Flea and ticks prevention help

I balanced the risk and benefit. Looked into natural/homeopathic, pills, sprays, spot on/drop, and the do nothing until it is a problem approach.
I chose to use a once a month spot on product. Just my opinion, but it works well for us.

I have been debating this question myself (natural remedy vs. Frontline Plus). My thoughts: there is no proven evidence that garlic repels insects. Works for some, but not everyone. I think that probably goes for everything actually: homeopathic remedies as well as chemical products. However the chemical products have a higher success rate IMO and a proven effectiveness. Frontline is a chemical but essential oils and other homeopathic remedies can be toxic to a dog as well. Do I want to mix and measure my own concoctions, experiment with them and see what happens (both in physical reactions from my dog and effectiveness of ingredients)? Or do I want to simply buy what I've used successfully in the past without problem or issue, apply it and be done with it? I'm still debating, but leaning towards the latter.

[sm=2cents.gif]

If you haven't already done so, read down the list of threads in this topic for more input and opinion on your question.

I use the Frontline Plus for my dogs---as seldom as possible.  I do spray the yard about every 4-6 weeks as there are dogs all around us, cats running loose, and of course lots of squirrels, birds and possums.  i do wait until i see a flea on one of my dogs before using it.
 
I have also read of "natural" concoctions for not only fleas & ticks, but also heartworms.  I might try one for the crawlies, but never for heartworms.  To much risk there.
 
We lost two dogs to distemper back in the 50's despite my Dad taking them to the vet and getting some medicine for them.  My Uncle's dog came down with distemper after we had lost ours, he went with the old "cure" of soaking a corn cob in kerosine and tying it around Bessie's neck.  She lived, but had the "distempe jeks" every after.  Why did our dogs die on meds, his lived on 'home remedy'?  Nobody knows.  Bessie may have lived if he had done nothing.  Ours may have had a worse case, or the meds given at that time not near as good as the ones given today.

Frontline or K9 Advantix work reliably and well. Natural remedies, as to all present evidence, do not. []

Natural remedies, as to all present evidence, do not.

If you really, really stay on top of it (I'm talking about using a flea comb on each dog every day, using essential oils every day on the dog and in the house, treating the yard with lyme, feeding a fantastic diet), they can work. I've got two dogs. Emma has a compromised liver and immune system. I rarely put flea stuff on her. Teenie has only been here 7 months. Monday, I Frontlined them, b/c I saw fleas for the second time this year. I've been lazy. I didn't think they'd get fleas if I only did all that stuff once a week or whenever. So... I put the chemicals on. Teenie has a chemical burn and Emma is itching worse than she was with fleas. Never again.

Found this website.  Has an easy to read comparison of the most popular products.  Good answers to basic questions.
 
[linkhttp://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=545]http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=545[/link]

I have 3 goldens, 70 to 86 pounds.  And they all have long, thick fur and heavy undercoat. There is no way i could use a comb and get fleas off them!  Heck, I can barely get them wet enough to shampoo them!  Lucily being goldens, they love the water and will stand there all day with water running on them.  And by the way, it is hard to even get the Frontline right on their skin!

Thanks Purple!

i use Revolution for both of my dogs, but one of my friends who is a vet assistant in New Zealand told me that Revolution is not recommended in NZ, the vet said it is too strong for dogs. not really sure if it is ok in North America, my vet suggests this one

You're welcome.   I live in Minnesota where the winters are worry free but now it's time to start dosing the kids for the flea and tick season.  In fact Baily goes in for his heartworm test in the morning.  I have been thinking about all the meds and options for the past several days and it's making me nuts!

I've been in quite a few arguments online about the issue of strong immune systems fending off fleas (not even the need for herbal based prevention).  I'm not fond of the argument at all.  Although I completely understand the concept, I think a lot of people give fleas more credit than they deserve !  []  My thoughts are that if a room of dogs is exposed to fleas, those fleas could care less if the dog has a good immune system or a bad one.....it's a free new home and they are going to move in!
 
With that being said though, I don't use preventative.  I live in a 'suburban city' setting, my dogs go to public parks, also to wooded areas, 2 of my dogs were active certified therapy dogs, I regularily show one of my dogs, they go to public places such as pet supplies, etc.   I had fleas one time 8yrs ago and that was before I ever did 90% of the above.  At that time I used Advantage to rid everyone of the fleas and I've never had an issue again.  Doesn't mean I won't, but I take my chances.  If I had been dosing my dogs for the last 8yrs on a preventative measure, I would kick myself for what I would have been making their bodies process unneccesarily.  We know and watch our dogs well enough that even an unusual itch will send us checking 'crevices' just in case.  I would rather dose them once on a need-be basis, than dose them all the time to prevent something that may not even happen.
 
JMO! 
 
 
 
 

If I had been dosing my dogs for the last 8yrs on a preventative measure, I would kick myself for what I would have been making their bodies process unneccesarily.

 
I did exactly that Jennifer!  Used Frontline and Frontline Plus as a preventative for years.  Then one time I ran out and procrastinated about buying more.  A couple of months went by and no fleas.  I happened to mention it to my neighbor and he told me that he'd never used a flea preventative on either of his dogs in all the years he'd lived in this neighborhood.  So I completely stopped using it too (3 years ago) and I've yet to have a single flea or tick (good grief I hope I'm not jinxing myself).  I do apply it as a preventative if we are going into the mountains/woods.  And I would certainly use it if I had a flea problem in my house/yard/neighborhood.