Alternative medicine for dogs - does anyone do this successfully, particularly avoiding insecticides (yuk) to prevent fleas?

[Isaidheyhoney]

I just put some spot-on flea treatment on our terrier, and the accompanying leaflet freaked me out a bit. I don't want fleas in the home, but equally I REALLY don't want insecticides all over the cushions either. And I certainly can't stop dd kissing the dog all over!

I'd love to be able to not use that stuff against fleas in future. But does alternative stuff work effectively? He is a young healthy dog so should not be prone to getting fleas or other pests. OTOH he is active and into everything, so in theory has plenty of exposure to all sorts.

Any thoughts?

Fleas are fleas. Youth and health are no protection against infestation.

Companies are obliged to put anything and everything into the pack leaflet. As long as it has dried before your DD starts kissing him it'll be fine. Put it on, then take him for a walk, or last thing at night when she won't be near him.

I am deeply sceptical about herbal flea products as I have seen so many dogs over the years with severe infestations where owners have used them. Others will swear they work, but maybe their dogs don't get exposed to fleas.

I'd love to hear if anyone on here has given them a go, though.

This is not very scientific but I do not use frontline etc on any of my dogs and I have never had a flea infestation since owning dogs.

However I wash bedding very regularly and brush and comb through the dogs daily even the short haired ones. I also hoover areas the dogs go frequently.

There is talk that diet can help prevent fleas but I don't think any scientific evidence.

If I did have an infestation I would of course have to use the treatment.

I regularly worm my dogs and do treat to prevent lungworm. However ticks and fleas I prevent by good old combing! bit like nits.

I'd be happy to do that, Minimu, if I could avoid Frontline etc.

Does anyone else do this? And how bad is an infestation if you get one? Burn all sofas?????????

i have a staffy and very rarely use any flea treatments.

he is short haired so easy to see any 'visitors' - only time i use frontline is if he is going to the dogsitter while we go away (do this as she has cats and a lot of different dogs passing through)or if i have spotted a flea on him. i think in 10 years i have seen maybe 2 or 3 fleas!

We use verm-ex to reduce the probability of intestinal parasites in our dog and chickens. We also use a conventional wormer in our dog, so this is complementary supplement, rather than in place of conventional treatment. However, we try to avoid chemical worming in our chickens, because we eat the eggs.

i have a freind who gives her dogs garlic tablets every day.
she calims they make the blood taste funny and if a flea gets onto the dog they don't stick around.

i don't know if this works or not but her dog has never had fleas.

Thanks, Gigantaur. I have heard that advice re garlic - slightly odd given that garlic isn't supposed to be too good for a dog, but maybe that's a question of quantity.

Thanks for your experience, Ceres - very reassuring. Mads, I do worm him, and feel less bad about that. Is Verm-ex more alternative?

This is Verm-X.

It is a herbal supplement, but I would not feel comfortable about stopping vet worming because of the risk of lung worm etc. My puppy is quite naughty about eating poo and other horrible things, so I feel that he is particularly vulnerable to picking up parasites. He has already had a nasty dose of a parasite, so this is just to give him an extra boost.

We use the herbal crunchies which Patch enjoys.

Thanks Mads. All tips v welcome. I feel such a newbie on the doggy front!

I have used this in the past - makes them smell lovely and never had fleas on my dog - also feed garlic: Natural Flea Spray

Having said that - I have also occasionally use frontline or Advocat if I think there is a need (eg. we went to Scotland and wanted to protect against ticks so used the advocat spot on thing)

I can't thank you enough for that, Iggypiggy. I have all the oils here anyway as I am a lentil weaver where humans are concerned. Only fair our dog should be treated the same! I will do the spray and the nit-combing!

My parents used Brewer's yeast to combat fleas. Effective in the same way as the garlic.