Has anyone tried B vitamins for fleas and ticks on their pooch?

[Nancy Pyzynski]

Has anyone tried or had any success with B vitamin supplements to prevent fleas and ticks from biting your dog?  We are trying to find natural, non-toxic ways to do this as an alternative to the monthly drops we have been advised to use on Coco's skin.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Studied nutrition in college. And it's always interested me. I counseled clients on nutrition and weight management for years. I can tell you off the top of my head which foods are rich in just about any vitamin or mineral, lol.

I said niacin, but meant thiamine; however, pork is rich in all of the B vitamins, some more than others.

[F, Calla & Luca]

It is possible you just haven't come across fleas yet.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

F. I can't tell if this question is addressed to me but I will answer anyhow!! LOL!   We have used DE for close to 10 years now on our animals and in our O.G. garden.   We use it more as a treatment rather than preventative. If we think we see any signs of a flea on one of the animals we give them several treatments and that puts an end to it. So to answer your question yes, we have seen fleas. :(

 

And I understand that some people's experiences have been different.

 

[Adina P]

I tried googling "How do B vitamins repel mosquitoes"?  And so far found this useful article: http://www.lisashea.com/birding/mosquito/thiamine.html

[Linda and Murphy]

Don't know about the B vitamins and mosquitoes, but the Dept. of Tropical Medicine at Tulane  has an ongoing project  trapping mosquitoes to monitor for West Nile virus. Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide and the traps are set up using dry ice. The theory down here in the swamps of Louisiana is that people who give off more CO2 are more attractive to mosquitoes.

[Nancy Pyzynski]

I love this...you reallly do learn something new every day!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Right, so basically the best way to deter mosquitoes is to stop breathing. :)

[Nancy Pyzynski]

Hahahaha...this thread is getting better and better!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Carbon dioxide is one of the two things that attracts fleas, too. The other one is movement, or vibrations. Contrary to popular beliefs (and what you read on "natural" remedy websites), there is no way a mosquito or flea can tell whether a dog or any other mammal has a weak or strong immune system, either. If it breathes and moves, they'll bite it.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I think it is important, for everyone planning to implement some sort of treatment orpreventative measure, to rely on good evidence that the substance in question is effective or at the very least not harmful. Of course, if the substance is ineffective and the dog becomes infested, ill, etc., that in itself is harmful. Anecdotal evidence is only useful if it leads to good studies. Otherwise it really is meaningless.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Amen.

[Julie, Boomer, Milo & Casey]

I was reading Tamar Geller's new book (30 days to a well-mannered dog) and she mentioned that she buys children's liquid vitamin B for her dogs.   I haven't ever heard about this and I've done no research but its interesting you ask the question since I just came across it for the first time this morning.