Natural,herbal, flea/tick control?

[Red_ACD_for_me]

What is your opinion on this type of stuff? I'm not one to use harsh pesticides on my dogs skin using frontline,advantage, etc. I am not a fan of something that can do more harm than good to my beloved dog.I have never in all my years owning dogs have had a flea problem but off course had the occassional tick because I like to hike in woods I have been looking for natural alternatives for Caiza so that we don't have to stay away from the forest when the weather warms up and the ticks are out. I found a a few products and here they are...................

http://www.sergeantsnatural.com/products.html

*this one didn't get very good reviews*
http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/produ...nse-Flea-Tick-Squeeze-On-for-Dogs/207000.aspx

http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/produ...bal-Defense-Shampoo-Conditioner/999035.1.aspx

http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/products/Castor-Pollux-Herbal-Flea-Collar/133146.aspx

 

[SummerRiot]

I personally dont find that they have the same effect..

I dont really trust them.. I love REvolution. Its fabulous and I have yet to have a single problem with it. Riots been on it sice he was a pup and no fleas, no ticks notta, and Riot travels for showing..

 

[Red_ACD_for_me]

I don't by into the "hype" of putting pesticides on my dog for this reason..........
http://www.apnm.org/publications/resources/fleachemfin.pdf

http://www.wildlifeprotection.net/everything/eduFleas.html

 

[jason_els]

I personally dont find that they have the same effect..

I dont really trust them.. I love REvolution. Its fabulous and I have yet to have a single problem with it. Riots been on it sice he was a pup and no fleas, no ticks notta, and Riot travels for showing..

What is REvolution? It's a horrible product name for a search term. Who makes it? I'd love to know. Thanks!

 

[MafiaPrincess]

http://www.revolutionpet.com/default.html

 

[Aussie Red]

Shanon these have eucalyptus not a good thing for dogs. It is on the poison to dogs list.

 

[jason_els]

Shanon these have eucalyptus not a good thing for dogs. It is on the poison to dogs list.

What list?

 

[Aussie Red]

What list?

These plants are potentially harmful or fatal to dogs
A-B

Aloe Vera
Amaryllis
Apple (seeds)
Apricot (pit)
Arrowhead
Asparagus Fern
Avocado
Autumn Crocus
Azalea

Baneberry
Begonia
Bird of Paradise
Black Locust
Black Walnut
Bleeding Heart
Boston Ivy

C

Caladium
California Poppy
Calla Lily
Carnation
Castor Bean
Ceriman
Cherry (seeds, wilting leaves, and pit)
Chinese Evergreen
Chives
Christmas Rose
Chrysanthemum
Clematis
Corn Plant
Crocus
Croton
Crown of Thorns
Crown Vetch
Cyclamen

D-F

Daffodil
Delphinium
Devil's Ivy
Dicentra
Dieffenbachia
Donkey Tail
Dumb Cane
Dutchman's Breeches

Easter Lily
Elderberry
Elephant Ears
English Ivy
Eucalyptus

Fiddle-leaf Fig
Florida Beauty
Four O'Clock
Foxglove
Foxtail
Fruit Salad Plant

G-I

German Ivy
Gladiola

Hemlock
Holly
Honeysuckle
Hurricane Plant
Hyacinth
Hydrangea

Iris
Ivy

J-L

Jack in the Pulpit
Japanese Yew
Jerusalem Cherry
Jimson Weed
Jonquil

Kalanchoe

Lamb's quarter
Lantana
Larkspur
Laurel
Lily
Lily of the Valley
Lobelia
Locoweed
Lords-and-Ladies
Lupine

M-N

Marigold (Marsh Marigold)
Marijuana
Mayapple
Mexican Breadfruit
Milkweed
Mistletoe
Monkshood
Morning Glory
Mother-in-Law plant
Mother-in-Law's Tongue
Mountain Laurel
Mushrooms

Narcissus
Nephthytis
Nightshade

O-P

Oak Tree (buds and acorns)
Oleander
Onion

Peace Lily
Peach (wilting leaves and pits)
Pencil Tree
Philodendron
Pigweed
Poinsettia
Poison Ivy
Poison Hemlock
Poison Oak
Poison Sumac
Poppy
Potato (all green parts)
Pothos
Precatory Bean

Q-S

Rhododendron
Rhubarb
Ribbon Cactus
Rubber Tree

Sago Palm
Schefflera
Shamrock Plant
Snake Plant
Snow on the Mountain
Sorghum
Star of Bethlehem
Stinging Nettle
Stinkweed
Swiss Cheese Plant

T-V

Taro Vine
Toadstools
Tobacco
Tomato Plant (entire plant except ripe fruit)

Umbrella Tree

W-Z

Water Hemlock
Weeping Fig
Wisteria

Yew

 

[jason_els]

Thank you for that list. I was more interested though in who says it. I checked the ASPCA list and eucalyptus wasn't included. When it comes to health care, I want to know who has complied the list and just what effects the alleged toxin has.

 

[jason_els]

Here's an Idea

I'm researching this and am considering making an oil preparation myself.

What I'm thinking of is:

10 drops lavender oil
5 drops cedar oil
10 drops rose geranium oil
5 drops peppermint oil
5 drops rosemary oil
1 oz. olive or grapeseed oil

Mix together and apply down the back of the dogs with an eyedropper.

What I'm questioning is the frequency. Should this be applied once a day, week, or month?

 

[Madilyn's Mom]

I'm researching this and am considering making an oil preparation myself.

What I'm thinking of is:

10 drops lavender oil
5 drops cedar oil
10 drops rose geranium oil
5 drops peppermint oil
5 drops rosemary oil
1 oz. olive or grapeseed oil

Mix together and apply down the back of the dogs with an eyedropper.

What I'm questioning is the frequency. Should this be applied once a day, week, or month?

You've done a great job of researching! I'd say that you could apply it a few times a week, and maybe more, since the EO's are diluted enough in the base oil (sweet almond oil can also be used as a base) so that it will be gentle to your dog and yet harsh enough on the darn fleas to keep them away! I've also made a spritzer by using similar amounts of essential oils but use distilled water in place of the base oil. I then spritz it around bedding and also near doors (it smells good too!) You can also try getting one of those cloth/cotton collars and apply a drop or two of straight EO's (lavender works well on it's own I've found) directly to the collar. It's worked for me so far---good luck!
Also, to anyone who may not have so many essential oils on hand, there is a product called Critter Oil (I think I actually first heard of it somewhere on another thread). I haven't used it, but it sounds like it will work great. Here's a link: http://www.naturespet.com/flea.html

 

[FoxyWench]

i use a simliar recipy but in distilled water and spritz it on. (ive found it doesnt leave the greasy line and works as well.
our cocker gets advantix as lymes and west nile are huge problems around here, and we refuse to give the lymes vacine.
the chis since they dont go out much get a lavender and lemon grass sqritz every day if were going to be outside in the evenings (the mosquitoes hate both lavender and lemongrass) they also get a touch of garlic in their food which the mosquitoes and ticks dont like. (and we keep them out of the leaves and the grass is cut often)
weve found fleas arnt so much of a problem round here, but our "daytime park spritz" is lavender, cedar, lemon grass and peppermint oil with a very small touch of teatree with distilled water, a good shake then spritz before we head out. i use both on myself also as im very sensitive to chemicals and highly allergic to both fleas and mosquitoes. during peack mosquitoe season ive been known to carry a small bottle of pure citronella round but my bf doesnt liek that one as it doesnt taste as good as the lemon grass

 

[BostonBanker]

I haven't used any of the drops on Meg in the past, although I have considered it for this year. I'm not so worried about fleas, but after treating the horse for Lyme, I worry about the ticks.

I have tried all kinds of natural/herbal insect repellents on the horse, and gave up. I would go outside to find him with streaks of blood all down his legs from greenheads. It is interesting to hear that people have had success with the EO on dogs; I will certainly look into it more.

 

[Melissa_W]

I just started using Frontline on Kai. He got two ticks already this year. But after reading all the info lately, I don't think I'll be applying it to him again.

 

[jason_els]

I'm researching this and am considering making an oil preparation myself.

What I'm thinking of is:

10 drops lavender oil
5 drops cedar oil
10 drops rose geranium oil
5 drops peppermint oil
5 drops rosemary oil
1 oz. olive or grapeseed oil

Mix together and apply down the back of the dogs with an eyedropper.

What I'm questioning is the frequency. Should this be applied once a day, week, or month?

OK, bought the oils and have substituted Jojoba for the olive oil because of its superior emolliative properties. I'm also including 5 drops of pennyroyal because of its superior flea repelling ability, and 5 drops of catnip oil to repel mosquitos. Instead of Rose Geranium (which I could not find locally), I'm using Palmarosa, which is reputed to be just as effective as Rose Geranium.

I have no idea if the dogs will tolerate it but I'm going to try it on myself first to see if I have any reaction and then will try a single spot on one of the dogs to see if he has a reaction. If there is no irritation then I will try applying it and see how it works. I will comb them daily with a flea comb. I believe that will help me see if the mixture works and will also help spread the oils through the coat.

I'm also going to make an alcohol-based suspension for sprayer use on myself since I'm at just as much risk for ticks and mosquitos as they are.

I feel like a mad scientist. :lol-sign:

 

[Brattina88]

Let us know how that works, Jason - you mad scientist you

What is your opinion on this type of stuff? I'm not one to use harsh pesticides on my dogs skin using frontline,advantage, etc. I am not a fan of something that can do more harm than good to my beloved dog.
...............
*this one didn't get very good reviews*
http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/produ...nse-Flea-Tick-Squeeze-On-for-Dogs/207000.aspx

I think you remember this is what I recently put on my dogs. I think its been 2wks now; they had no reactions to it at all, and I still haven't had any ticks or fleas on them.
The scent is very strong at first, but it's not a bad scent. It's a minty/herbal smell and it goes away after the first day or so. If anyone decides to use it I'd say try to apply it outside if you can

I think as with any chemical / oil / anything you put on your dogs (or yourself for that matter) there's always a chance they can react. People and dogs have allergies. . . and they react differently to different things.

As for the reliability of the product - we'll see. It's supposed to be a bad year for ticks, so that'll be the ultimate test, I think. . .

 

[drmom777]

Please keep us posted. I hate putting Frontline of the dogs,but we have a huge deer problem and two of my kids got Lyme disease last year. It wasn't pretty. So I'm afraid to not use the stuff. I can't imagine pesticides applied to the skin can possibly be good for them.

 

[jason_els]

I think you remember this is what I recently put on my dogs. I think its been 2wks now; they had no reactions to it at all, and I still haven't had any ticks or fleas on them.
The scent is very strong at first, but it's not a bad scent. It's a minty/herbal smell and it goes away after the first day or so. If anyone decides to use it I'd say try to apply it outside if you can

I think as with any chemical / oil / anything you put on your dogs (or yourself for that matter) there's always a chance they can react. People and dogs have allergies. . . and they react differently to different things.

As for the reliability of the product - we'll see. It's supposed to be a bad year for ticks, so that'll be the ultimate test, I think. . .

I looked at the ingredients of that product and noticed that it had only one oil that has any reported flea or tick repelling properties and that's peppermint oil. For ticks, Rose Geranium and Palmarosa have the best success and I don't know why it's not in there.

I'm mixing-up a batch of my oils today and will give a report on what happens.

 

[noludoru]

Where do you guys buy your essential oils? Is there a reliable place on the internet? How much to they cost?

<--very curious

 

[jason_els]

I happen to live next to a hippie craft village and buy them there.

Check out Elaine's Aromatherapy page. She says she's a scientist and lists some suppliers she likes.