DE, Diva Dogs and Fleas......
I rescued 5 diva dogs... (4 girls and 1 boy), at different stages, and with different issues...
I have been gardening since early spring, and maybe I am letting all these buried fleas to come out, but here lately, I have found 4 to 5 fleas per dog, every other day or so.
Know tho, I have treated my entire back yard with bags of DE (Diatomaceous Earth) from the early signs of spring. I also have treated the backyard with lime.
Also, these diva's sleep with me, so, I need them to be flea free. They pretty much are indoor dogs, but when I'm gardening they are with me, and they do their lil biz out back as well.
The trouble I am having is that these dogs are all chihuahua/doxie mixes...with major allergy issues, to the point where they take antihistamine and or allergy meds. They can't handle chemicals on their bodies or coats, so, I have to bathe them in as natural a shampoo as I can. Even baby shampoo causes them rash and bumps, poor babies. The vet says, use a non soap based shampoo, and or oatmeal... which I do, but because I can't put any flea meds on them, all of a sudden NOW, they have fleas...
HELP!!!
What can I do, as natural as possible with their allergy issues to help alleviate fleas on their bodies without causing them constant itching. This itching causes them to break skin, and bleed, their bodies to look mange ridden due to bumps on their skin under their coat..its awful.
Also, if you can, please address what I can do to my lawn, outside of lime and or DE, to help curb and kill off these buried fleas.
The thing is, my yard is usually not flea ridden, so, all I can think of, is this gardening, I have been into on a major scale has given them new life!!
and YES, they are NOW spoiled, never to return to their past lives of abuse and torture.
Thanks all in advance,
Athena
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natural flea and tick repellant
I live in a forrest type area and when I mowed for the first time last year (a rider) I must have brought in fleas. My poor indoor cat was going crazy with fleas. Two months of Frontline and carpet/furniture treatment did nothing. I got Revolution flea treatment from the vet. This is applied to the back of the shoulders. In less than 36 hrs. we were finally on our way to treatment. I have only seen 1 half alive flea this past month. That was after two months treatment. I comb this cat several times a day a feel we are good for now. The true test will be next summer but I really believe in this Revolution.
Hi all, and thanks for keeping this discussion alive and well....
What I have found in the past year, after trying all the dawn, vinegar, etc recommendations is
Trifexis.
For 5 diva's and a cat, its a costly monthly venture, but I call all the vets in my area, because usually someone has 15$ off per pack of 6. These packs are well over $100 each.
But this works, its a pill.... and I wanted to be natural about it and avoid anything internal to my pets, but, one night a light-bulb finally turned on, and I said...I take pills from my heart, HBP, cholesterol,etc.... so I thought, they can handle it...and they have....
No more fleas!!!!
So for us....its an expense I make for them...
I have a GQ guy who has sensitive skin and fleas can cause him (and me) a lot of missery. I do use Trifexis which takes care of the heart worms and the fleas. Love it.
Before you do anything can I suggest you use a bit of prevention ,isolate the problem and the problem is your dogs . No animal should be allowed into your sleeping area as this makes them think its their territory...not good. It also invites problems for you apart from fleas ,ticks are very dangerous to humans as some carry lyme disease which can kill. You also have the problem of fecal matter from their privates and paws ,the list can carry on . Best bet ,give the dogs their own bed and see a vet about their problem.
Yes....thank you!
I had problems for years with fleas. Nothing would kill them.
When Sererto came out with their collars. I tried one and to my surprise within a week or two we were Flea free. This collar is kind of pricey, but last for 8 months
really 8 months. So $45.00 for 8 months is not so expensive, But worth it.
Love your dogs!! Since their skin is so sensitive, ask your Vet to recommend something. Good luck!
Research this med is killing animals...Trifexis.
Ahh well each to their own.
As with anything else. Some animals are allergic to some meds and even food additives. While at it check what's in their food. Some claim good reactions with Dynovite. Mix into food. Couldn't get my cat's to touch it since they eat dry food. Got the evil eye when I rubbed some on their leg.
Check this link for info on flea repellents.
http://www.petmd.com/dog/wellness/evr_multi_flea_control
As to ticks. If you find one, put a couple drops of oil on it, then grab with tweezers and gently pull straight back on it. They have to turn loose of their bite because the oil is blocking their breathing. Best way to destroy once pulled is in ashtray with a match. I can remember pulling them off by dozen, from our rat terrier. He seemed to be a tick magnet. I put them in a jar of water with a little oil and a tight top. Drowned the little pests.
Athena have you tried using mint to control the fleas? The recipe would be available on the Home and Family Pinterest page as natural flea control. This is from Sophie , the green and natural living lady. Also you may try planting mint, and other herbs . Mint should be container planted as it will take over a garden.
I got this flea spray from someone on ThriftyFun.com - it's all natural:
Make a flea spray to spray in your home that consists of essential oils that works beautifully. Here's the recipe:
1/2 cup witch hazel
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
12 drops of Lemon Tea Tree (kills fleas and ticks)
4 drops of Eucalyptus (Flea Repellant)
4 drops of Cedarwood (Flea Repellant, Skin and Coat Conditioner)
10 drops of Lavender (anti-bacterial, anti-itch, and calming. This is the best oil to use for about all common animal ailments. It is a great first aid oil soothing to skin irritations, such as rashes and hot spots.)
You can spray the witch hazel/vinegar mix right on the dog also. The fleas die instantly.
Hi Linda, that sounds something like the recipe I was talking about. Thank you for sharing it.
This sounds weird but plant Arbitrates, (type of cedar tree), pine or any needle bush or tree. Fleas hate these bushes, trees.
My dog is on no collar or meds and is flea free! BTW- No wheat or bread table scraps, lots of dogs are allergic. Makes them itch. Also milk and ice cream is a problem for mine; swelling, bloating.
Took me years to figure out the above, VETS were no help! So I hope this helps you and your pups.
We use a monthly product from our Vet that prevents heart worm, fleas, ticks, and other parasites. Just squeeze it on their skin on the back of their necks once a month. Also, when we moved into our present home over a year ago, there were fleas in the carpet. We vacuumed and steam cleaned all carpets before moving in. I then bought flea traps from Amazon.com. We plugged one in each room, and especially in our bedroom and near the pets beds. We vacuumed daily for a month. By the end of a month, no fleas what so ever. You have to be consistent and vigilant. You will conquer! We did!
Lemon water works also. Boil a pot of water (3 quart pot) and drop a sliced whole lemon in and let it sit over night. Squeeze lemon, remove and strain then pour into a spray bottle and spray your pets & their beds. (complete info on "Frugal Living.com - Make your own flea dip). Lemon has limonene which kills & repels fleas. I also use peppermint oil in a spray bottle (2 cap fulls to a medium bottle of water, shake and spray.) Keep both remedies away from pets eyes. Hope this helps.
In Michigan I used to grate Fells Naptha Soap and do a 3 foot circle around the house. Kept the fleas and all the other crawly things out. At less than $1 a bar really cheap and buy a separate grater to use so you don't have it in your food.
Oh wow, I can do that as well as the trifexis....
come Feb or so in Florida, the fleas start to really jump...so, I will start grating and have it ready to go ... Thanks for the tip!!
I wonder whats is Fel Naptha that detracts the fleas????
Karen - you can get lemon tea tree oil at Ananda Apothecary: http://www.anandaapothecary.com/aromatherapy-essential-oils/lemon-tea-tree-oil.html - and it even tells you that it kills fleas! Isn't exactly cheap but cost versus fleas? No argument here!
Diatomaceous earth food grade will help if you spread it around the house and on the dog and it is also eatable to keep worms at bay . Spread in the yard also. Google it.
Off topic here - just wanted to say how cute your fur babies are! ;-)
...we lost ours last July & Sept. 2015 :-(
Oh, I'm so sorry...... beagles are such love bugs....
Since then, we rescued a lil messed up teacup terrier we found roaming our neighborhood, that we named Emma.... we eventually had to put her down. We had her for a year and spoiled her bunches, but she was riddled with tumours and they were too numerous to operate and she was too old to survive the operation. But in the year we had her, she knew great love.
We figured the owners got the prognosis, and instead of them doing something, they just discarded her.... she was blind, hard of hearing... so matted.... it was really pitiful what someone did to her....
So, we still have 5 dogs and a manx cat.... what a crew! They have taken over my bed, the sofa's.... I try and sit somewhere, and here they come one at a time, till they push me over..lol.....
But I wouldn't trade any of them for anything...
Its that old saying, they eventually end up rescuing you!!!!!
i don't understand why you can't use flea medication? All your dogs are allergic to it? I would treat the animals that can be treated then I would have my house sprayed and clean all their bedding and my bedding. Also Cutting their hair. I have a cat her hair is so thick the flea medication won't won't so she is groomed and her hair is cut twice a year. Or she is miserable and so am I . Use a flea comb daily on the animals you can't treat.
if you look closely you will find eggs and markings of fleas in the corners of your house. I would also treat my yard and wipe off their legs when they came in the house. All my little dogs are rescues also. One of my dogs can't use the same flea medication as the others and I tried other medications until I found one that worked. If you already have a infestation of flea's and tried the all natural way you need something more aggressive.
If you wear white socks in your house you can find out how bad the infestation is because they will adhere to your socks. in the corners of your house without carpet you can find eggs and flea poop in the corners of your house. all dog beds and your beds are probably infested. Treat everything.
Bathe all your dogs with Dawn dishwashing liquid. The blue original dawn. Your fleas will fall off the dogs! Spray the yard with a mixture of 3/4 water 1/4 Dawn. Fleas do not like Dawn!
Your babies are adorable!
Doterra essential oils are high quality and work great. I got material and applied the mixture they recommended and tied them on like they would get after visiting the groomer, one is something with cedar, lavender and one other one. Works great. Know a rep if you need help.
Revolution
When you comb or pick fleas or ticks off your fur babies, dogs or cats, drop them in rubbing alcohol, I use & prefer 91%, it kills them in seconds along with any eggs they're carrying. I keep maybe 1/2 inch in a glass baby food jar with lid & use it over & over til it has multiples in it then dispose of it in trash. Can pour into trash, alcohol evaporates so safe disposal, fleas & ticks are no threat as they're already dead. Glass jar is reusable. Costs is pennies.
I also use Dawn & food grade DE for maintenance.