When we had our beloved dog,the best and cheapest method of killing fleas he picked up from other dogs who were unfortunate to have owners who couldn't give a rats regarding the welfare of their do,.as long as it did the job of kind of protecting them and their worldly possessions, was to add a few drops of DAWN dish washing up liquid to the bath water and shampoo in well then rinse off thoroughly.
We use Capstar when we see fleas on the dogs- kills live fleas, available at supermarkets.
We used to use Frontline (et al) but find they don't work after a few months. So for the past 4 or 5 years we have been bathing the boys in Wool Wash, and the eucalyptus seems to protect them from fleas, unless they pick up the odd one from other dogs, which a capstar tablet deals with.
Not sure if wool wash suits all dogs, but we tried heaps of shampoos and soap as one of the poodles has very sensitive skin and comes out in rashes and hives etc. With the combination of the capstar and wool wash we are winning.
This is actually one of the things that makes us hesitate to get another dog. ...all the poisons you have to use to be flea-free. Some of these chemicals are really toxic, not safe for humans yet "ok"? to put on a dog which you can cuddle or even sleep with.
Am glad to hear about the wool-wash Rosie.
This is actually one of the things that makes us hesitate to get another dog. ...all the poisons you have to use to be flea-free. Some of these chemicals are really toxic, not safe for humans yet "ok"? to put on a dog which you can cuddle or even sleep with. Am glad to hear about the wool-wash Rosie.
It's one of the good things about the Italian Greyhounds GD, their coat is extremely fine and short, and they are virtually naked on the "underside" Which means that on the odd occasion that they pick up a flea it actually walks on the outside of the coat and can be easily caught and disposed of. No poisons required. And a "bath" generally consists of a good wipe down with baby wipes
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Cheers, Marianna.
The more I learn about people, the more I like my dogs (Mark Twain)
Just had Jessie to the vet as she has lost fur on one ear and the other is just starting.
The vet took a scraping to be tested and suggested she might need to be bathed in Aloveen Oatmeal shampoo and conditioner as she seems to have sensitive skin, scratching a lot and white dry flakes but no inflammation showing..
Any ideas?
I tried all of that stuff with Mick, Marj.
Oatmeal, sunlight soap, special anti-itch shampoos, etc, etc, even human stuff.
We have settled on wool wash- even home brand works on him!
When you finally hit on something that works, stick with it.
Her ears might be fly strike, even though its a bit early in the season - insect repellent works.
Our Wolfhound/Ridgeback loves water, both fresh and salt, but runs a mile from a bath. (maybe something in her past pre-pound) We use Advantics for paralysis ticks, fleas etc. as its water proof and works, dear though. She gets a yearly heart worm injection.
Peter
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Cheers Peter and Sue
"If I agree with you we'll both be wrong"
No, I'm not busy, I did it right the first time.
Self-powered wheelie walker, soon a power chair (ex. Nomad)
I will try the wool wash, sounds good Rosie.
She will having her heartworm injection next week. All other vaccs not due for a year.
Rosie, wouldn't flystrike look inflamed. Her skin is clean and clear. Just no hair.
Not sure Marj, but when one of mine got it, it lost hair, sometimes bled, and then the skin thickened. Because he was black, I can't remember it being inflamed.
I found this on the computer about 3 years ago. And since my dogs have had no fleas, I just call it fleastuff. It takes 1/2 cup vinnegar,3 lemons squeezed.
1 cup water and 10 drops Teatree oil. Put it in a spraybottle and use it on your dog.
My dog trimmer Tracy wanted the recipe because in the years that she clipped my 2 Bouviers she never has found fleas on them. I only spray them occasionally
and it must work, else the dog trimmer or vet would have pointed it out to me.
In fact when I first had the dogs 3 1/2 years ago the vet alerted me to the fact they had fleas, so on the computer I found this recipe.
But washed them the first and only time with malawash, since then nothing else but Fleastuff.
At a chemist in Innisfail recently I bought some Tea Tree oil antiseptic spray. They had it going out cheap and I thought it would make a good addition to the first aid kit. Few days later saw a flea on one of my boys - argh, they sleep on my bed! So I can't catch it because the dog won't hold still and I grabbed the TT oil spray and just one little spray direct on the flea and it promptly died (the flea that is). The dog ran off because he didn't like the smell, but no fleas in my bed
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Cheers, Marianna.
The more I learn about people, the more I like my dogs (Mark Twain)
I've tried a ton of things for years and prefer natural. Trouble is you have to keep applying it all the time. I now use Comfortis and my dog only needs about 2 or 3 doses a year instead of the recommended monthly one. It's the only thing that has worked constantly and I've known several dogs that have it. You can see why vets and sellers don't readily recommend it.
Glad to hear spray worked, but what was in it apart from t tree oil? My dogs don't mind the smell, (they can do worse)
Spread the word and soon all GN dogs will be flee free. Hooray! Done good deed for the day. NEXT?
just checked the bottle - it's Thursday Plantation antiseptic spray. Says active ingredient tt oil, and "contains alcohol". So I geuss the flea died happy
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Cheers, Marianna.
The more I learn about people, the more I like my dogs (Mark Twain)
Thanks for that Marianna. Now to all people who have to have dogs sleep in the van. OMG can they smell, no STINK , i changed diet but has anybody a cure besides me getting a swag and sleep outside? If i tie up dogs outside they might bark if someone goes past. They are not barkers but it does interupt sleep. Thanks in advance. Johanna
This is one I'd like an answer for too Johanna. Despite my boys being small, clean and very short-haired, the interior of the van still always smells a bit doggy. Apart from washing everything as often as I can, and spraying with fabric deodorant (which at least chases them out for a while), I haven't found a way to eliminate the "scent of dog", though I confess I personally don't notice it anymore!
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Cheers, Marianna.
The more I learn about people, the more I like my dogs (Mark Twain)
Thanks for your response. I don't mean the doggie smell, I mean the mean farts they let go when they sleep or sit at my feet, when i am asleep it wakes me up. I go under the newspaper or if in bed under the blankets. If one stops the other takes over. Apart from putting a cork in their back side I haven't any idea what to do. Anybody has an answer i would VERY much appreciate that. Johanna
A product our Vet advised to use to mask the doggy smells and reduce the need for bathing whilst on the road is Pet Plus Lustre Aid Cologne. It is a coat conditioner, cologne and deodorant spray. It is a greaseless spray containing absorbable Lanolin. It has a pleasant scent that last for quite a while and does give lustre to his coat. We purchased from our local Pet Store.
Our daughter had a flatulence problem with her dogs and was forced to keep them out of the house. After changing from the cheap supermarket canned food to a premium dry dog food (eg Eukanuba) only diet for a few weeks the problem resolved.
Tea tree oil helps, try pure eucalyptus oil on a dogs collar, it seems to work. Our dogs rarely have flees, they never have chemicals put on them, or eat processed or bought food and are mainly vegetarian. They eat what we do and we don't eat processed food, diaries or red meats. Their coats are silky smooth, it's only ticks and leeches we have had to worry about, at home and on the road. Any meat they get is either organic fowl, fish or wallaby.
Tea tree oil helps, try pure eucalyptus oil on a dogs collar, it seems to work. Our dogs rarely have flees, they never have chemicals put on them, or eat processed or bought food and are mainly vegetarian. They eat what we do and we don't eat processed food, diaries or red meats. Their coats are silky smooth, it's only ticks and leeches we have had to worry about, at home and on the road. Any meat they get is either organic fowl, fish or wallaby.
I learned recently that kangaroos and wallabies can be hosts for hydatids, so take care that the wallaby meat you feed to your dogs is cooked. And be careful about the poo they leave everywhere too... don't handle it or let dogs eat it, be careful if raking it up not to inhale any dust from dried roo-poo.
Tea tree oil helps, try pure eucalyptus oil on a dogs collar, it seems to work. Our dogs rarely have flees, they never have chemicals put on them, or eat processed or bought food and are mainly vegetarian. They eat what we do and we don't eat processed food, diaries or red meats. Their coats are silky smooth, it's only ticks and leeches we have had to worry about, at home and on the road. Any meat they get is either organic fowl, fish or wallaby.
I learned recently that kangaroos and wallabies can be hosts for hydatids, so take care that the wallaby meat you feed to your dogs is cooked. And be careful about the poo they leave everywhere too... don't handle it or let dogs eat it, be careful if raking it up not to inhale any dust from dried roo-poo.
Our dogs only eat cooked roo from Tas and we don't have hydatids here, in Aus they are never allowed to wander or eat anything we don't give them.