[pug&boston]

My boyfriend told me that he heard we got to keep up flea treatment every 2months, i live in England just wondering if any1 knows the best flea treatment or are they all the same ???

[cigwyllt]

I use Spot On - I get it from the pet shop but I think they sell it in Tesco too.

[pug&boston]

so doesnt it matter which 1 i get, as i work im not able to get to a pet shop that is open when i finish, and if i get my boyfriend to get it he will get something comppletely different lol

[CorkyMax]

http://www.i-love-dogs.com/forums/do...html#post94740

[cigwyllt]

I'm not sure Bio Spot is licensed in the UK and there is quite a lot of negative publicity about it. But as I said, you can get Spot On from the pet shop or the supermarket.

[KristinaL]

I don't know if this will do any good or not but here goes.....I live in the US and there is a monthly pill called Comfortis, it's sold only by vets but it is a VERY fantastic flea preventative. Flea stuff is good because not only are fleas gross but your dog can get Tapeworms from swallowing fleas infested with the tapeworm larvae....hope this helps

[rainfielder]

We have a terrible time with fleas in Texas but Frontline Plus seems to work. I have tried many different products that seem to feed the fleas instead of killing them. Maybe fleas are just becoming immune. It is so hard to really tell from just reading the advertisements. It takes a bit of research to find out what really works and isn't just a money waster.
Do garlic tablets help?

[puppypaige]

This may sound like an ignorant question...but what is wrong with the good old fashion Flea Collar? Is there a reason why giving a dog pills is better than just putting a flea collar on them? Really am curious.

[KristinaL]

from my expierences flea collars only really work around the neck and some of them stink as well. Some people like the collars and some don't I guess it's up to what you need and like, I personally prefer the pill

[rainfielder]

I like using Diamatraecous earth as it's natural. It's a bit of a process but I have been worried about using the topicals and the buildup of chemicals and possible side effects. I know it's hard. We had a terrible time in Houston last year and I bought topicals once as I needed instant help. It' s worth trying the natural options.

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by puppypaige

This may sound like an ignorant question...but what is wrong with the good old fashion Flea Collar? Is there a reason why giving a dog pills is better than just putting a flea collar on them? Really am curious.

They are dangerous and outdated! Some dogs have become sick --had seizures, etc. My brother's dog was one of them to have this happen!

This is off the net:


While flea collars are safer today than they were in 2000, there are still many different flea collar dangers you need to be aware of. With the invention of flea and tick repellents in the forms of topical treatments and pills, there is no need to subject your dog to flea collar dangers any longer. There are multiple toxins and chemicals in flea collars that pose an extreme health hazard to animals and small children.
Toxic Chemicals
*

Flea collars are full of toxic chemicals. The label says to wash your hands immediately after putting the flea collar on the dog, not to touch your face, and not to let children near the flea collars, so why would put one near your pet's head? There are several known cancer-causing agents in flea collars, such as propoxur and organophosphates. One of the organophosphates found in flea collars is Tetrachlorvinphos, which is a carcinogenic neurotoxin that is harmful to animals. Flea collars are designed to get the chemicals into the subcutaneous layer of fat on the dog. This means that all those chemicals are getting into the bloodstream of your beloved pet.
Adverse Reactions
*

Dogs can be allergic to flea collars, and an allergic reaction can be deadly. According to Green Paws, some flea collars have residue levels of toxins more than 1,000 times higher than the acceptable levels as mandated by the EPA. This means there are 1,000 more risks of adverse reactions and neurological damage to the dog.
Danger to Children
*

The risk to children regarding flea collar dangers is extraordinary. Children are prone to touching and putting their fingers in their mouths. Even though the label says children should not come into contact with the flea collar if the dog is wearing the flea collar, it is not possible to avoid this danger unless the child is not allowed to pet the dog.


Read more: Flea Collar Dangers | eHow.com Flea Collar Dangers | eHow.com

[rainfielder]

I love this answer.

[CorkyMax]

I don't know how well these work--but worth a try! May help some---It is the garlic of course!

Anti-Flea Dog Biscuits

* 2 cups flour
* 1⁄2 cup wheat germ
* 1⁄2 cup brewers yeast
* 1 cup chicken or beef stock-- (I would use home-made--too much salt in commercial!)
* 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
* 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt or powder--(I would use about 3 cloves of raw crushed garlic instead! Just don't give a dog the whole recipe at one time--Should not have more than 1-1 1/2 cloves of garlic a day in his diet. I would think that garlic salt or powder would have more garlic anyhow.)

Note: Someone had stated to use barley flour instead of regular flour--that it made the dog's coat shinier.

Instructions:

1. Combine the flour, wheat germ, and yeast in a bowl.

2. Mix the oil and garlic and slowly add to flour mixture, alternating with the chicken or beef stock.

3. Continue until all the ingredients are incorporated into a smooth dough.

4. Roll out on a lightly floured surface until 1⁄4-inch thick.

5. Use a 2-inch-round cookie cutter to cut into biscuits.

6. Place biscuits on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 400ºF for about 18 to 20 minutes or until browned.

7. Let cool and leave for a few hours to dry out.

Recipe courtesy of RecipeGoldmine.com


Of course like most home-made treats that have no preservatives---Should be refrigerated or frozen for longer storage. (Corky/Max--Barb)

[WeLuvRuckus]

I have always used frontline

[rainfielder]

I like diamatomaceous earth. I can't imagine I spelled it right. I found some very useful info on different sites. Frontline sure works. I have used Frontline plus at the very worst of times but I like the natural approach. It has to be a multifronted attack however.F rontlike is quick and easy but I still am nervous about too many chemicals. I really liked the info on the earth at Holistic Livestock.

[sunshine361]

There are a myriad of flea treatment products currently on the market. The most effective products are generally stocked by veterinary clincs, who can provide you with a product recommendation and managment information specific to your situation. By choosing the right product for you and your pet's lifestyle needs, as well as managing their environment adequately, you're less likely to encounter flea infestations. Generally speaking, most flea products are applied monthly for flea prevention. It is also important to ensure that your pet receives gastrointestinal de-worming treatments on a schedule recommended by your vet.

[DougGeneration]

I never really heard of "flea collars", but indirectly it was a good thing because I didn't even thought of using it on my 2 dogs.

Definitely agree with the post above because there can be alot of alternatives and constant and effective managing of the environment will surely lessen, if not totally prevent, flea scenes in your dogs.

[CorkyMax]

Was just going to reply to sunshine361 but see she has been banned! I just wanted to enforce that a lot of the commercial flea products (including ones sold by vets) may be highly effective (or not) but they are hard on the dog! I know nobody wants to deal with fleas but I want my dogs to stay as healthy as possible. So I guess each individual will have to decide which way to go!