Any natural flea deterent advice?

Canine Flea - Most prolific parasite of the domestic dog
@Ritz100 (1169)
Yecla, Spain
July 27, 2008 1:45pm CST
I have 5 dogs and this year we seem to have an epidemic of fleas, to the extent that we dunk the dogs in a barrel up to their necks for 5 minutes to drown the things (not the dogs, the fleas,) then shampoo them and hose them, and this is on a weekly basis. Within a week they are back. The vets advice has been anything but helpful in that he is saying (and I've consulted a few) "its just a bad year do what you can," and then tries to sell me every product he's got. Well I just cant afford it. What I am asking is: Does anybody know of a natural flea deterrent, something I might be able to pick and use, to prevent or cut down on the amount of fleas and make the situation more manageable?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@lightningd (1039)
• United States
27 Jul 08
DAWN DISHSOAP!!!! It seems to be working on my dogs. What I did was take a 3cc syringe and squirt it from the nape of their neck by the collar all the way to the middle of their back. The soap itself is harmless, and if it gets wet, it only helps to spread it on their bodies. Fleas HATE it!!! It's working for me. Nice thing is, you can even use this on young puppies without problems. Hope that helps!!
2 people like this
• United States
4 Aug 08
If you give the dog a bath with dawn and then put white vinegar on them and let it set for 5 minutes before rinsing off it helps. They stink but it helps.
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@Ritz100 (1169)
• Yecla, Spain
4 Aug 08
Sounds good, actually vinegars good for a lot of things, never considered it for this, I will certainly give it a try. Thanks for that, ill let you know the results.
@Valenas (1507)
• United States
27 Jul 08
I have heard that spraying dish soap all over your lawn every once in a while kills them. Perhaps have someone out there spraying the yard at the same time that you are giving the baths. I am not sure how to find them around the house if they are crawling about. Perhaps take your shampooer and do the whole house. Make it a house effort! If you boarded at the clinic that I work at for one night, we would give your dogs a medication that kills every flea on them. We do that to prevent fleas from spreading to other dogs that are boarding. I believe that the medication is called CapStar? I am never the one who gives it, so I am not sure. But, all of the fleas die and fall off. Perhaps call a different clinic in the area and ask what you can do to remove fleas from your house, yard, and dogs, and prevent them from coming back.
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@bfitto (12)
28 Jul 08
I have 4 dogs and use "Capstar" from the vets. It kills the eggs as well. There are alot of varieties available but capstar from the vets. You may need to give a tablet every second day for a week or so then once a week. It's about $17 for a pack of 6 tablets depending on size, I have large dogs. It may take a couple of weeks but I find it fantastic.
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@Ritz100 (1169)
• Yecla, Spain
30 Jul 08
Thanks for these responses, I am going to the Capstar I think, in conjunction with that diamtomatios(spell?) earth, I find the frontline doesnt work over here, I think the fleas have an immunity to it, thats what the vet said anyway. Ill let you all know how it goes and what I did to resolve the problem.