where would you get it and is it costly? I have just been brushing daily, bathing every month and running my fingers through her coat to check for flees or ticks. I find ticks almost daily and flees I never see but she scratches like she has them and she is outside a lot so I am pretty sure she has them.

diatomaceous earth is a white dust made of the carcasses of long dead
tiny critters. It is available at health type stores, garden centers. It's basically a "sharp" calcium product . It is not expensive.
Organic cattle folks think it treats flies and kills internal parasites.

 Quote: Linda West

Have you tried diatomaceous earth for fleas? Has anyone? I just bought it for ants. It is a powder that you sprinkle in crevices etc. and supposedly it kills the fleas (ants in my case). It's a mineral powder and you would have to have a bag with you wherever you go and repeat a procedure but it seems to be very attractive because it has nothing to do with the dog. Does anyone have any experience with it?

Lenka,

I have used it externally on my chickens to prevent mites/lice. It is VERY IMPORTANT that you ONLY use FOOD GRADE diatomaceous earth!!! There are other types which are used in swimming pool filters and those are extremly dangerous to use around animals/humans. Just wanted to clarify this in case you or someone reading may not realize the difference.

thank you! I got mine at a garden center and it says it's for inside use so I imagine it's OK.

 Quote: Linda West

thank you! I got mine at a garden center and it says it's for inside use so I imagine it's OK.

The diatomaceous earth from the garden center is not human grade. Also, breathing the dust is hazardous. I use it in the garden for ants and aphids. You may want to look for DE that is meant for the purpose of fleas on dogs...

Goodness gracious so many things to watch out for in this day and age, thanks so much!

 Quote: aimee pochron

 Quote: lynne barrows

To minimize effects of vaccinations, don't give multiple vaccinations at one time, and never vaccinate when your pup is sick. Depending on where you are, you should be able to get a rabies vaccination that is good for 3 years. (this varies from state to state). Ask your vet which type he provides and if 3 year is available in your state.

I think some states do a 2yr and some a 3 yr Rabies. I think that the dog has to be over 1yr to receive anything other than a 1yr (maybe manufact dependent vs. state law--not sure).

I also am a very big fan of Dr Dodds vacc protocol and thyroid studies, etc. I also titer the dogs that are more out in the dog exposed areas. I do question every vet's ability to interrupt these titer results, thus reccomendations to booster or not.

Interesting, the Dodds protocol is pretty similar to the standard practice at clinics I've worked at, both in Ontario & BC.
- DAP or DA2P @ 8 & 12 weeks
- Rabies @ 16 weeks
- Rabies & DP again at 1 year
- Rabies every three years after that

- Bord is optional, and only if the owners request it for leaving the dog at a kennel, etc.

For those of you wondering, the rabies 1, 2 & 3 year vaccines are exactly the same drug and dosage. It's just a matter of your dog's current immunity, and the law where you live. The reason the dog can't just get the first shot, and then wait 3 years for the next, is not to do with age, it's to do with your dog's immunity. After the dog has received the initial shot, then another a year later, the dog's immunity is ok for at least another 3 years - at that point you get the "3 year", until the dog is elderly.

Aimmee - if you have doubts about your vet interpreting the titers, I would suggest calling the lab, and speaking with the pathologist. When my dog was recently very sick, I called into the lab instead of waiting for the results to be faxed to us at the clinic. The pathologist was very happy to talk to me and explain things in detail. Having said that, I do work at a vet, and I guess it depends on the pathologist you get - but it's worth a try... they are the experts!

Thanks Pheadra. That is a great idea about speaking with the lab about interupting the titers. Actually I am fortunate to have found a vet that I trust and is very knowledgable on the whole topic.

I understand what you are saying about the Rabies vacc and they are the same, except the law doesn't see it that way. At least in IL a dog under the age of 1 has to be given a 1 year vacc, if the dog is over a year it may receive a 3 year regardless if it has or hasn't had a Rabies vacc previously. The law doesn't look at immunity when it comes to Rabies

Barbara-
Do you think the diatomaceous earth works for mites on chickens?

 Quote: Betty Landercasp

Barbara-
Do you think the diatomaceous earth works for mites on chickens?

It does.