If you have dogs, come in here

laurenclaire1386

What kind of flea meds do you use? Advantage and Frontline are no longer doing the trick for my dogs, and they're all itchy. I know that if you use the same one for a while, it might stop being effective, and I guess that's what's happened. It always gets extra buggy when the weather warms up, but it seems like we're fighting the fleas even harder than normal this year. Any recs for flea meds?

mica178

I currently use Frontline Plus, but previously I used Advantix.  I think the vet said something about Advantix repelling and killing the fleas, reducing how many bites the dogs would get.

WildRumpus

I'm a bad pet mom and don't use them on Ox, BUT the vet said it was ok, since bulldogs have such sensitive skin, and he really only goes outside to go to the bathroom, or for the occasional walk. My parents use the generic Frontline, but I'm guessing it wouldn't work for you. This may be a stupid suggestion, but have you tried coupling it with a flea/tick shampoo?

laurenclaire1386

Jill, I have. Terminix has sprayed the house and the yard, we've bathed them with medicated shampoo, and put the drops on them and they're still itchy. It's really starting to piss me off. I know the most common brands are Frontline and Advantage (or Advantix, are they the same thing?), so I just wanted to see if anybody used another brand that worked well for them.

tunaep11

I use like a combination of things. I live in KS and fleas are really nasty here in the summer. I bathe my dogs once a week during the summer using Dawn dish soap, vet told me its better than any flea/tick shampoo. I also use flea collars and frontline. Are your dogs allowed in the house?

laurenclaire1386

Tuna, they're all inside dogs. They go out to the bathroom several times a day, and if H and I are hanging out outside, they'll come with us, but they spend 90% of their time inside. I'm glad to know about the Dawn. I use Dawn when I'm not trying to murder a horde of fleas, but if it works as well as flea shampoo, then I'm all about it.

mica178

I liked Advantix, but my mother said it gave her a headache if I used it on Berkeley right before she saw her.  Thus the switch to Frontline Plus.  It works well too, although I think Berkeley can still get occasional flea bites, because the fleas bite her, then are poisoned and die.

laurenclaire1386

I might try the Advantix then. Frontline quit working last summer, so we switched to Advantage. Grrrrr.

GeauxTigers17

We use Revolution and it has worked wonders. It comes in a little tube that you squeeze onto the back of their neck, so you also don't have to try to feed them a pill.

DramaGeek

We use Revolution.

tortis

What kind of heartworm pills do you use? Our vet has our dogs on one that also has flea protection (I think its Sentinel, don't have it in front of me). He said that if we have them on that then we can use one of the lesser inclusive topical flea meds and still be ok. 

I'd just call the vet and ask them really quick. Ours is really good with answering quick questions like that over the phone or at least with calling us back and skipping an office visit.

LDYGTR13

X doesn't have fleas (knocking on some wood now) and just by bathing her once a week we've been able to fend them off for now. I think H used to use advantix though but my parents use Frontline on our Basset hound.

redheadfsu

Comfortis (fleas) and Sentinel (heartworm & fleas). I don't believe it (either) deals with ticks, but fleas are our main problem and it has completely kept it under control.

professorscience

FWIW, Advantix is toxic to cats.  Don't know if you have any that would come into contact with your dog, but something to keep in mind.

Celles

Advantix is supposed to be the best there is, but it's really expensive for four dogs.  I've had good luck with Adams Flea and Tick Mist (click).  We get ticks out here in the desert, too, and it's the only thing other than Advantix that works for us.

missy68

We give Max FirstShield Trio and Worm Shield for fleas and ticks, and heartworms, respectively.
FirstShield says (according to my paperwork) that it works on fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, sand flies, lice and mites and kills on contact. It also starts working (on fleas) within 2 hours, and remains effective after bathing and swimming. Also kills adult fleas, eggs, larvae, and pupae.

We use Banfield, and this is what they are recommending, at least at mine. No fleas on Max.

pantherRN

We use Frontline, but another option is neem oil. It's sort of like citronella, but it's not. On the flip side, are you positive that it's fleas? If I missed something you said previously, I'm sorry!

leia1979

I believe we use Advantage topical (or generic equivalent) on the dog and cats. Actually, after using that stuff for a few years, we didn't have fleas anymore for years. We've had some problems this year, so now everyone has a flea collar and greasy medicine on the back of the neck.

You can also bathe the dogs in anti-itch shampoo. Our dog has been really itchy (and I don't think it's just fleas). We started giving her flax seed oil, and it's helped some.

missy68

You know, Maggie never EVER had fleas, even in Louisiana, where she played outside 70% of the time? For some reason, they never got on her. Even when my other dog in my former life was infested, they never jumped over to her. When we started treating her for Cushing's, I quit bothering with flea stuff - no point. Just kept up her heartworm meds. I haven't seen any evidence on Max through 2 flea and tick seasons, but at some point, we're going to take him camping, so he needs the protection.

Birdie1483

Have you actually seen fleas on them, or are they just itchy? I ask because Ozzie is always itchy and it gets worse when seasonal allergy season comes around. If you haven't actually seen fleas, I would try either switching their food to a healthy skin food, give them Fish Oil, and use a sensitive skin shampoo. When all else fails I give Ozzie Benadryl. I think it's 1mg for every pound, but I would double check that. I just give Ozzie one pill.

Birdie1483

When I was at the vet once I did see an oral medication that was supposed to be for when your dog doesn't respond to medications like Frontline. If you have found fleas, I would possibly look into something like that.

My coworker told me garlic works wonders, but good luck getting a dog to eat it.

[Deleted User]

We;re using a new one called Vectra for cats, but I think they have ones for dogs too. So far, it's the most effective one, even moreso than Advantage, which we were using before.

jessicabessica

We use interceptor tablets for heartform and advantage topical for fleas.  Our dog is a greyhound, and we have to be careful with certain meds (like no flea collars).  

If it's another skin issue, I agree with the previous suggestions about fish oil.  When we got our grey, her skin was really dry, scaly, flaky, and itchy.  We put salmon oil (she loves it) on her nightly food.  We just switched to a more expensive food--Nutra herring for sensitive skin and tummies, but that smells really fishy to us (again, she loves it), so we're going to switch to Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream when this bag runs out.  There's a definite improvement in her coat and skin with the oil and food.  We also use earthbath waterless cleaning foam on occasion--we just rub it in, let it dry, and towel her off--which I think helps her skin.  

jamiemarie33

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_dogs-come-here?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:2a76e6b7-8e54-4acf-9176-3643fb67118bPost:063ccdfb-2803-4a2a-b6b9-89682afd0d79">Re: If you have dogs, come in here</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: If you have dogs, come in here :   Garlic is actually toxic to dogs.  It wrecks either nerves or kidneys, I can't remember. 
Posted by katelynbrian[/QUOTE]
They would have to eat a ton of garlic for it to actually be toxic.  It is commonly used in holistic diets.  I cook a lot for my dog and always include garlic. 

Dawn dish soap is not good for washing dogs- it strips them of their natural oils- which they need for their coat and to not get itchy, dry skin.  Once a week washing is also really bad for their skin/coat.

I've found Comfortis to be the best, the fleas around here are immune to Frontline. And Advantix never really worked well for my dog- I think he swims too much.  I give Comfortis once every 2-3 months and have never seen a flea since!  The downside, is it does not protect against ticks- but we just check him after hikes.

bmoruzzi

We use interceptor for heart and frontline plus for fleas/ticks.  I've never once seen a flea on my dog and he spends a few days a week in doggie day care.  And here's a picture of the cutie pie.  

greygarnett

I used to use Revolution all the way on my 2 dogs and 3 cats and have never seen a flea on any of them.
Just recently started using Advantix because ticks are a bigger problem where we recently moved to. I asked about my cats and the vet said that basically to put it on the dogs and just watch them until it dries because its only toxic if its ingested. So unless you have a cat that licks your dog it would be fine. Athough a downside is it IS more expensive if you have a normal size dog, it ended up being cheaper for my big dog because Revolution doesn't cover his weight class so I had to buy 2 different boxes.

missy68

Max does seem to have allergies occasionally - watery eyes, foot licking, etc., so he's had Benadryl. He can take 2 pills, the cow (actually almost 3).

But we've never seen any sign of fleas - in the house, in the cars, on us (and he sleeps on our bed. I like the FirstShield - he's been on it since he was a puppy. A single dose for his weight range is 16.95 a month. For your dogs, it would be much less (that's for 56-95 lbs). The Worm Shield is 11.95 for the single 51-100 lb dose.

He also does doggie day camp a couple of times a month, and we've boarded him several times.

larzhope

I also use Revolution and love it.  I've never used anything else so I can't comment on how pricey it is comparatively speaking, but we got a years worth for about $120 I think (and we have a 50 lb black lab)

I tried some pill the first 2 months and couldn't get Riley to take it.  It was supposed to be a "dissolvable" tablet, but it doesn't dissolve when your dog just spits it out...

jamiemarie33

I have to cut the Comfortis into 4 sections, and then put each section into a piece of cheese, then follow up with just a piece of cheese, in order for my dog to eat it

larzhope

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_dogs-come-here?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:2a76e6b7-8e54-4acf-9176-3643fb67118bPost:9a9b4805-ef49-454a-96a6-d65942e602d2">Re: If you have dogs, come in here</a>:
[QUOTE]I have to cut the Comfortis into 4 sections, and then put each section into a piece of cheese, then follow up with just a piece of cheese, in order for my dog to eat it :)
Posted by jamiemarie33[/QUOTE]

that's what Riley wouldn't eat... Comfortis.  blech.  The Revolution is much easier!

tortis

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_dogs-come-here?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:2a76e6b7-8e54-4acf-9176-3643fb67118bPost:fb849787-ea89-43e6-b20a-11e00a936d1a">Re: If you have dogs, come in here</a>:
[QUOTE]You know, Maggie never EVER had fleas, even in Louisiana, where she played outside 70% of the time? For some reason, they never got on her. Even when my other dog in my former life was infested, they never jumped over to her. When we started treating her for Cushing's, I quit bothering with flea stuff - no point. Just kept up her heartworm meds. I haven't seen any evidence on Max through 2 flea and tick seasons, but at some point, we're going to take him camping, so he needs the protection.
Posted by missy68[/QUOTE]

<div>
</div><div>We haven't seen fleas, but our golden has had a few ticks after hiking and creeking w H. H sucks at checking for them and Emmit has only ever gotten them when he's been hiking up at H's parents house, never when we hike around here. Our other pup has MUCH shorter hair than Emmit, so I've wondered if the ticks can get one Em easier when he walks through plants they are in- easier to grab onto or something. </div><div>
</div><div>But I checked, we have them on Sentinel year round and Advantix topical when its warmer. </div><div>
</div><div>LC do you have them on flea meds year round? I think you live in the south (if thats wrong, sorry) so maybe the flea season is longer down there.</div>