Least toxic but effective flea treatment?

[LBF2020]

I know there's another thread kicking around about flea tablets but I didn't want to derail it so here we go..

I've found one of the buggers on the dog today and now I need to ask vet for script for flea treatment.

However, I've been paranoid of using flea treatments since a friend's dog got very unwell and had to be pts after having flea treatment. Whilst I know there are side effects to most/all medications and any reaction is likely to be rare I'm hoping someone will be able to recommend something which is safe-ish?

One of my dogs is a collie so I think I shouldn't be using anything with ivermectin in it?

We use Nexguard from the vets

The natural feeding crowd hate vet meds but it's safe, effective and taken as a chewable tablet. No ticks either (big bonus)

Some people swear by herbal supplements but TBH I can't see them being effective.

Indorex spray for the house, treat the dog. Then get onto a decent prevention regime

Daily comb...

@Bovrilla thanks for that, it doesn't appear to contain ivermectin so that's good.

@Watchkeys I'm ordering myself a nit comb for future prevention

We've done ok with a flea comb for years. You get the odd cluster of the little blighters here and there, but they don't get a chance to proliferate if you keep knocking them back. Doesn't work for everyone, but possibly worth a go if you don't want to use chemicals. They hang around on particular areas, particularly the base of the tail and around the ears and 'leg-pits', so you can focus your search if you don't have much time!

@Watchkeys thanks for the tip, that's really helpful! What do you do with the 'caught' fleas. Drown them?

Unfortunately, yes. You have to have a jug of water right by you to plunge them into, otherwise they leap into invisibility cloaks, as far as I've been able to tell. Then the jug of water goes down the loo. I've not had a flea come back up and bite my bum yet, and the dog's 10 next month, so I think it's ok.