All Natural Flea and Tick Control

[tonyb286]

Dogs with kidney disease invariably also have a damaged immune system and an intolerance to some products, which means any and all medicinal-based or chemical-based flea and tick control (such as Frontline) are best avoided, as they can make the toxin build-up and kidney disease substantially worse. There are a variety of all-natural topical applications that suggest they do just as good a job as the traditional chemical-based products ... and I thought it may be a good idea to start having a discussion about these, so new members can access the information. Reviews from those that have used and tested these products would also be a great help.

I'll kick this discussion off by mentioning Dr Ben's Paws & Claws, which is a cedar-based spray oil, apparently tested in one of the worst parts of the world for fleas and ticks ... Australia. I have read the clinical studies on it, and it certainly seems to have ample back-up data confirming its viability. This particular product claims t only to kill the existing fleas and ticks, but also any lava-eggs, so prevents further infection/bites from another generation of insects.

If anyone has tried this - or any other natural product - please let us know what you think of them.

Tony

[tonyb286]

Hi Earl. Yes, Lavender is indeed a very good repellent. To be honest, while doing the research I found so many plant-based insecticides, it was difficult to decide which ones to include and which ones to leave out. I couldn't list and details them all, otherwise it would have turned into a book-length piece - and people simply wouldn't have read it (the longer the article, the fewer people read them). So I chose a sample of those that seemed to have an all-round effect and were they are perhaps the most efficient - or conversely, the most dangerous (which people should avoid).

Tony

[Earlsteffie]

I failed to mention that, a friend of mine in upper state New York solely has a rescue operation. Whippets are her main target, but she swears by lavender spray, especially for mosquitoes. Shes been around animals her entire life from horses to dogs. As we all know, lavender is not cheap in the essential oil form. She grows her own.

None of this addresses your original subject or question, in that, you are looking for a safe way to 'kill' the fleas/ticks/etc., and especially if there is CKD and/or a troubled immune system.

From across the Pond,

Earl

[tonyb286]

Hi Earl. Thanks for your comments. All noted. I update all my articles from time to time with new information (a bi-monthly chore), so I will hang on to some of the things you've said there and incorporate useful elements if and where I can.

I agree, controlling the source is essential, but nigh impossible, so we are mostly having to deal with the consequences of it. As you say, if a neighbor's yard is full of "pests", what chance do you have of keeping them out of your own yard other than by repellent spraying on a very regular basis.

Tony

[Earlsteffie]

Hi Tony, You out-did yourself with this article,.....Excellent! Of course, I loved the opening picture of the 'Weim'. You covered 'Every' angle in the never ending attempt to find the best 'Cure' for our Pets when it comes to fleas/ticks/etc..

My personal refusal to use 'On-Spot' controls such as 'Frontline'(Liquid application in one spot) or collars is based on the fact that you are applying an insecticide in 'One Area' for an 'Extended' period of time. Then, of course, one could argue that shampooing your dog's entire body with Hartz Pyrethrin based shampoo is even worse.

Irregardless, I just do not think its safe to 'Maintain' an insecticide based application of anything on a regular bases, and especially like 'Frontline'/etc, where you literally 'Dump' a volumn of liquid in 'One Spot'.

I will tell you up front that I am not a fan of the EPA, for they have recently gone way beyond their boundaries, and have literally decimated the 'Licensed Pesticide Market'. Once a Pesticide is 'Banned', bringing a new one on the market will cost a company ~$18+Million. In other words, theres not much left on the market now. I believe that 'Malathion' is the only 'Chlorinated Hydrocarbon(Mirex, DDT, Chlordane, Aldrin, etc) that the 'EPA' has left, AND the main reason is because of it's historic use on trees. The 'LD50' rating on these insecticides are/were historically the safest ever developed, BUT, they were abused and misused and they lasted too long in the environment.

'Cedar'........As everyone knows, 'Cedar Chests', 'Cedar Lined Closets',........been known for years of Cedar's ability to ward off insects. In the same category as 'Citrus',.....insects just don't like it.

'Lemons'......This stuff is just great in so many ways. In fact, I quit using 'Hand Cleaner' for removing grease from hands and use nothing but 'Lemom-Based' liquid kitchen dishwater soap. It is also great for 'rising' insects(such as chinch bugs, etc) from below in your turfgrass in order to get an infestation count. So, ......'Lemon-Based spray on your Pet as a deterent with fleas/ticks? I think a water diluted 'Real Lemon' spray(Misted-On application......NOT a soaking wet application) on your dog AFTER a bath is Great. You will read on the internet about other citrus such as lime/grapefruit/etc working equally as well, but, I do not agree. Lemon is 'King'. BUT, one must remember that they all are acid based. I am only promoting an occasional 'misting' application....NOT an 'Everyday' constant application.

Ticks and fleas will never be eradicated in a pet's environment regardless of where you live. Take for example if you live in a subdivision and you have a neighbor whose environment is 100% in harboring an annual flea infestation, but 'You' are treating your environment to control your flea population. Until your neighbor, etc gets his environment under control, NOTHING....NOTHING will control the flea population on your Pet in 'Your Environment'. This is where the average 'Pet Owner' will go to drastic measures to attempt to find a resolution at any cost.

You have to control the 'Source' of the flea population before you can expect results of any flea products on your pets. As per ticks, .......I think a manual inspection with your eyes and hands is best when inspecting your pet, especially around the ears and neck region.

Well anyway, Thanks Again Tony for your Hard Work. Your article comes with excellent timing as we enter the summer months,
.
Regards,

Earl

[tonyb286]

Hi Earl. It's actually wonderful that your background involves pesticides, which makes your answers very authoritative (credible). I have actually just today finished and published my piece on this subject and would dearly like to know what you think of it. My intention was to try and dispel some of the very confusing and conflicting information available on the internet from product manufacturers and the "all natural" suppliers, both of whom I believe mislead the public to a lesser or greater extent. Anyway, let me know your thoughts. It isn't on my website yet, because it's only just been approved by my blog administrators, but you can access it here:

http://www.infobarrel.com/The_Dangers_of_Flea_and_Tick_Treatments_for_Dogs

Cheers

Tony

[Earlsteffie]

Hi Tony,....Interesting, for I have been looking at this very same subject the past couple of days. I personally have never used the 'One liquid Application On Withers/Middle of Shoulders'.....'Fipronil' insecticide is the SAME used in the Fire Ant Insecticide called 'Top Choice'. Made by Bayer. My background is Pesticides. I know most DO NOT want to use ANY form of pesticide ANYWHERE, but, the main problem all these years with pesticides has been 'Mis-Use', and mainly by the public.

As per our companions, I just always opted to bathing, etc., and 'IF' the flea/tick season became one of those bad ones/an outbreak, ...I'll admit....I would use the Hartz Oatmeal Shampoo with a pyrethrin based additive ONLY when I detected a progressive flea population on my companion.. I once tried the 'Lemon Oil'....Lemon/Rosemary/Tea Tree Oil/etc drench, .....Uh, ......Didn't work. Ticks are in their own category for controlling them, but with fleas,.......if you have a major outbreak and your environment is in a sandy type soil, your going to have to go to the pesticides multiple times to get rid of the fleas in the local environment. THIS has to be controlled BEFORE you control the flea population on your companion. Until the majority of all the flea eggs are killed, you'll never get control, and lemon/rosemary/etc will do nothing but stir-up the origin of the problem.

As per this Dr. Ben's product,......don't know about 'IT' but I've tried Cedar Spray before. It does serve as a deterent, but usually only after the dog's bath, and the residual effectiveness is short lived. Yes, citrus is hated by all insects, especially lemons. But, again, until you take care of the 'source' of the flea 'infestation', you'll never rid the dog of an overpopulated count.

[tonyb286]

No comments ... I'm surprised! I'm bumping this up again just to try kick-starting it.