The real cure for fleas and ticks!

[Nitro]

I'm going to teach all of you the most efficiant way to get rid of fleas and ticks, for good..................let's start off by telling you something you all may have learned.................. That "Advantage" is quite costly and in most cases..........doesn't work. I would like to tell you as well that I have seen about 5 fleas and 2 ticks on my dogs in about 10 years, and they didn't stay long! The first thing you need to know is that fleas and ticks HATE cedar, So go to your local feed store and get a bag cedar shavings (a bag is about 6 bucks, and will fill about 5 dog house) if your dog is an indoor dog, then make him or her a big lounge pillow filled with the cedar shavings. Second, go to Sam's club or another store that sells in bulk and get your self a big can of "Garlic POWDER" NOT garlic SALT!!!!! sprinkle approx. one table spoon per dog on thier food every other day. The garlic will be secreted out of your dogs skin and this will eliminate any of those hardcore fleas that are giving you a problem! Dog may not like the taste at first, but don't worry.....once they get used to it...........they get were they won't eat it without it! good luck everyone. PS. The feed store is a great place for other supplies like worming meds., parvo shots, penicillian, Fly traps etc. and don't forget about heavy duty swivels!

[Suki]

I've heard/read controversial things regarding cedar chips:

you guys decide...


http://www.trifl.org/cedar.shtml

http://members.aol.com/bunrabtoo/cedar.html

[sedaliapitbulls]

I use Cedar I agree. It is probally Better than Frontline. Righton

[Scotsman]

Never had a problem with Advantage, Frontline or Revolution, they all work if you use them right. Cedar works but the above products work a lot better.

[tec9]

i thought dogs shouldent eat garlic

[mikelia]

I won't use cedar shavings because of the toxic phenols produced. You don't necessarily see the effects on the dog, but you do with smaller animals, and I've seen the nasty effects of using cedar shavings. So I refuse to use anything cedar. Same with frontline, advantage etc... I won't put chemicals on my pets. By no means do I not agree with other people using them, I just don't like to use chemicals, period. Safer home that way. For flee prevention I use garlic in the food, a healthy diet and a spray (forget the name and it is packed) that has natural oils like neem, lemon, citronella etc... Works great, I have seen a few fleas around since I've been living in the apartment building, but they never settle in. They don't like my pets and have not a flea problem for about 10 years now.

[bahamutt99]

I like the smell of cedar, but its not foolproof. Everyone has different experiences, I'd imagine. My dog kept getting fleas on Frontline, and I was spending money out the ying-yang on area sprays, powders, etc. I switched to Advantage, no more fleas. Then we moved to another state, and honestly, I haven't applied a flea treatment since last summer. There's been no need.

Re: Garlic. Garlic in small doses can be beneficial for dogs. I give probably 1/8-1/4 of a teaspoon to my 45-pounder every week. Its supposed to be good for the heart, breath (go figure), and fleas supposedly don't like it.

[prettyfulpitbull]

So it is safe to feed garlic?If so how much would you feed to a 50lb. dog?

[Castro]

I have been using garlic pills, which are sold at most pet stores for a while. I have never had a problem with fleas. With ticks it is also pretty good. During heavy tick season with the pills my dog gets about 1 or 2 a week and without them it is like 1 or 2 a day.

[sedaliapitbulls]

hey I learned something New today Thanks Guys.

[japangame]

So it is safe to feed garlic?If so how much would you feed to a 50lb. dog?
Garlic Powder and Garlic cloves are safe, yes. Feed in moderation. Sprinkle, dont poor. Its actually quite good for your dogs heart and boul movements.


As for cedar. My Poop-pin is covered in cedar and it keeps the bugs out of that area, easier to pick up poop, and it does help keep the fleas away. It was an excellent post for people, but it is everyones choice to do what they do with their dogs of course. Good luck and God Bless, regardless of what you use or do.

P.S. The cedar also keeps my yard smellin so fresh and so clean clean.;)

[prettyfulpitbull]

I learned something new too.THANKS

[japangame]

Of Course. ;)I learned something new too.THANKS

[SoColdsBaby]

Ihave used Cedar for years and feed garlic to my dogs but, just in case i keep a back up of happy jack kennel dip 2 this year ticks are bad in my neck of the woods and so far only my nephew's neww puppy who loves to play in the woods needed dipping. I use ceder in my pens and dog house. It dose keep the yard smelling good. But, i will say thing if it gets through and through wet you need to change it. And letting your dog eat any wood chips is not smart. In some places you can find the garlic pills feed stores normal carry then . Now i was using frontline on my chows and they got flea and tick invested i will not use it ever again. I stick with my cedar, Garlic and dip. I will say though Dip is extermally dangerous if you do not know how to use it i found the safest way was putting it with the right amount of water in a spray bottle and spraiing from the ears back the easiest way but, As i said i only use that if there is an infestasion

[badger]

i have used both advantage and revolution and both work! you can probably get away with alot of these home remedies in some areas of the country, but the furthur south you get the more pest pressure you get! having your dog on a preventative program is the best way to avoid fleas and ticks because they need a host. treting the yard the beds and kennel are great but the dog is the host, and that is the most important step.

[bullybaby]

I feed my dogs garlic too. I'd estimate a quarter to a half a clove a day for each of my dogs(55 & 60 lbs). When I moved into this house there was a bit of a flea problem in the yard, but after about a month or so I haven't seen one since. It's been about a year and a half now.

Garlic is also great for the immune system, not just fleas. Plus, garlic is really cheap. I get a whole head for 25 cents a piece and it lasts me a couple of weeks.

[Nitro]

Guys the garlic is the trick...........about every other day will do the trick, By the way, Mikelia, cedar is just a natural as citronilia..............we're talking about pitbulls not hamsters...................Note: do not use with puppies less than 8 weeks old, they will choke on the cedar shavings!!!!!!!!!!!!

[asaj]

I also refuse to put chemicals on my dogs. A great tips for garlic, let whole garlic cloves soak in unpasturised applevinegar, and add a few dropps in the food. I feed my dogs raw food and I never see a flea on them.

I'm going to teach all of you the most efficiant way to get rid of fleas and ticks, for good..................let's start off by telling you something you all may have learned.................. That "Advantage" is quite costly and in most cases..........doesn't work. I would like to tell you as well that I have seen about 5 fleas and 2 ticks on my dogs in about 10 years, and they didn't stay long! The first thing you need to know is that fleas and ticks HATE cedar, So go to your local feed store and get a bag cedar shavings (a bag is about 6 bucks, and will fill about 5 dog house) if your dog is an indoor dog, then make him or her a big lounge pillow filled with the cedar shavings. Second, go to Sam's club or another store that sells in bulk and get your self a big can of "Garlic POWDER" NOT garlic SALT!!!!! sprinkle approx. one table spoon per dog on thier food every other day. The garlic will be secreted out of your dogs skin and this will eliminate any of those hardcore fleas that are giving you a problem! Dog may not like the taste at first, but don't worry.....once they get used to it...........they get were they won't eat it without it! good luck everyone. PS. The feed store is a great place for other supplies like worming meds., parvo shots, penicillian, Fly traps etc. and don't forget about heavy duty swivels!

[Nitro]

just remember, this doesn't have to be hard..........just sprinkle a little powder on their food every other day.

[badger]

the garlic and cedar remedy does sound good ....the garlic secreting the skin and thus making an uninviting host. down here in florida, we have had some really active flea and tick activity. but it is interesting, we still need preventative for heartworm.....we have hardcore mosquito activity in the summer we have to have it.

[CRG]

http://game-dog.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10611&highlight=garlic lots of info

[WINSTROL]

I won't use cedar shavings because of the toxic phenols produced.MY DOGS TRY TO EAT THE STUFF AND HAD SOME DIE FROM INTAKE OF IT..............

[Scotsman]

If you don't have fleas or ticks in your yard to begin with anything will work to keep them off. I personally like Revolution and I'll take that any day over Garlic, Cedar and Dips. Infact dips are almost never used these days, they are pretty old school, super toxic and only last for a week.

[Big Papa]

cool garlic powder i might have to try it

[Stickynote]

GREAT post Nitro- I will try this :)

[badger]

If you don't have fleas or ticks in your yard to begin with anything will work to keep them off. I personally like Revolution and I'll take that any day over Garlic, Cedar and Dips. Infact dips are almost never used these days, they are pretty old school, super toxic and only last for a week.

i also have been using revolution and have had excellent results. i have pulled dead ticks out of boss' ears.

[TEXAS PIT DOGS]

now i have used cedar and i havnt had any andverse reactions i have heard that things happen,but i never had any.as far as garlic i have never used it but i have heard both good and bad things about that also.

[ABK]

I used to use cedar, but not any longer. I once had a nest of fleas take up residence in a bag of cedar. We did not have a flea problem & they could have easily taken up residence in more "flea friendly" places, such as the carpet. But instead they chose an open bag of cedar chips as their breeding ground, so that killed the "cedar repels fleas" theory for me.

I have not tried garlic, but I have heard good things. I have heard brewer's yeast is good against fleas too, although I have tried neither. After the flea nest in the cedar bag experince I just use good 'ol seven dust now. ;)