by JULIE SLOAN on another thread (moved here):


SO I will throw this in there too. AT 8 weeks we used rontline. It is what I lawaya used on all our dogs. BUT, I have developed a lot of allergies, and chemical sensitivities(a whole story on its own, and irrelevant) and so this time I didn't want to continue on that way, having that pesticide in the house, on us, etc. Not to mention on him. SO for the last 7 months we have used Comfortis. BUT, the problem was already there before that. The comfortis will give him really runny runs for a couple days. SO in actuality, I could be fixing one problem, but keeping another. Kind of like being allergic to two things, but only getting rid of one.

Again, I have read and read and resear hed baout what else to use but don't know what else that isn't a topical. I am afraid of relying on natural flea products and if they don't work and we get fleas in the house, then having to resort to chemicals to get rid of them. Kind of defeats the purpose if not making it actually worse.

(originally from "high-fiber" thread here: http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=311632#Post311632 )

Julie, I have the same issue when I give both my dogs their heartworm meds every month. They both have a day of diarrhea and then back to normal stools the next day.

I can only draw the conclusion that these are chemicals that they are ingesting and some dogs react to them more than others.

I do believe though that feeding a natural, raw diet really helps get the dogs on the right track health wise.

Personally for me, I can't take the risk with heartworm so I choose to give this monthly. However, I do not use any chemical flea treatments at all. I opt for a natural flea sprays and so far, I have not seen any fleas at all on my dogs. I check them regularly. It is up to you, and what you are comfortable with.
I am not familiar with the side effects of Comfortis, but I do know that diarrhea is listed as a side effect of the heartworm meds.
I feel for you, it is no fun when they have the runs.

How do you keep from getting fleas? I have heard that fleas like unhealthy skin, dry, flaky, etc, but on the other hand I can't believe the only dogs that have gotten fleas are dogs who have unhealthy skin. We have stray cats I know are infested with fleas, and of course the woldlife. I KNOW there are fleas out there. DOn't you have to respray every time you go out the door?

My adopted mustang got skin cancer and I took ALL chemicals out of his line-up, except wormer. But when the natural fly spray wears off, the bugs aren't nesting in the house. I take the chance with mosquitos, and pick ticks daily during season.

I have used two products with great success,
This: Best Yet Spray:
http://www.cedarcidestore.com/pest_control_product.html

and Quantum Natural Flea and Tick Spray
http://www.quantumherbalproducts.com/pet/pet_tick.htm

I also treat my yard with this:
http://www.cedarcidestore.com/natural_pest_control.html

I spray them twice a week, top to bottom during the months from about the end of April to the end of November( it stays pretty warm here almost year round) Also if we go to the open area/park for training,I spray them before we go.

I check them with a flea comb prior to grooming, just to make sure. But I have never once seen a flea on them.

These sprays have been effective for me, but keep in mind we do not go out into forested areas where tall grasses are.
My incidence of catching ticks is less because of this. We are only ever in really short grass in the fields where I take them.

This is just what has worked for me, it is very easy to do.
I also believe having them on an all natural raw diet is a huge contributor to their health, which naturally helps to repel fleas.

I just spent some time reading on the cedarsite. It says the spray lasts "up to several hours". but you have only sprayed a couple times a week? I wouldn't mind even spraying every day, but every few hours would be inrealistic. it sounds like a good thing to try. I was thrilled to see a non-poisonous treatment alternative for bedbugs. I have been really worried about what we would have to do if we ever got bedbugs. Ugh!

If bedbugs come to my house I'm calling Orkin. I might even pour some ivermectin
on myself......

 Quote: Betty Landercasp

If bedbugs come to my house I'm calling Orkin. I might even pour some ivermectin
on myself......

Shudder.

Sure don't ever want to go here, but man, the more you read about travling, etc... YIKES.

 Quote: Betty Landercasp

If bedbugs come to my house I'm calling Orkin. I might even pour some ivermectin
on myself......

*shudders at the though*

but yeah, I agree with the conclusion

It would be a horrid thing indeed. But have you done any reading on the treatments that the pest control companies offer. I shudder at that too. I surely hope that there is some other alternative. When my MOm flew here to visit, we actually put all her clothes in the sauna before bringing them into the house.(from being on a plane)

Ewww...bed bugs *shudder*

On a side note, my Grace has had bad reactions to Frontline, but seems to have no problem with Advantage. In the last 14 years, I have had only two problems with fleas so I consider myself lucky. Last summer/fall was a pain form them...first my Cairn had them and she is allergic...found out she had them the day before my new pup was coming home...then about 2 months later the pup had them and found that out the day before having my gallbladder out!

In the future, I will keep the Cairn on Advantage during the warm months. At 14 years old, her flea allergy seems to have become more intense! She was miserable and it was a pain to stop her from itching and ripping out her hair even after the fleas were long gone The GSDs will only get be treated IF fleas appear. I am also going to be more proactive about treating the yard. Luckily, we do not have a tick problem.