How do you give Garlic to your dogs?

Question

So if you feed your dog kibble, how do you give a garlic supplement for fleas?

Money has been tight lately and we had to skimp on flea preventative. Problem is the weather didn't cooperate and flea season has been longer than normal this year. My dogs now have fleas and we're unable to get advantage for them at this time.

I know some people recommend garlic, but I am unsure of how to actually give it to them and in what quantities and how many times per week.

Thanks for answering!

Ahh... I see git'em gang is up to her old tricks.

Reported!

Hmm... the first answerer is gone (aka Git'Em Gang)

To the second answerer, I have 6 dogs at this time, 4 are mine, 2 my M-I-L's that she dumped on us. As many single doses as that is comes out to 2 packs of frontline or 1 pack + 1 vial of advantage.

My vet charges $60 just for one pack of advantage for large dogs and $55 for a pack of Frontline for large dogs. There is no discount for bulk purchases and none of the places around here give discounts for bulk purchases, not that I could afford it at this time anyway. Bulk just means buying more of something, but paying more overall since your paying for more product.

LNP, I tried those cheaper alternatives before and it didn't work. The shampoo lasts for maybe two days and then it isn't effective anymore.

I'm guessing that Rachel didn't actually read the question.

Thank you all for your answers so far.

Answer 1

Easier and cheaper: use plain old white vinegar.
First bath all the dogs with vinegar added to both the wash and the rinse water.
Add vinegar to their drinking water also. Maybe 1/4 cup to a gallon bucket, increasing slowly to about 3/4 or 1 cup.

Next clean all bedding. If they have straw in their dog houses throw it away and clean the houses using vinegar again.

Next treat the yard. Sevin dust is the best for this. It is cheap and effective. Be sure to cover to use a mask when you apply it to the yard.

Hope this helps. :)

Edited to add: dawn dish detergent and borax are both myths.

Answer 2

Don't skimp on flea treatment. Garlic doesn't work - too much is toxic to dogs, and feeding a small amount means not enough will be excreted through the skin - if indeed garlic even repels fleas, which is doubtful.

Get Frontline online where it's cheap. I don't usually suggest this, but better you try online than any silly 'solutions' like garlic, or ANYTHING from a pet store. You've already discovered that flea shampoos don't work. It's the same with anything from a pet store, or any home remedy.

The last person I met who was trying to avoid proper flea treatment to save money had a £140 bill for toxicity. Think about what's actually cheaper in the long run.

Chalice

Answer 3

I don't think I'll be much help with the garlic issue. But a way to help rid your house of fleas is to set up flea traps. Use night lights plugged into the lower outlets in as many areas around the house as you can. Under the lights you put a pan of water with a bit of dish soap in it. The fleas are attracted to the light and end up in the pan of water. If the dogs happen to drink the water... it won't be a big deal as it is only a bit of dish soap (several drops per pan.) You probably have these items around your house, so it should cost you nothing.

Answer 4

I've never had it work but I used the pills I take. The Holistic pet store sells garlic for dogs but hasn't had much luck either. Brewers yeast didn't work either. Your vet can sell you a single Advantage or Frontline until you can afford to buy them cheaper thru a place such as K V Vet. Garlic thins the blood and too much can be bad for man or beast.

Answer 5

I would check with your vet and check around on this. I am not sure that garlic has been proven to be helpful for flea control and large amounts of garlic can even be harmful to pets. Since fleas can cause several problems for pets until you can some Advantage to help cut down on the fleas you may want to try to bath them with Dawn dishwashing soap, you could probably even put a mixture of Dawn/water in a carpet cleaner to do the carpets, or spray around the areas with dawn/water mixture.

Answer 6

take a garlic pill at least twice a week if not more pending on how bad the fleas are, read the back of the bottle some say to give to your pet once a day, you could wrap the pill in some cheese or some kind of table food that your pet will enjoy!

Answer 7

Garlic is not safe to feed dogs, and doesn't really work for fleas.

Visit your vet for flea medication. There are discounts for buying in bulk.

At the very least, speak with your vet on your garlic idea to see if it is safe and any warning signs you should look for.

Answer 8

i heard garlic was bad for your dog. BUt i have another alternitive that may help go to walmart they have cheaper flea & tick supliments so you can squeeze some bucks there. Or what i did was i got a flea & tick shampoo it kills fleas and ticks for a number of days. the shampoo was only about 8$ & it lasts & does seem to help

Answer 9

I've never heard of giving a dog garlic..
Horses, yes, powered garlic to stop colds in the winter months etc.
Frontline is the best for this sort of treatment (phone up the local vet and put in an order)

Answer 10

Garlic and Onions can make dogs sick. I have heard of people using garlic for a natural treatment to prevent fleas, but I would not do it!