Natural Flea and Tick Protection?

[Pat & "Tucker"]

I searched for natural products for prevention and there are pages of them on the internet. Searched DK and there is a lot of older info.   Need some recommendations and testimonials. Using Frontline but I'm not crazy about using the chemicals.  Tucker already had a tick on his head.  Little sister McKenzie  (Yorkie) is allergic to Frontline and I cannot use any the chemical products on her. Any suggestions?   Thanks,

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

It's funny that you posted this today. I've been looking for alternatives myself because my daughter has been concerned about the Frontline chemicals with the kids (toddlers) who play with the dogs and constantly seem to have their hands in their mouths. I found this article, and I'm going to try to do some online research on some of the "safer" alternatives mentioned. Apparently there are some other products to consider....my concern is their degree of effectiveness since we are in "tick" territory.

http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/natural-flea...

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

In a discussion from last Spring I mentioned that I discovered Cedarcide (www.cedarcide.com - 800-842-1464), that I have been using for two years now and it works pretty well. It is chemical and deet free and smells really good. I use 1 Frontline a year and only on Jack (my big 95# doodle), but that's only because ticks seem to really love him. I also use Castor and Pollux, Drop Dear Collars and do daily tick checks. I don't have a flea problem but do have a huge tick population. The Cedarcide can be sprayed in the yard and on people.

I stopped using any spot on treatments about 2 years ago when Ginger had a reaction to Frontline. In my mind, it is safer to do the blood test for Lyme's once a year and do the antibiotic round than to deal with the deaths, seizures and other issues associated with Spot-ons. If you do have a dog who is allergic to flea's you might weigh that cost in another direction. Karen can attest to that. But for me, no chemicals on my dogs. Period.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thanks, Lynne. When you say it is safer to do the annual Lyme blood test and the antibiotic round if it is positive, does that pretty much guarantee that there would be no lasting effects from the Lyme disease? I've know of some dogs who had severe long term problems from Lyme's disease....would that be because it wasn't detected and treated in time? That's my biggest worry here since Lyme disease is very prevalent here and we see deer in the back all the time.

[Pat & "Tucker"]

Jane- good web site and good point too. Lymes can get to the heart and cause many other problems too. I suspect though, any of these pesty insects can still bite/ transmit disease with any of these products natural or not before they are killed. Even though these products "repel" doesn't mean these critters don't get on them. So who knows- it's a hard decision. Lynne seems to be having success with the cedar oil.

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

Jane, you saw where I live. It's all woods and deer come through on a daily basis. I have had Lyme Disease, my son has and 2 of my dogs. The problem is when it is not caught early enough that the trouble occurs. I am proactive with checking all of us for ticks on a daily basis, which is much easier on cream dogs and I do annual titers for all immunity and a Lyme's titer. Ginger and Jack came back positive last year. They did a month of doxycycline and this year, the titer came back negative. When I compare that to the stories out there on reactions to the spot-ons, I made the choice to go that direction. Ginger had a reaction to one where she behaved like I put a hot poker on her skin. I spent about an hour in the shower in my clothes, washing it off of her and vowed to never use it again.

Like I said, though, I don't have a flea problem here so I can't comment on if this would be a good idea on them, but I did live in Florida, years ago and never used treatments on my dog, but she did get a monthly dip at the vets and the apartment was treated once a month, also. If you do some research on all those spot-ons, there is A LOT of bad stories (including deaths) related to them. I have made the choice to not take the chance.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Yes, you can certainly have lasting problems despite yearly testing and treating since the disease may have progressed before treatment.I do yearly Lyme tests on myself but still am wary of ticks. There are other tick borne diseases too.

[Pat & "Tucker"]

Thanks Lynn. I noticed a lot of the natural products have the cedar oil. Do you treat your yard also?

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

Pat, I will start about now or in the next few weeks spraying their legs and feet with the Cedarcide. I just ordered the collars and they will go on as soon as they come in and I change them about once a month. Every few days to a week all summer, I spray their legs and feet and along their spine close to the skin. I also spray along my fence line and common laying and rolling spots in my yard. I also spray their dog beds and along my foundation (Cedarcide stops those tiny seed ants from coming in, too). Last summer, the only month I had a problem was September-October when I guess the ticks are more active. I did give Jack one Frontline, then, but all the other dogs got sprayed on a daily basis until first frost.

[Pat & "Tucker"]

Oh- I didn't see the collars. That's what i want. thanks, Lynn

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have used Cedarcide intermittently along with Fontline and I have found ticks on the dogs with Cedarcide. I may try to spray the yard this year but I'm sure ticks will still be a problem.

[Robin & Bedford]

Ordering Cedarcide this week. Sincere thanks Lynne!

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

Good Luck, Robin. I have already started it, here and "knock wood" no ticks, so far.