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Flea and Tick Treatment!

Bailey's Mom

Super Moderator
Super Moderator
Okay, I need help. Help me understand the health ramifications of the flea and tick treatments on the market. Our vet is now advocating a "no bite flea treatment" , I've always been on Revolution (Plum), now I'm asked to change and I guess it sounds good, but I have a few questions. Like:
a). If the flea doesn't need to bite, what is it that kills it?
b). If it kills a flea without biting, then it's, what, toxic to breathe in their scent...treated with their product?
c). If it kills being in contact with the skin, does it Rub Off On Our Skin?
d). If it rubs off on Our Skin, does it Pollute US?
e). If it pollutes US, does it pollute Our Children, if so, how much? Does it linger on their skin and therefore their hands, and can it then be carried to their mouths or be absorbed through their skin?
f). Will it mess with their endocrine systems?
g). And after you consider the possible human exposure ramifications, Will It Cause More Problems Than It's Worth?

LOTS OF QUESTIONS!

I don't want my dog bit, but, I don't want to absorb toxic chemicals through my skin and through any child's skin and have those toxins screw up my/our endocrine systems.

Let's talk, tell me what you know, what you've learned. I didn't receive enough satisfactory information from my vet to feel safe about the "newer, better treatment." Things that kill tend to kill everything...humans, too.
 

Bailey's Mom

Super Moderator
Super Moderator
There is a lot of stuff on the internet, but here is the point...if it kills without a bite...can it hurt my human family that hugs and kisses and pets our dog pretty much non-stop.

One Vet tech....I haven't really seen her before....she was really up-selling the products. She was really pushing having to buy two different treatments to keep the dog really safe from ticks. This is a not-for-profit vet clinic, so I felt an aversion to her costly advice.

So...What is the straight dope on these chemicals? I want the best for my girl, but I also want to protect myself and my non-fur family members. Please let me know, I'm still giving her the Revolution and time is running out, I have to make a decision (buy, I have to order a multi-pack because they won't be carrying it anymore as singles)....I want to make the right one for my pup's health.

What should I do, Boxergirl?
 

Bailey's Mom

Super Moderator
Super Moderator
I'm not putting Vet Techs down. I just found this one person a little weird and counter to the mandate of the clinic. And...we had a second issue with her, just yesterday, which has coloured my impression of her personally, and, Only Her, at this clinic. In fact, after yesterday's incident, my daughter who had driven in from out-of-town for her appointment and was summarily dismissed without any consideration for her time, her money, her health and My Availability to help financially, went away deeply distressed. Twenty minutes later while my daughter was still crying and frustrated, her phone rang and it was one of the other members of the team, stepping up to the plate and making amends. She started the conversation by saying, I wasn't the one that dealt with you, but...this is what I can do to help you. It was the difference between night and day.
 

DennasMom

Well-Known Member
If you research the top treatments, they're using substances that mess with insect chemistry, and don't effect mammals' systems. But, there are always special cases and sensitive pups that may have adverse reactions.

I still avoid using any of the synthetic spot-ons as much as possible... but I don't hesitate to squeeze on when they're needed.
If I can get away with just an essential oil blend, I'll do that first... but if I see a flea (ticks are pretty rare where I am), I'll bring out the big guns.

I rotate through whatever the vet is pushing this year, as I've heard the flea populations gain immunity as time goes on to different products. That also keeps my pup from getting overloaded on one substance too much, just in case.
 

Bailey's Mom

Super Moderator
Super Moderator
What are the deficits for the K9 Advantix treatment. We do like hiking through the woods and ticks are making a showing here more and more. It is difficult to know what to do. I want the best treatment, but I don't want any down-side risk for the human side. What should I do to protect my CC without endangering our kids?
 

Sheila Braund

Well-Known Member
If you research the top treatments, they're using substances that mess with insect chemistry, and don't effect mammals' systems. But, there are always special cases and sensitive pups that may have adverse reactions.

I still avoid using any of the synthetic spot-ons as much as possible... but I don't hesitate to squeeze on when they're needed.
If I can get away with just an essential oil blend, I'll do that first... but if I see a flea (ticks are pretty rare where I am), I'll bring out the big guns.

I rotate through whatever the vet is pushing this year, as I've heard the flea populations gain immunity as time goes on to different products. That also keeps my pup from getting overloaded on one substance too much, just in case.

Hi DennasMom, can you please tell me what essential oils you use for flea and tick repellent.... Or were I could find that information
 

Bailey's Mom

Super Moderator
Super Moderator
I've received better information from the argumentative vet tech and also from one of the vets about the treatments and their side effects. I'm not sold on it yet, but apparently if we do the Advantage Multi then two weeks later we do a dose of the Advantix. I've agreed to try one month and watch and see how she manages. I don't want her to miss out on life, but I'm still concerned about the doubling up on drugs and also the potential downside risk to her feeling okay. I'm not sold on that whole "it effects bugs not mammals"....nope, there is always a risk. To many chemical applications in history have come back to bite humans big time. I want the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth...not the propaganda page in some drug companies stock profile.

AND, Sheila, I seem to recall that Music Deb (Very Much Missed!!!!) gave a recipe for a home made tick treatment (some time ago...maybe a year ago.) I didn't keep it, but you might be able to find it. She lives in Texas and ticks are ubiquitous there, so....maybe she's got the inside track.
 

Smokeycat

Well-Known Member
I use an oil of oregano spray on the dogs when they are going to be outside for long or into long grass. It is supposed to prevent ticks and mosquitos from attaching/landing on them. It's not 100% but it's close.
 

Bailey's Mom

Super Moderator
Super Moderator
Sounds interesting, Smokeycat. Did you happen to save the recipe that Music Deb gave us... I had it on the other computer that died the death. Can't even get it to open. I think her recipe had oil of oregano in it or maybe it was one of the other pungents.

Do your dogs lick it off their legs and bellies? If so, do they ever get upset stomachs?
 

Smokeycat

Well-Known Member
Sounds interesting, Smokeycat. Did you happen to save the recipe that Music Deb gave us... I had it on the other computer that died the death. Can't even get it to open. I think her recipe had oil of oregano in it or maybe it was one of the other pungents.

Do your dogs lick it off their legs and bellies? If so, do they ever get upset stomachs?

I use a commercial product called OregaPet that I get at a natural foods store. Kryten doesn't seem to even notice when it gets applied to him. Jiggers hates it and tries to rub it off but I've never seen him try to lick it. It does have a very strong smell so it might be he doesn't want to get his nose close enough to lick it off. I just take it along and 'make him smell like pasta' after getting out of the car at the destination.
 

Smokeycat

Well-Known Member
Sounds interesting, Smokeycat. Did you happen to save the recipe that Music Deb gave us... I had it on the other computer that died the death. Can't even get it to open. I think her recipe had oil of oregano in it or maybe it was one of the other pungents.

Do your dogs lick it off their legs and bellies? If so, do they ever get upset stomachs?

I'm friends with her on Facebook and have asked if she still has that recipe. If she tells me I'll pass it on.
 

Bailey's Mom

Super Moderator
Super Moderator
Thanks Angela....I would appreciate it. I love taking Bailey to our local dog park and it is a mixture of trails and walks through long grass and woods. Don't need to pick up any stragglers that hurt my pup.