Cheap, Safe Flea Control in TX

[Cheetah]

I'm about to be dealing with this, and I need advice. I'm not going to have a lot of money. And several people have told me to stay away from chemicals (even though I've resorted to them before). Does holistic flea control work in TX? Is there a cheap flea control product that works? Something that also repels mosquitoes? Am I going to have to pump my dogs full of chemicals to prevent heartworm?

A few people have suggested Ivermectin, but I've read a lot of horror stories about it being harmful to herding breeds.

Opinions/suggestions please.

 

[Beanie]

I wouldn't take my chances and go natural with heartworm, but heartworm is bad here. I would guess it's probably bad in TX too. I use Sentinel which is not ivermectin.

For fleas I've read brewer's yeast, apple cider vinegar, and garlic... but I'm not sure how well all that works. Hopefully somebody else will chime in here about that. See my thread here from this morning: http://chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=171279
I did buy Fipronil this time (generic Frontline) and it seems to be doing just fine of killing the fleas. So that's not super cheap but it's cheaper. Maybe an option?

 

[Greenmagick]

I do use Ivermectin for heartworm, I dont think the test for the mutation is that much if you are worried. I would like to go herbal for it but too chicken.

For fleas, if I get a bad outbreak I will use chemicals, otherwise is use garlic as a daily supp and sprays and DE if its extra buggy out.

 

[lizzybeth727]

Ivermectin sensitivity is actually not terribly common, except in certain purebred herding breeds. It's linked to a gene that causes white feet, so if your dog doesn't have white feet you probably don't have to worry about it. You can also get a test done to determine if the dog has the sensitivity, it's just a cheek swab so it's pretty easy and inexpensive (or so my vet says... I haven't actually gotten it on my dogs).

As for heartworm preventative, I only trust what I can buy from my vet. You can talk to your vet about what non-ivermectin options you have, but they're not carrying many choices anymore.

For flea preventative, I personally only use frontline and advantix. I've tried hollistic preventatives and they don't seem to work around here. Even Frontline isn't working as much, the fleas are gaining a resistance.

Good luck!