[USA]

HI Dog Obsessed,

I’m sorry to hear about Lily’s leg issues!

For flea control I would NOT use Sentry Natural Defense. Cinnamon, Clove, and Thyme oils are phenols. Phenols are pretty irritating to the skin and Sentry natural defense contains a lot. Phenols and the peppermint oil also have a very strong odor. I suspect that this odor is a bit overwhelming to dogs and cats! A lot of people comment on how strong it smells and if it’s overwhelming to some people imagine how it smells to a dog.

Sentry Natural Defense:
Active Ingredients: Peppermint Oil 3.0%, Cinnamon Oil 4.5%, Lemon Grass Oil 4.5%, Clove Oil 5.0%, Thyme Oil 5.0%
Other Ingredients: Vanillin, Isopropyl Myristate 78.0%

The Mercola oil has much less phenols (1%). I like this oil the best of those mentioned here. It uses mostly Lemongrass oil which has a lighter smell and is less irritating to the skin.

The Halo dip uses tea tree oil which is also very irritating to the skin, but since it doesn’t list the percentages of the oils I don’t know how much tea tree is in it.

The oils I like best for flea and tick control are:
Rosemary
Lemongrass
Cedar
Geranium

You can buy your own Lemongrass oil and put about 2oz in a 32oz bottle. Add 1 ounce of baby shampoo, fill with water, shake well and mist Lily’s coat a couple of times a week to help with fleas. If you like a woodsy smell then use Cedar oil, the texas red cedar is best. If you add 1oz of isopropyl alcohol to the spray it it will penetrate the coat better.

Ticks are harder to fight naturally, so inspections after you suspect she has been exposed are still the best way to fight them without powerful chemicals.

Good Luck!