Quote: Steve Patrick

No one likes treating Dogs or any other animal, without good reason But i really do not see how a dog will not pick up fleas if it goes into long grass every day or gets nixed up with other dogs it is more or less sure to pick them up.

Steve, fleas just aren't common in some areas. In that case, there's no point in using a preventative; it doesn't justify the treatment.

In my area of the world, for example, fleas just aren't a common occurance. However, ticks are a plague! I do treat my dogs with a preventative in the high risk months because if I don't, we will (the dogs AND the humans) be covered in the blood-suckers and exposing ourselves to Lyme disease in the process.

IMO, using a preventative for dogs in high-risk areas is a good idea.

Using a preventative for dogs in a very low-risk area is not. It's exposing dogs to chemicals that aren't necessary. I wouldn't consider that neglect on the owner's part.

Robbin,

I would use a topical like Revolution, but you need to get it from your vet because it is a Rx. The dog also needs to be checked for heartworms since it is also a heartworm preventative. Revolution kills fleas, common ticks (not deer ticks as far as I know), ear mites, sarcoptic mites (dog scabies) and walking dandruff type mites. If you put the dogs on this type of topical it can wipe out a number of parasites that you might have to test for later if it is indeed the culprit.

Has either dog been to a vet recently? I noticed whenever one of my animals go to a vet they usually pick up a flea or 2 if not on some type of topical flea treatment.

Kimberly

Amber, over here we do not have the problem of mosquitoes that you get in the USA, but we do get them Belgium is very much like England when it comes to Climate in fact there is nothing to choose between them, But over in England as here there is a certain type of grass that grows and it is full of fleas and i have found them on the Dogs after checking them from a walk. The worse months for Fleas here is from middle of May until early november, from june onwards till Nov you get these little mites which bite anything and i mean humans, Over here they call them MUGS, you got them in england the same time You do not feel them bite but in a day a big red lump will come up and itch like hell i have had as many as eight at one go and i may say in places you would think impossible, They also come into the bedroom at night if the window is open so an hour before we go to bed we put on a little box filled with MUG spray in the wall socket it will kill any in the rooms, I have now put up very fine mesh frames on the bedroom windows to stop them coming in at night so the windows can be left open during the night.
They too bite the Dogs and you will feel a lump where the dog has scratched at it
I know what these things do to me so if i can help the Dogs with such and the Fleas at certain times of the year i do, Not after November as everything seems to go as it gets colder

Edited by Steve Patrick (09/07/2007 09:58 AM)
Edit reason: missed text

Okay, I took a lice comb to Levi today and pulled out nothing but hair and dandruff. Man! A lot of hair! Is it possible that the fact that I haven't brushed him in forever a possibility? All that fur just itching to come out?(no pun intended)I'm going to buy shampoo, bathe and brush him senseless today! I even have some Hartz flea and tick stuff that you are supposed to put on their shoulders and back. Might use it if I find anything remotely suspicious.

Kimberly, you say Revolution will work for mosquitoes too? We have tons of them here and heartworm is definitely an issue. If it will handle all of the above maybe I should get some when I go to the vet. Question...is it safe enough for the dog? Aren't there any old fashioned, wives tale remedies that really work? ~sigh~

I have way less experience than most who have already posted, but my thoughts are...

Hartz was a waste for me. Bought it to save money and it did nothing at all for me. I have to spend the extra on Frontline.

I LOVE the AVON Skin So Soft stuff. Soothing to the skin, and work well as a repelent, at least to misquitos, on humans.

A groomer here puts it in a mister here, mixed with a little water, shakes it up and sprays each dog with it on the way out of her shop. It smells good, makes the hair soft, and (she swears) repels fleas, ticks, and misquitos. I have heard this is true from other boards too. I use it for us all, from the kids to the dogs .

If I am going out in to the brush, I spray the dogs down with a horse fly/misquito spray, enough to make the coat damp, and have always felt this works, but then the dogs are on Frontline too... It does work on the horses though.

We have tons of fleas (and ticks) in our temperate climate and sandy soil, and I have always fought them and these do work for me...

Good luck, and make sure you rinse ALL of the soap out of the coat after the bath. It can be tough with that double coat of the GSD, and WILL cause irritation. Not what you need now.

Have you considered using a nutritional supplement like Linatone? I have a Rottweiler who did this and the daily addition of these essential acids have made a major difference. No more itching at all. good luck

Have you considered using a nutritional supplement like Linatone? i have a Rottweiler who did his itching in the exact samespot. The daily additional of these essential acids made a major difference. No more itching at all. good luck

 Quote: RobbinMann

I'm going to buy shampoo, bathe and brush him senseless today!

Did someone say 'dog brush'?

Just a product plug here...if you want a really AMAZING dog brush, get the Furminator. Holy cow. That brush is spastically good. Go to their web site and see the videos of all the hair that comes out...believe it or not, that's EXACTLY what it does. AND the dogs (my dogs anyway) LOVE it. Just do it outside!! It's especially fun to use it in the wind. The fur does fly!

Sorry, I don't plug many products, but I kid you not, I will NEVER use another dog brush again.

 Quote: Judy Bonaparte

Have you considered using a nutritional supplement like Linatone? i have a Rottweiler who did his itching in the exact samespot. The daily additional of these essential acids made a major difference. No more itching at all. good luck

I think these dogs are on raw diets with fish oil and E. If they do not get fish oil and vitamin E, I agree 100% that they should.