My friend's dog has a flea problem and Frontline doesn't seem to be working. She would rather not use any other products that may be harmful.
2007-10-12 05:13:27 · 11 answers · asked by knittinmama 7 in Pets ➔ Dogs
That is an old wive's tale that doesn't really work. It doesn't hurt to try, but it won't work. I have seen a lot of people posting that Frontline hasn't worked for them this year. It is the best product I have ever used, so that puzzles me. Perhaps the fleas in some areas are becoming resistant to it. There are other flea products available, revolution and advantix. You might try one of those.
2007-10-12 06:50:14 · answer #1 · answered by mama woof 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have heard and read that a small amount of garlic daily will prevent fleas. The Frontline is probably working but she now has fleas in her house, it doesn't take long - been there, it's a nightmare. Tell her to buy human grade Diatomaceous Earth, not from the garden center or hardware store, it must be human grade. It's a powder that's easily sprinkled on carpets, around baseboards, where ever fleas might be hiding and it's perfectly safe if ingested by a pet. Leave overnight and repeat as necessary.
2007-10-12 06:16:45 · answer #2 · answered by Little Ollie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Regular Frontline alone does it's job, but is not enough to deal with a real infestation because the majority of a flea population lives in the environment. It's also important to get the Frontline on the skin of the animal, not the fur.
Your friend could switch to Advantage or Revolution, although they all work well really. Frontline Plus is probably the best. Get her to pick up some decent spray for her house too.
Garlic isn't really going to do much, and is not good for cats.
Chalice
2007-10-15 09:51:51 · answer #3 · answered by Chalice 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
One of England's best loved Dog experts (now deceased) Barbara Woodhouse, always said that garlic in a dog's food will keep the dog flea-free. I have not personally tried it so can't say for sure whether it works, but I think it's based on the principle that garlic in the bloodstream is unpalatable to the dog flea. However - bear in mind that fleas don't LIVE on the dog - they merely jump on when they're hungry, to feed. When sated - they will jump off again and live in your soft furnishings and carpet etc., where they lay their eggs. Some people (and I am one of them, unfortunately) are prone to getting bitten by fleas when they're present, so if the fleas don't like the meal on their 'doggie' dining table - they may well resort to feeding on any other passing mammal (i.e. humans) who may be present.
Several years ago (in England) when I had a particularly bad flea infestion in my house - I used standard fly spray from the store (about 6 tins) and I sprayed ever single surface in every room of the house. Then I shut the house up for about four hours - and took the kids to the park. When I came back - I opened every door and window for about 30 minutes and vacuumed everywhere. THEN - I treated the dogs and cats for fleas (I used 'Advantage' back then) and the problem disappeared. I continued to apply the drops when recommended - but - I agree with your friend. Rather like head lice in kids - over the years, these little varmints build up a resistance to treatment and it seems to stop working. I eventually switched to Frontline - which thankfully at the moment, is still proving to be effective.
One last point - if your friend's dog has any contact with cats - she needs to know that cat fleas are a totally different animal. Cat fleas are much larger and if they infect a dog, it is really hard to shift them.
Anyway - I hope you find all that helpful and good luck!! Regards - Terri
2007-10-12 12:00:55 · answer #4 · answered by Britlady 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
NO! Garlic is for killing vampires not fleas. Your friend is uncaring and selfish if she won't use chemical powders, sprays etc. as her poor dog is being sucked of it's blood and is suffering. Apart from the dog, canine fleas can also live on human blood and she must be getting bitten as well. If she doesn't get rid of them, they will breed rapidly and very soon she will find her home is infested to such an extent that her furniture will need destroying and her home fumigating. If she carries any fleas, they can easily jump on you and start infesting your home as well. You should ask her to keep away from you and your home until she gets rid of them, otherwise you are risking being infested as well and I'm sure you wouldn't want to be seen scratching yourself in public. Tell her that flea powders and sprays are harmful, to the FLEAS! They won't harm her or her dog.
2007-10-12 05:26:53 · answer #5 · answered by kendavi 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, garlic is also poisonous to dogs in large amounts as are onions. There are other flea products besides Frontline. Ask the Vet.
Indoors and outside pet areas have to be treated also, or the fleas will keep returning.
2007-10-12 05:19:53 · answer #6 · answered by Big Bear 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Garlic and Onion in any amount can cause the oxygen in the blood of your pet to literally explode.
Your friends dog may be doing what our babies did. Seemed the fleas laid back in the Frontline and swam around waving at us!! So I changed to Advantix for my dog and I also added a flea, fly tick,gnat dip to go with it after I give her a bath. She loves it. It smells the BEST TOO!
I got it at 1-800-PetMeds.com.
They refunded my money on the Frontline too, because it didn't work.
Hope this helped. Please be very careful of what you give your pets. Always ask your Vet if in Doubt.
2007-10-12 07:59:05 · answer #7 · answered by gone 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Garlic in large amounts can actually be poisonous to dogs. I have never given garlic to my dog, although i think there is a little bit of it in her kibbles. I would talk to the vet about adding garlic though just to be sure.
2007-10-12 05:18:20 · answer #8 · answered by dobiz_rule 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Fleas particularly dislike the flavor of garlic and yeast (nutritional or brewer's yeast). Mixing garlic and yeast with your pet's food can render their blood unpalatable to fleas.
2007-10-12 05:24:44 · answer #9 · answered by KiKi 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have heard that too much garlic can be harmful to dogs.
I would ask the vet but it just sounds like an old wives tale to me. Plus it will give your dog awful breath.
2007-10-12 05:24:32 · answer #10 · answered by . 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋