here first because we have so many members and someone might know something personally. I am off now to see if I can find anything on the internet about fleas and white vinegar. Thanks, Sylvia

If I recall correctly, I have read here on YT that you should use apple cider vinegar. Save the white vinegar for cleaning.

I don't remember the dilution ratio, but I think you should use it at bath time and rinse. Try doing a search for vinegar and several threads will pop up.

fleas
 

I have a bug man who comes and the spray he uses is safe for dogs. I have not had ticks, fleas for several years. totally trust him. I have 5-dogs 3-schnauzers 2-yokies.


I tried all different ways to take care of them but this seems like it works best.



good luck


cheryl

My vet recommended Revolution for fleas, ticks and mosquitos. I just rub it in the skin on the neck/back. It's good for a month.
I don't know about vinegar but I think it might be very strong?
I saw another post where someone said they bathed the dog in Downy, the fleas would not like that.

From past threads Ive read I think you want to use apple cider vinegar. Im not advocating it because Ive never tried it just relaying what I have read. Dawn dishsoap has worked for me. I had a stray kitten that was covered with them I gave her a bath with dawn left it on 5 minutes before rinsing and it killed all of them

well it might I would tell him if he wants to come. He loves my dogs he plays with them and lets them kiss him


I live in Texas..


cheryl

I will ask him,


:)

Has anyone tried the Frontline Plus? I was willing to try the Comfortis pill but was told that my yorkie's need to be at least 5 pounds, so my vet recommended the Frontline plus. I desperately need something for them, although they never go outside, well up to a couple of days ago that my husband took them out to play, now there are ticks showing up on them. I find 1-2 per day! I'm gonna spray or fog my house today (trying to also find something good for that) and spray my yard, but I have to find something good for my babies. So any advice from you all will be very appreciated.

I use Frontline Plus on my little guy (he weighs 5.5 lbs) and it has worked for us. I've never seen a flea on him, but we've also never had a flea outbreak in our house, so mostly it's been preventative. We also use Sentinel for our monthly heartworm preventative which also prevents flea eggs from hatching. Frontline Plus has work well for us - but I know some people prefer to stay away from flea medication for their own reasons.

Thanks! I have never needed anything before but this summer seems to be bad. I'll be heading out to buy the Frontline Plus and everything else I can get to kill these little monsters! I have read on different threads that some people only use half a dose on thier pets. Lola Pistola is 2.5 lbs, and both Lucy Lu & Toby are 3 lbs, so Im considering only using half a dose on each. I hope it works! Thanks again.

my vet actually recommended splitting the dose. I get the dose for up to 22 lbs and split it between the two. They weight a combined total of less than 13 lbs, so it saves a little money. That said, we still can't conquer the fleas. I treat our lab, but he comes in from outside and must carry them on him. It is a never ending battle. The dawn works and I rinse with apple cider vinegar (1/2 & 1/2 w/water) The acid in the vinegar is supposed to deter fleas. Hasn't worked for mine, but I keep trying.

Prince has been using Revolution for a while now, and I really like it. He stays inside 99% of the time because of the weather and his health, so it works for us. You stated that you "rub it in the skin?" I've never done that...I just apply it and let it soak in.

We use Best Yet Cedar Oil to control the fleas, you can use it as often as you like, spray your bedding, house, etc. Kills on contact.

The best thing about it, is it's very safe (No chemicals). It also helps with the dry skin and promotes healing of open sores.

It's an amazing product, if you haven't tried it yet, you should.

apple cider is the stuff to use, I think 50/ 50 mix with water

I had forgotten that I asked about fleas. LOL I just found a notification in my pile of emails.

Lukes: Where all can I find the Best Yet Cedar Oil? I haven't checked out the site yet but I will and I just know that I won't have enough money to buy from the site. Sylvia

This is what it is called at that site: Best Yet Cedarcide Flea and Tick - Chemical Free Insect Control.

I wonder if any cedar oil would work just as well. I wonder if I can find cedar oil if it would be too strong and I could add another type of oil to make it go farther.

Well, it might help if I read more of the article. It only has 10% of cedar oil and 90% of something else. Ok, I have tried 3 different times to put a percent sign after the 10 and it keeps changing to what you see, so just remember it is supposed to be 10 percent cedar oil.

My Teddi had liver shunt surgery 2 years ago and University of Tenn where she had the surgery said that Frontline Plus is safe for her to use. She is 3 lbs.

I use advantix and it works great. But I wouldn't use that or Frontline AND fog. I think that might be chemical overload. Foggers act on insects nervous systems and you and your pets will breathe in the residue. You shouldn't need any of that using the Frontline. The topicals work for a month and affect fleas/ticks in the house as well as the ones on the animals. When the ones in the house hatch and jump on the dogs/cats they die. So the fogger is unnecessary.

Right now I can't afford Frontline or Advantix. I was going to start a kennel but have changed my mind, in the meantime I gathered a lot of dogs. It doesn't matter anyways, for some reason Frontline, Advantix and there is another one that starts with a P, they haven't been working at all as far as I can see. I did pick up a collar that worked but it was expensive too and the one I bought someone took off the dog and I can't even find it!!! LOL

I was just reading about the cedar oil. The information seems to be divided, one article says that it seems not to be so much of a flea or tick killer as it is a deterrent. It runs them off but the other article did say that if you sprayed or rubbed the oil on your dog it would kill the fleas because they can't breathe. It is the smell and it causes the pores on the fleas to close because of the smell, not that it is oily. The article also said that it dissolves the case the eggs are in and it kills the pupae.

How to Use Cedar Oil as an Insect Repellent | eHow.com
How to Get Rid of Fleas Naturally: Cedar Oil Fights Flea Infestations, Offers Flea Control

That's all very well and good but then I read another article that says putting garlic juice in their food would keep the fleas and ticks off. It didn't say how much.

I even looked up eucaliptus oil because if the cedar oil smell will run them off, what would eucaliptus oil do? LOL It is a lot stronger. Hmm, if cedar oil would work, what about pepperment oil? That one might burn though.

Sylvia,

Garlic and Yeast works, but it takes time for it to build up in the dogs system. Frontline and Advantage works, but they are expensive. You might be able to find a place that sells single applications of it, most places have it in 3 or 4 packs. I would stick with Advantage/tix If you go that route, I heard it's been working much better.

Cedarcide, I personally use and it kills on contact, you will have to comb out the dead fleas. It's not a month long preventative, but a bottle will last you a few months on a yorkie. You don't have to worry about getting it on your hands or breathing it in. I spray, rub it in with my fingers, then comb out the dead fleas. You should also spray any betting with it.

The cedar smell fades pretty fast, you won't smell it the next day.

Best Yet Biting Insect Spray for People, Pets, & Premise - Luke's All Natural Pet Food

Ask your vet
 

Our vet sell Frontline and flea meds in single doses. Last weekend I went to Petco and was going to buy a package of Frontline for my cats (one with three applications) it was almost $70.00 and thank goodness they were out of it so I had to wait until Monday and went to my vet. I got three doses for them for $35.00 and they had a special buy 3 get one free! I also picked up a dose for one dog at 15.00. So it was MUCH cheaper there.

[QUOTE=lukes;3313434]Sylvia,

Garlic and Yeast works, but it takes time for it to build up in the dogs system. Frontline and Advantage works, but they are expensive. You might be able to find a place that sells single applications of it, most places have it in 3 or 4 packs. I would stick with Advantage/tix If you go that route, I heard it's been working much better.

Cedarcide, I personally use and it kills on contact, you will have to comb out the dead fleas. It's not a month long preventative, but a bottle will last you a few months on a yorkie. You don't have to worry about getting it on your hands or breathing it in. I spray, rub it in with my fingers, then comb out the dead fleas. You should also spray any betting with it.

The cedar smell fades pretty fast, you won't smell it the next day.

With the Frontline or something like that - that does drops, I get the biggest size and divide down the dosages to save money.

We went several places today looking for some items and asked everywhere if they had Cedar Oil. No place that we asked had it or even knew where we could get it locally. I know I can get it on the internet but I prefer buying in person. I think I can get a better deal locally if I can find it in more than one place. I may have to buy online and I will get the Cedarcide. I have some Maltese and the fleas are easy to find but not so easy to catch and kill. LOL I don't think I would mind the smell. Cedar usually smells good.

I agree with Luke's about the Best Yet. I use this on my boys, every week after their bath. They don't care too much for the smell, but I put some lavendar oil in the palms of my hands and rub it on their coats with the cedar oil. The scent of lavendar is soothing to the dogs, us and biting critters hate it, too. I'd rather use this frequently than putting chemical on them.

I just wasted $40 on a botttle of frontline plus. It hasn't done a thing. I think fleas have built up an immunity to it. I may try the cedar oil because I hate giving my little girls anything more than the heartworm preventative.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the flea and tick oil from Only Natural Pet store. It smells good, isn't expensive, and is all natural. I've never had a problem with them on Piper.

Only Natural Pet Herbal Defense Oil Blend

Natural Defense or Cedar Oil
 

Has anyone used these products on their Yorkie Baby? Do they keep biting black flies away?