[anonymous]

Regarding the author of that “Dogs Naturally” article (link in an above post) Dr. Deva Khalsa, a popular alternative veterinarian

Garlic for Pets- What’s it Good for?

8. Garlic is an effective flea control method.
Doubtful. There are, of course, plenty of anecdotes from people saying that garlic drove the fleas away from their pets like magic. There are just as many that say garlic didn’t help at all. There is absolutely no research evidence showing garlic supplements to be an effective form of flea control. It is often given with Brewer’s yeast, which has been shown to be ineffective as a flea repellant. So for all the confidence with which this claim is made, it is simply made up.

More here http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2015/09/naet-a-cure-for-allergies-not/

[anonymous]

I would prefer to risk side effects from a flea/tick preventive than watch a dog suffer from Lyme disease or be tortured with flea bites.
The benefits of flea/tick preventives outweigh the risks (imo).

But, of course I would avoid the products mentioned in the FDA Alert.

[Patricia A]

Why would anyone think that giving an insecticide to your dogs is harmless?? Frontline’s website creates the impression that the product stays in the oil glands of the skin. But Dr. Dobozy’s study showed that, in fact, it does enter the body and the organ systems. Copies from this link . https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/the-dangers-of-flea-and-tick-products/

• This reply was modified 7 years, 2 months ago by Patricia A.

[Reese B]

https://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/CVMUpdates/ucm620934.htm

I’m glad I stopped giving my girl bravecto, but angry that I let my vet talk me into it in the first place.

[Susan]

Hi,
Sorry to hear about your sick poodle,
In Australia we do not need a prescription for a “vet diet food” We can buy online..
Our Royal Canine is made in France we do not get the US Royal Canine vet diets, they don’t pass our strict import laws…… We have a few online site that sell overseas, I will msg a friend who is in the US, she buys from Australia, she buys our flea products as they work out cheaper then buying from America she said… I’ll send her a msg now & get the online places that sell to overseas customers & see if they have the R/C vet diet you need,
These are our R/C vet diets we get in Australia I hope I can help your poor dog..
http://www.royalcanin.com.au/products/products/vet-products/vet-diet-canine

[Susan]

Hi,
The only way to know 100% what foods your dog is sensitive too is to do a food elimination diet..
Feed just 1 meat protein & 1 carb for 6 weeks & see does Sophie react” if Sophie doesnt react to the meat protein & carb your feeding then you can add another new ingredient into her diet but you can NOT feed any treats etc, it can take anywhere from 20mins for a reaction to show or take up to 6 weeks to see reactions but my boy reacts within 20mins raw chicken makes his back paw red hot & swell up but if I fed him chicken in a dry kibble he itches, red paws & smells less but he doesnt get the red hot swollen back paws, probably cause dry kibble meats have been broken down & cooked till there’s no real chicken protein left so he doesnt react to the chicken in a kibble as bad…

If you dont want to do raw or cooked elimination diet then best to use a Hypoallergenic vet diet this way you know 100% these vet diets haven’t been cross contaminated….

Baths – make sure you bath weekly or twice a week or as soon as Sophies starts to itch bad, baths wash off any allergens on skin, paws head etc also baths relieve the red itchy skin, I use “Malaseb”medicated shampoo weekly with Patch & I use baby wipes, Cucumber & Aloe wipes & I wipe him down after his walks or after being out the back yard, I use creams like “Bepanthen” Antiseptic Soothing cream for his red itchy rash on stomach & around his doodle from the grass & I use “Sudocrem” on his red paws & inbetween his toes at night is best to apply cream just before bed check out sophies whole body & head he a few baby wipes & wipes her down then apply a cream to any red itchy areas, the Sudocrem acts as a barrier & protects his skin & paws so best to re apply before she goes outside you will start to see a big difference & relieve her itchy skin… its all about routine, wash cream etc & you can get a control on her itchy skin this all helps her a bit & if Winter is coming this is when you start the Elimination diet …
Do you have any roll/loaf kept in the fridge section, that has limited ingredients like FreshPet Vital & try this & give Sophie bath twice a week or weekly, use the creams & baby wipes days she hasnt had a bath & see is she better but the roll loaf must only have 1 meat protein & a few carbs as you wont know what she is reacting too..

Dogs who suffer with food sensitivities normally have Enviroment Allergies aswell, so its not just the food making Sophie skin itch, she could be sensitive to a certain grass, a tree in your yard or neigbours yard, pollens, dust mites, flea salvia, this makes it very hard working out what is making the dog itch, Keep a Diary write every down at night, then look back thru the diary as the years pass & you will start to see a pattern, she might be more itchy thru the Spring & Summer months & in the cooler months she is better ?? this is seasonal environment allergies, with food sensitivities the dog gets bad wind, farts, sloppy poo’s, diarrhea, vomiting,& yeasty smelly ears, paws, skin,….
Its best to see a Dermatologist or a vet that knows about skin & food senitivities..
Best to do food elimination diet in the cooler months when allergens aren’t as high, this way its easier to work out what Sophie is reacting too…

Just becareful with Zignature its very high in Legumes especially the Kangaroo formula..
Join this f/b group “Taurine-Deficient Dilated Cardiomyopathy”
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1952593284998859/
then go into their “files” click on
“2018-09-07 Copy of Diet and Taurine.pdf”
you will see all the dry food brands these dogs were eating when they got DCM Heart problems, the cases marked in light orange, “Orange = DCM or CHF w/o low Taurine; diet related” are diet related & the Zignature kangaroo is has 2 Orange cases, 2 GSH, Id say 1 has passed away by know as he was given 6-8months to live & that was 2015….
Years ago Zignature Kangaroo formula was really good it had more meat proteins then plant proteins then Zignature changed their Kangaroo formula & added less kangaroo meat & more Lentils & now dogs are ending up with heart problems & some have died, they cant absorb the Taurine…
They don’t know if it’s the Legumes blocking the Taurine, they dont know whats happening yet till they do more research, so until then best to fed a dry dog food thats less then 20% in Legumes maybe try a grain limited ingredient formula??
“Wellness Simple” has their Lamb & Oatmeal, Duck & Oatmeal, or Turkey & Potatoes Salmon & Potatoes formula’s these formula’s have very limited ingredients, just feed the same food for 2 months, no treats, no cooked foods, nothing then if she start getting better & she’s not reacting, then after 2 months add 1 new ingredient thats cooked or raw o her diet, no wet can foods as these have cross contamination ingredients..

[anonymous]

Do you have a regular vet? If so, give him a call and leave a message for him to call you back when he has a minute to discuss what you observed.

Has she had vaccinations recently? Flea/tick preventives? Been exposed to chemically treated lawns?
Keep an eye on her, if it happens again I would take her to the vet.

There are many types of seizures, some are mild and only a trained veterinary healthcare professional would see it. If it happens once a month or more or the seizures are severe, prescription meds may be recommended by the examining vet.

I would be careful about seeking veterinary medical advice online, facebook and such.
Lot’s of misinformation.

Only a veterinarian that has examined your pet can diagnose and treat. They will not nor should they give medical advice online unless they know your pet and it’s history.

There are no veterinarians affiliated with DFA.

PS: Did she get into something toxic? Was the kibble old? Anybody drop a pill or supplement on the floor?
However, seizures can have many triggers, impossible to speculate. Avoiding triggers is only part of treatment, see what the vet thinks.
Let’s hope this was a fluke….
Good luck

• This reply was modified 7 years, 4 months ago by anonymous.

[Michelle A]

We tried this dog food for our 7 year old lab mix. Initially we bought a small bag and he loved it. Went and bought a largeR bag and after a few days began noticing some changes in his behavior and skin condition. Like the lady above, he was panting, whining (anxiety), and terrible, terrible dry itchy skin…so bad he was digging and scratching and biting himself raw. Took him for a flea dip and oatmeal bath, because living in the woods, thought maybe fleas or ticks…she saw nothing on him…husband and I tried to figure out what had changed and deduced the dog food change…took him off immediately! For the last few days, you could see a huge difference in him and that he was more energetic, almost like a puppy, happier, healthier…other than the scabs from his ordeal, he seems to be doing quite well…put him back on his regular dog food 4 Health, sensitive skin formula. Definitely something in this Mossy Oak brand food to cause such reactions to our furbabies! Thanks for hosting this blog site! Buyer beware!

• This reply was modified 7 years, 4 months ago by Michelle A.

[Michelle A]

We tried this dog food for our 7 year old lab mix. Initially we bought a small bag and he loved it. Went and bought a largeR bag and after a few days began noticing some changes in his behavior and skin condition. Like the lady above, he was panting, whining (anxiety), and terrible, terrible dry itchy skin…so bad he was digging and scratching and biting himself raw. Took him for a flea dip and oatmeal bath, because living in the woods, thought maybe fleas or ticks…she saw nothing on him…husband and I tried to figure out what had changed and deduced the dog food change…took him off immediately! For the last few days, you could see a huge difference in him and that he was more energetic, almost like a puppy, happier, healthier…other than the scabs from his ordeal, he seems to be doing quite well…put him back on his regular dog food 4 Health, sensitive skin formula https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/4health-grain-free-large-breed-formula-adult-dog-food-30-lb-bag-1102915?cm_mmc=feed-_-GoogleShopping-_-Product-_-1102915&gclid=CjwKCAjw-8nbBRBnEiwAqWt1zYpiRPyeGWqVuH1bL3J0tOkFzQkmiDvj9-zGASr7B-mlr42ZevhmBRoCnnUQAvD_BwE Definitely something in this food to cause such reactions to our furbabies! Thanks for hosting this blog site! Buyer beware!

[Lisa T]

Hi all,

I have an 8-month old puppy who weighs about 16.5 lbs. We have had him for 6 months, and this is my first puppy…so please be patient with me 🙂

About a month and a half ago, Milo had diarrhea. After 2 days, I took him to the vet. The vet gave him Flagyl, and told me to feed him boiled chicken and steamed rice, perhaps with a little canned pumpkin mixed in. This firmed up the stool so that it was “soft” rather than true diarrhea. The fecal test came back negative.

We continued the diet as suggested. Then it seemed like there was a day and a half where he would strain/squat, but nothing came out. We went back to the vet, and this time, they gave us an antibiotic, and also a probiotic (both a paste and capsules). We finished those, and the stools seem to firm up a bit…but as soon as we add even a little bit of kibble in (originally Diamond Naturals Chicken & Rice, then Stella & Chewy Raw Coated, then and now TOTW that doesn’t have chicken in it)…it goes back to soft serve ice cream consistency.

Milo is a happy camper. He does not seem sick at all. He still only poops 2-3 times per day, and never has accidents.

I am worried that so many weeks on chicken and rice is not good for him. The vet has now suggested I bring him in for an expensive malabsorption blood panel.

Could it be a chicken allergy?
Could it be the flea medication he took a couple of days before this all started?

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you!

[Pamhanson]

These flea/tick problems are increasing day by day and affecting pets like dogs and cats, etc. we treat our pets like our family members and thus they opt to be taken care if got injured. I remembered last month my dog was getting infected and surrounded with fleas and ticks everywhere on his body, even inside ears, it was so difficult task to handle the situation, but somehow we managed. Later on, we decided to contact pest control queens ny to get rid of the flea and ticks problems by having some pest controlling at home.

[Susan]

Hi,
I would look for a limited ingredient single protein dry kibble, this Victor Active has 4 meats, excellent for a dog who has a healthy Intestinal tract..
My boy has IBD I had to start with a vet diet, then once we found a vet diet that agreed with him & firmed his poos & was doing 2 small firm poos a day “Eukanuba Intestinal” Low Residue formula he had to stay on Eukanuba Intestinal vet diet for 6-12months to strengthen his immune system (Gut), then after 9months, I started trying a new dry kibble but it had to have 1 single meat, limited ingredient kibble & he finally did well on Taste Of The Wild Pacific Stream, Smoked Salmon but in Australia our some of our TOTW formula’s do NOT have any Peas, Lentils Chickpeas like the America TOTW, we still get the old TOTW formula’s.. he did really well on the peas free TOTW Pacific Stream Salmon formula except he started vomiting back up the dry kibble, now I’ve learnt to stay away from any fish kibbles as they are higher in Contaminates & Toxins, I changed him over to the TOTW Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb formula it just has Lamb as meat protein & he did really well, no skin problems & firm poo’s, then I started introducing other foods in his diet so he’d get use to different ingredients, I even went thru a Animal Nutritionist & put him on a raw elimination diet, Kangarro & blended veggies, his poos were beautiful BUT he kept regurgitating back up water & some digested raw, then he was getting bad acid reflux & after regurgitating the raw the acid burnt esophagus so I put him back on dry food & started to cook the raw diet & feed it for Lunch & feed 4 smaller meals thru the day..

I would take baby steps, you will know once she has stopped taken all her meds…
Why does your 4-5 month old pup have UTI’s, she is so young?? also the pancreas test, you’d know if she had Pancreas problems, she’d be vomiting sometimes, eating grass & having pancreas pain & maybe sloppy poo’s, but her Pancreas would young & healthy??
I really think she is too young to be having problems with her Pancreas??..
What colour are her poos?? if her poos are yellow, smelly & sloppy look into Small Intestinal Bowel Overgrowth, S.I.B.O……while she was taking Metronidazole (Flagyl) were her poos better? sometimes they need to take the Metronidazole for 21-28 days to kill any bad bacteria in stomach/small bowel.. this is what Patch ended up having SIBO & Helicobacter-Pylori, it took a few years to get everything healthy aagain, now I can feed him any foods as long as he’s not sensitive to those ingredients, he does well on Chicken for stomach & bowel BUT not for his skin, he gets red yeasty paws & red skin around his mouth after he eats Chicken, Barley, Oats, Tapioca, Corn & cooked Carrots make his ears itchy…

If you can afford a vet diet that’s where I’d start, as Intestinal Vet diets have FOS, MOS, Inulin, Vitamin B, Beet Pulp, everything to help make the Intestinal Tract healthy, then once she is stable on a vet diet for at least 6 months then start her on a premium dog food that only has 1 meat protein & a few carbs..but slowly start introducing over 2 week period if you see her poos going sloppy while introducing new food, then stop new food & go back a few steps & stay on what she was doing firm poos on & keep a diary write everything down, food, ingredients, flea med, worm meds etc just in case you needs to remember certain things….I wouldnt give her any of those Flea chews yet, just use the spot on flea repellents for now till you work out her stomach bowel problem, just in case she has a very sensitive stomach/bowel, I just read a post on a Staffy f/b group, the lady gave her dog a Bravecto chew will the vet gave her dog the Bravecto chew & he’s been in vet hospital on a drip now for 1 week, dont ever vaccinate, worm & give flea chews all at the same time some vets do this on vet visits I know teh rescue vets do this & some dog can not cope always leave 1-2 weeks inbetween meds vaccination & flea repellents etc
How much does the bag of kibble say to feed her for the weight of your pup? maybe feed 3 smaller meals a day, thats what your suppose to feed a puppy 3 meals a day then they go to the 2 larger meals as they are older.. also have you tried boiled chicken or turkey breast & some boiled potato or try boil rice & see are her poos firm?? maybe for lunch over weekend try a small cooked meal, or a wet can vet diet the Royal Canine Intestinal low fiber is really good, some vet diets are formulated for growning pups your vet will know which ones Im pretty sure the Hills I/D Digestive Care wet & dry is formulataed for growing pups this way you”ll see does she do firm poos over a 2 week period? or try the single meat limited carbs next & see if poos are sloppy then try a vet diet.. Keep us informed with what happens with Zanya’s health….

[pitlove]

As far as meeting other dogs go, its best to start with friendly, calm dogs you are already familiar with. The worst thing you can do is bring her to a dog park. The play is not structured and you never know what sort of temperament the dogs will be there. There are people that bring dog/toy aggressive dogs to parks because they just dont care. That and not everyone vaccinates there pets and has them on flea prevention, so you never know what she can pick up. Keep letting her play with your friends dogs and get comfortable with them.

[anonymous]

Next time you talk to the vet, ask her if it could be idiopathic epilepsy.
Also, if your dog is sensitive to the ingredients in flea/tick preventives. I might be inclined to try the Seresto collar, discuss with your vet.

If your dog is diagnosed with seizures (neurological disorder) talk to your vet about vaccinations, ask what is absolutely necessary, some vets may advise against……

[Sweet Pea the Collie Mix]

We are looking into pet insurance right now and we will be getting her teeth cleaned soon hopefully. I am going to start training her with brushing her teeth as well. And fish oil sounds like a good idea!
We order some gentle oatmeal shampoo for her, but we just applied her flea tick treatment so we are waiting 48 hours for that 🙂
Thanks!

[pitlove]

Hi Jacky-

I have one dog who after having a seizure after a surgery can not have certain flea preventions like Trifexis. We use Bravecto now on the advice of our vet/my boss and he has not had any issues. I don’t give flea preventation all the time, but I try to give it as much as I can. I never skip heartworm prevention though.

[Jacky J]

Hi, I found this forum while researching about possible side effects of Frontline. I have a Shihtzu who had two seizures a month ago and two more just last night and this evening. The first time it happened I brought her to the vet and they did all kinds of tests but found nothing wrong. Vet just told me to give her B complex vitamins and observe. No seizures for 5 weeks until last night. I was thinking of possible triggers and I am pretty sure Frontline is the culprit. The first time, it happened a day after I had her groomed and gave her Frontline. Last night I again applied Frontline and she had a seizure about 5 hours after.

Mind you, my dog has been using Frontline for years now, though I don’t really give it monthly because she hardly has any fleas, it’s more of a preventive measure. I would just find one or two fleas every now and then.

I’m kinda sure even if I share this to my vet she will not agree with me, I mean the first time it happened and I brought my dog to her I already mentioned that I had her groomed, gave Frontline after
.. No alarm bells on her end.

I am never ever giving my dog Frontline again. Considering Bravecto but I dunno, I’m kind of traumatized by this whole experience already.

[aimee]

Back in May I wrote an email to Earth Animal owner Dr Bob Goldstein. The Earth Animal customer service gave me his direct e mail address when I expressed frustration that Chris Moore or Tom O ‘Hare never answered my questions. The customer service representative said Dr.Bob would answer them directly and swiftly. Well I never have heard from Dr. Bob but surprisingly about a month later Dr Ryan Yamka, Earth Animal’s chief science officer, emailed me on his behalf. He didn’t answer the questions either. He considered them answered after repeating the same old information that they had the treats examined and they were reported not to be hide. And then he started asking for private information. He asked about my relationships with other people who have contacted E.A. in regards to the products and he asked for my home address so he could send me information. Creepy!

And so the saga continues.

Meanwhile, Pony Express foods has been importing a lot of dog chews from China. The import frequency has really ramped up. According to import data they imported 28,908 lbs on 5/24, 23,870lbs on 6/8, 22,616lbs on 6/22, and 23,870lbs on 6/29. That’s a total of 99,264 lbs of dog chews in ~ 5 weeks. Pony Express reports this is all sold directly to consumers at a flea market that operates one day a week year round https://www.earthanimal.com/no-hide-statement/ and of course I have no reason not to believe them.

P.S. Superzoo just finished up and Earth Animal is launching a new flavor of No Hide.

[Debbie D]

To solve this problem and gain enough knowledge (and spend enough $$$$ at vet clinics) it took me 10 years. I am glad to say we have kicked this problem 100%. I am very sad though that my pets had to suffer for 10 years before we found the solution. Several of the answers here are on the mark, however, there are some missing pieces of information. Here are the components of the solution that results in the ear problems clearing up in addition to every other allergy issue a dog may have. You can’t do just one thing, you have to address all aspects of care:
1. Diet
2. Flea control poisons
3. Heartworm and Parasite poisons
4. Vaccinosis
5. Chiropractic
6. Vet type
We solved this problem when we started going to alternative vets and Chiropractic vets. I spent thousands at the veterinary clinic, hundreds at the alternative clinics and next to nothing at the Chiropractic vets. The alternative vets (3 of them) were all indispensable. One used Chinese herbs, another acupuncture and another (the best) used a combination of modalities including cold laser, acupuncture, Chiropractic, nutrition, and herbs. The Chiropractic vets gave the most bang for the buck but it took to a visit to five different ones to settle on our favorites. Yes, hard to believe, but a spinal adjustment can be miraculous in calming down allergies. The older the dog the more likely they need this treatment. Some Chiropractors also have cold laser treatments. Go to AVCA.org to find a pet Chiropractor. Some states require Chiros to be vets (like Texas) and others (Oklahoma) allow human Chiros to treat pets. There are advantages both ways.

So bottom line, we now feed NO commercial food but instead feed raw chicken plus a home cooked chicken and vegetable stew. We freeze it in daily portion size containers. This raw food supplemented diet eliminated all parasites (fleas, ticks, heart worms, intestinal worms, etc.) thereby eliminating our need for poisons. Raw diet also eliminated our need for vaccines (titer testing proved this.) Eliminating vaccines eliminated the need for steroid therapy that the vets kept pushing on our dogs. Eliminating flea control like Nextgard, Trifexis, Comfortis, Frontline, and Advantage was a major step forward. These chemicals/drugs were a major cause of itching in our Pugs and we tried them all. These chemicals also caused sores and weeping irritated skin.
Once our dogs were already having out of control skin issues we had to use shampoos and aloe vera in addition to dietary changes. We switched to duck and fed only (USA) Merrick commercial dog food and this was a major improvement. However, the real change came with the raw. We eventually eliminated the Merrick except for traveling/hiking and emergencies. It took about 3 months to a year of proper feeding to stop the fleas dead in their tracks. We used flea combs and Ark Naturals Neem Shampoo to check for fleas.
In one dog, we had to get a prescription of Apoquel (new drug only at select vets) to stop the itching (instead of dangerous steroids.) This was an emergency measure because itching causes scratching which leads to staph infections in ears and on the skin/belly.
The ear itching and yeast infection eventually led to staph infection also from the dogs scratching their ears. To clear this up we used a combination of products over several months. I will list the products and their purpose.
1. Zymox enzymatic ear solution (green bottle) for yeast/bacteria
2. Olive Oil drops – extra virgin for yeast/bacteria
3. Colloidal Silver (10ppm) dropped in ears for yeast/infection
4. 7-Day feminine antifungal cream (yeast only, outside of ears and bumpy noses/folds)
Zymox was best for yeast. Olive oil was the best for everything including swelling of the ear canal. Colloidal Silver kicked the secondary infections almost overnight.
Moist ears is a side effect of yeast infection, not a cause. Swimmers ear is a result not of the water but of having a dietary systemic yeast infection before your dog ever goes swimming.
Taking our dogs swimming in a creek or lake had no effect on the ears, however, swimming in a chlorinated pool did aggravate the ears and skin.
The feminine yeast cream has been a real life saver. We use the weakest version and only apply it to ear flaps. If you want Miconazole ear drops, you’ll have to go to the vet for that. But honestly, the olive oil is just as good. The problem with prescription drugs is that they usually only treat one bug, unlike the first three items on my list.
I hope someone finds this useful.
Since this is a dog food website, i will give my two cents on dog food brands (never feed dry): Highest quality, readily available brands are Merrick, Nature’s Variety, Primal Freeze Dried Raw, and Orijen. No, I would never feed Blue. I’ve been in the pet business for most of my life and I know secrets about many brands that will make your skin crawl. I will not lookup or recommend any brands other than the ones I listed.
I am chronicling my personal experiences on a blog so feel free to visit as you like. Snortlepuss.com
DogFoodAdvisor.com is one of the best resources a person can have for learning about brands. Please take the ratings seriously and only feed to top rated foods.

• This reply was modified 7 years, 5 months ago by Debbie D. Reason: missing info

[Becca]

Lyme vaccine can also cause siezures, also oral or spot on flea meds. Also one of the anti seizure meds cause pancreatitis.

[Becca]

Lyme vaccine can also cause siezures, also oral or spot on flea meds. Also one of the anti seizure meds cause pancreatitis.

[Becca]

Lyme vaccine can also cause siezures, also oral or spot on flea meds.

[MJ E]

we got a foster dog (basset, clumber, cocker mix?) from a rescue that erupts in hundreds of pimples that turn into spots that are like quarter size patches of dried peanut butter that grow into huge weepy raw spots. Thousands of dollars later, no answers. His first allergy tests showed about twenty allergens including foods and environmental. Two years later a second test showed almost completely different results. A bazillion treatments later, nothing has worked to slow it down better than baths. He does not seem very itchy, and the sores do not seems to hurt. It starts at various parts of his body and does not go away until it has traveled all over his body, with the first affected areas healing spontaneously but with horrible dandruff as it goes. After it has covered his entire body, it goes away for a few months, then whammo. We keep him shaved. We have tried three vets, tried everything they recommended to no avail. No one has seen it before. No fleas. He is a happy camper, the horrible condition does not seem to phase him. 15 different foods, booties in the grass, nothing changes it, it is never worse or better. Tried vinegar, probiotics, fish oil, selsun blue. Nothing changes. When he is well he has no skin issues. Rescue tried to put him down so we adopted. Going broke, help.

• This topic was modified 7 years, 5 months ago by MJ E.
• This topic was modified 7 years, 5 months ago by MJ E.

[crazy4cats]

Hi All-
Glad to hear the positive comments about Bravecto. That is what the vet prescribed for my two large dogs. They weigh about 85 pounds and the pills were $70 each. Ouch! They are 7 years old. I usually only apply topical once or twice per year. We do not have much issue with fleas, ticks or mosquitoes in my neck of the woods. This pill is easier and less messy. So far, no side effects. Hope it works!

[Bayne K]

Shampoo is not a complete treatment by itself
We hate to break it to you, but even the best flea shampoo is not a complete treatment for fleas by itself.

That’s ’cause even the most effective flea shampoos won’t kill the entire population of fleas on your dog. Sure, the most potent shampoos can wipe out upwards of 90% of the infestation but don’t expect your dog to be totally clear of fleas, especially after the first wash. Getting rid of fleas requires a more holistic approach, which brings us to…

Your house matters a lot
Your dog may be the Ground Zero for the flea infestation but trust us when we say the infestation has probably spread a lot further than your dog’s fur. Fleas lay eggs on your dog but the eggs aren’t sticky so they tend to roll right off your dog’s fur and land all over your house – the carpet, the furniture, your dog’s bedding, your bed and so on.

If your dog is infested with fleas, there’s a very good chance that there are flea eggs and larvae lurking in and around your home. That means that you can rid your dog of the fleas that are currently living on him, but he’ll just pick up another batch as soon as he lies down on the carpet or his bed.

That’s why it is absolutely essential that you combine getting rid of fleas on your dog with getting rid of fleas in your home.

Shampoo smart
A good tip to make use of before you lather your dog up with flea shampoo: First, wet and apply the flea shampoo all the way around their neck. Lather that area immediately so the fleas can’t flee (pun intended) up from the body to the face.

Once you’ve secured the neck roadblock, go ahead and shampoo up the rest of your dog’s body.

Another helpful tip is to ease the entire process by bringing in some doggy treats to keep them busy while you lather and wait patiently for the fleas to die.

8 Best Effective Flea Shampoos for Small Dogs
https://goo.gl/2SBc5f

[Emily C]

My two pups (BC and Aussie) have been on TOTW Prairie Puppy from Feb 2017 to Oct 2017. I switched them to TOTW Pacific Stream and they started itching about a month after the switch. I thought maybe it was winter itch, well, it’s summer and they’re STILL itching. NO fleas or ticks or anything else different.
Have taken them off the TOTW (even tho I just opened a new bag), and am feeding them an all natural diet of protein, veggies and everything they need and am NOT planning on putting them back on anything until this clears.
AM NOT HAPPY WITH TOTW…Not sure what’s going on, but in reading the above comments, am not putting them back on it.

[Bayne K]

I learned first hand a few years ago that getting rid of fleas is no easy task. It sounds simple enough, but the problem is they have a tendency to keep coming back.

After 20 years of owning pets I’d never had to deal with them before. So I went to the store, loaded up a bunch of flea products and got to work. After each treatment I’d let out a sigh of relief thinking they were finally gone, and yet a few days later the fleas would be back.

The products I tried only offered temporary solutions, they weren’t getting rid of fleas for good. Don’t let yourself fall into that same trap. In this article I’ll share with you what works for getting rid of fleas, what doesn’t, and why fleas are so tricky to get rid of.

https://www.wikifleas.com/2018/05/6-easy-natural-ways-to-get-rid-of-dog.html

https://www.wikifleas.com/2018/06/Top-6-Effective-Flea-Treatments-for-dogs.html

[Bayne K]

We have a house full of pets. No, really. We’ve got 3 dogs, about 10 cats, and 3 ferrets. That means we have our work cut out for us when it comes to flea control.

Since we also have a house full of kids- who love their pets- I really hate to use topical, chemical flea control (not that it works well anyway) and I worry about what the chemicals are doing to our furry family members when they ingest so much of these pills or chews that supposedly get rid of fleas. Luckily, there are a lot of options to get rid of fleas naturally!

This is why natural remedies are a good approach to dealing with fleas on dogs. Below are 6 natural ways of getting rid of dog fleas

https://goo.gl/G6s7tQ

[Bayne K]

We have a house full of pets. No, really. We’ve got 3 dogs, about 10 cats, and 3 ferrets. That means we have our work cut out for us when it comes to flea control.

Since we also have a house full of kids- who love their pets- I really hate to use topical, chemical flea control (not that it works well anyway) and I worry about what the chemicals are doing to our furry family members when they ingest so much of these pills or chews that supposedly get rid of fleas. Luckily, there are a lot of options to get rid of fleas naturally!

This is why natural remedies are a good approach to dealing with fleas on dogs. Below are 6 natural ways of getting rid of dog fleas

https://goo.gl/G6s7tQ

[Bayne K]

We have a house full of pets. No, really. We’ve got 3 dogs, about 10 cats, and 3 ferrets. That means we have our work cut out for us when it comes to flea control.

Since we also have a house full of kids- who love their pets- I really hate to use topical, chemical flea control (not that it works well anyway) and I worry about what the chemicals are doing to our furry family members when they ingest so much of these pills or chews that supposedly get rid of fleas. Luckily, there are a lot of options to get rid of fleas naturally!

I am fairly certain that ever since Frontline came out so many years ago we have slowly been creating a breed of super flea that is immune to so many of the things we throw at them.

That is the great thing about fighting nature with nature- most of the time you can’t build up a resistance to it! Now I won’t tell you that these are quick fixes because they aren’t. That being said, here are just 9 ways to get rid of fleas naturally.

There are 6 natural ways of getting rid of dog fleas really helpfull
https://www.wikifleas.com/2018/05/6-easy-natural-ways-to-get-rid-of-dog.html

[Bayne K]

During this period you will have to avoid touching your pet, and this is quite hard especially for playful children. This is why natural remedies are a good approach to dealing with fleas on dogs. Below are 6 natural ways of getting rid of dog fleas:
https://www.wikifleas.com/2018/05/6-easy-natural-ways-to-get-rid-of-dog.html

[a c]

Thank you for naming the pill. Yes, it is Bravecto. The one I got is for dogs 9.9-22lbs. I was using Frontline plus but still got adult fleas on my dogs in mid-December. Bravecto took care of that within 2-3 days.

I heard Bravecto shouldn’t be used for senior dogs. Is this true? If a pill last 3 months, it must be very strong.

[pitlove]

Hi Tom-

Frontline is awful. Its essentially prevents fleas as well as water would. A C is probably talking about Bravecto which is a great product for an adulticide. However what I would recommend doing it using an insect growth inhibitor like Sentinel to prevent fleas in the environment and add in a product like Bravecto if/when you see adult fleas.

Do you currently have fleas on your dog or just looking for recommendations for prevention?

@haleycookie The price of Bravecto (at least at my clinic) goes by which weight range your dog falls in. Both my dogs use the 44-88lb pill so its 60$ before my discount.

[haleycookie]

The 3 month chew is bravecto. Which I suggest to everyone who doesn’t want a topical. It’s a great flea preventative but I’ve never seen it sold for less than 60$. So unless he had some kind of discount it’s most likely just going to be around 60$. But that’s still a good price for 3 months. especially for how effective it is. It is prescription only through the vet

[Tom W]

It’s great that your vet sold you a flea pill for $40 that is supposed to last 90 days, but what is it called?

I repeat Ellies Parents question. “Hi, is there an updated for 2018 suggestion for flea control? I currently order Frontline from 1800 pet meds? Because I would love an answer to this question also!

[Tiffany T]

I guess we all have our opinions. I don’t go to a homeopathic vet. But I also wouldn’t put all homeopathic vets in a box. Maybe you just listened to the wrong one. I’m sorry for your misfortune.

My dogs are on trifexis for heartworms/fleas/intestinal parasites, and my vet said that should clear up their hookworms within 1-2 weeks since they were only eggs so far (no adults).

[Reese B]

Does anyone give their dog brewers yeast? I heard it good for repelling fleas and i was wondering if anyone has any experience with using it.

[pitlove]

Hi Tom-

Something that the breeder may or may not (but should have mentioned) is that anytime you bring home a new puppy it is important that they stay on the same food the breeder had them on for 3-4 weeks before doing a slow transition to a new diet. This is to prevent the issue you are having. Moving is stressful for them and stress coupled with a food switch (even though you did it over 10 days) can cause GI distress.

It sounds like they were doing best on Iams large breed puppy. This is what I would have them on. The itching could be a coincidence or perhaps they had a couple fleas that you never saw. It is almost a slim to none chance that they BOTH are itching due to a food allergy. Not much logic there.

Merrick has no food appropriate for a large breed puppy last I knew and the only thing I know about Life’s Abundance is that their sales reps are very annoying and the main reason breeders use the food is because they make a profit off it. It’s nothing special.

If you truly do not want them back on Iams because of the dull coats, I would try Pro Plan Focus Large Breed Puppy. My dogs have beautiful coats on Pro Plan, stool is perfect and the food is highly digestable.

[Bonnie W]

Unfortunately I do not use facebook due to harassment issues & getting hacked & told to kill myself every time I go one it so I’ve not gone on in over a year. No he’s not had watery stools until he was given the flea & tick poison & heart worm meds right after finishing the 14 days of SMZ antibiotic. The flagyl worked best but she said that she gave him this SMZ instead last time & this time for 14 days at a time plus the 10mg Prednisone which I’ve not given him yet as I don’t want to make things worse for the poor boy. He just poo’d all over the downstairs again & its almost 2am here & I haven’t slept in 2 night now 3…just ran him outside but it had already happened. The vet also gave me digestive enzymes which I didn’t give him yet either because it says on the bottle that they irritate the mucous membranes & I don’t want to stress him out further as his mouth waters & his nose runs but he’s been drinking a big bowl of water each day & ate most of his Metamucil & food combo w/lots of water in it tonight. Last night he threw up all of the potatoes I boiled & mashed inside his pen then had poo’d all over the rugs & his soft couch like dog bed covers as well so it was a busy day of cooking, cleaning & laundry as well as running out side for slight tiny mucous poo’s I just feel so bad for him. Plus to make things worse my Dad has severe Alzheimers & he called me tonight to ask if I was dead…which was very upsetting & telling me he’d been up to visit my long deceased uncle who was much older than he whose now 89 but telling me he was only 87. He’s supposed to be being taken care of by my sister who is an addict & just uses him & tries to get him drunk so she feels she can safely leave him home alone to go to the pubs etc. Because my older brother has power of atty I can’t do anything to help him & she is the person having people tell me to kill myself on facebook-the police said they would like to see a restraining order put against her to get her out of his house but I’d have to have power of atty to make it happen & my brother has disowned me over a religion he belongs to that I do not so he won’t answer my phone calls or respond to me at all. He says I’m no longer his sister & not to call his home because it upsets his wife to hear my voice. So this along with cancer is making me so stressed with Elijah so sick…he’s been my service dog for all these years & I just feel like I can’t help him. I know he’s very old for an Airedale but he’s been doing so good & his blood work 2wks ago came back perfect except his kidney numbers were up due to the kidney disease but he’s been wanting to go for walks & get outside. He’s very aware of all thats going on around him so I hate the thought of the unspeakable. I’ll just start crying again if I even go on about it. He’s all I have. My mom died several yrs ago & I took care of her to the end when I got cancer which has changed my life & it doesn’t feel like the springtime here it feels like the season of loss for me. I’m just a mess. Thank You for all of you kind words & helpful suggestions I just don’t want to loose him & am not in a position to get another nor do I wish to replace him. He’s been so special in my life & loves to be sung to & is just a kind loving heart full of wisdom of the knowledge bump on top of their heads? His is large so I think he’s quite knowledgeable. But again thank you & I’ll keep you all posted. I just wish is wasn’t the weekend as the vet isn’t in & I don’t want things to go down hill over the next two days. Take care. Thanks again!

[a c]

My vet sold me a flea pill for $40. It’s supposed to last 90 days.

[Ellies Parents]

Hi, is there an updated for 2018 suggestion for flea control? I currently order Frontline from 1800 pet meds.

[CockalierMom]

Both of those products also have digestive enzymes so they would have made him worse. My allergy girl is like this and I understand what you are going through. She also does not tolerate probiotics that have a prebiotic in them either.

I have been able to use plain Heartguard with only a slight increase in itchiness for a couple of days, and use Advantage topical every other month for fleas.

[Charles B]

Primarily the NuPro All Natural Dog Supplment and the Joing and Immunity support.

We are setup to go to the vet this weekend.

Our other current battle is deal with with the fact he has severe feet issues after taking any kind of heart worm medication. We give him Apple Cider Vinegar instead of a flea/tick as it also triggers feet issues.

[Therok90]

My dog is lucky because it’s not getting any infection with fleas and ticks.

[Ellen A]

I was wondering how many people are having trouble with NexGuard. My dog had to take the flea tablet. Putting the liquid on his back of his neck made him sick. The once a month heart pill may be a cause of seizures according to some people. I noticed the night I gave my dog his monthly dose, he was either dreaming and I couldn’t wake him or he had a seizure. I just bought a year supply and want to know if I should take it back. Anyone else have a problem? What brand should I switch to?

[sandra c]

I have an 8 year old cocker that ate Rachael Ray dog food all his life and pooped all the time and very dry skin. Switched to Earthborn dry food and it has helped but my dog bites at his feet and scratches all day long. He has absolutely no fleas. Do I switch do dog food again?

[haleycookie]

Hate to tell you this Shiloh but that’s just not possible. Unless the food is being exposed to of the worms while you’re storing it. Your dog likely has fleas. Or if you treat your dog and are absolutely positive (get flea comb and check to be sure) they don’t have a single flea on them then your neighbors pets has fleas and they’re in your yard and your dogs while outside pottying are licking the grass or licking something with the eggs on it. The eggs can’t live through certain conditions so they would die after packaging due to the conditions most foods are bagged under and they aren’t in the food because kibble is cooked at insane temps killing pretty much any nutritional value and any bugs that may be in it.

[Tina D]

I know this is a pretty old post, but I’m so thankful I found it.
Below is some extra information for who ever may need it.
Thanks to pugmomsandy!

There are pros and cons to adding cider vinegar to a dog’s drinking water, with the recommended dose usually 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon per 50 pounds of body weight. “People often talk about adding ACV to water bowls,” says canine health researcher Mary Straus. “My feeling is that if so, you should also offer plain water, just in case your dogs don’t want to drink the water with the ACV in it. You wouldn’t want to risk their drinking less water and possibly becoming dehydrated.”

Is a daily dose of apple cider vinegar good for your dog? Unless your dog is allergic to apples, he or she isn’t likely to suffer a serious reaction, and within a month you should be able to tell whether the addition is helping. Commonly reported benefits include improvements in skin and coat condition, a reduction of itching and scratching, the elimination of tear stains on the face, fewer brown or yellow urine spots in lawns, increased mobility in older dogs, reduced flea populations, and an improvement in overall health.

[pitlove]

Hi Jason-

He does in fact need to stay on large breed puppy formula especially because he was neutered too early. This is critical for correct growth. Of the two options you have offered, Diamond Large Breed Puppy is the only option that would be appropriate for him.

Also, before jumping to the conclusion that he is having an adverse food reaction, you need to see the vet to eliminate all other causes such as fleas, mites, environmental and seasonal triggers. Adverse food reactions are not as common as people on the internet would have you believe, especially not in a 4 month old puppy.

[RollTide10]

Been catching up on everything that’s been discussed since back in ’12. Thank you to everyone who has contribute to the topic/discussion.

I have a question on what to feed my Lab/GSD Mix. The shelter estimated him to be 2-years old. They were feeding him Royal Canin Medium Adult so I thought to keep it as his food. That is, until I discovered the numerous questionable ingredients. I also noticed that my dog would be scratching/nibbling on his back every so often, not constantly but still a cause for concern. So I thought to attempt to combat this with some grain-free food. After much research, I settled with Whole Earth Farms Grain Free Chicken/Turkey…seeing that it’s not only affordable but contains decent ingredients.

My pup loves food so he has been chowing down WEF with no problem (for 18 days now- including a week of transition time) but I’ve noticed that he’s been shedding a lot more than usual and small clumps of hair is falling from his tail. I also discovered a 2″ long (literally a line) bald patch where his back and hip-bone connect (ruled out fleas). I’m not sure where it’s from but I have a hunch it may be caused by WEF and their lack of Omega-3 data (they won’t say how much Omega-3 is in their grain free chicken and turkey recipe, just that it is formed naturally in the ingredients)

Due to this reason, I’d like to transition my pup to another food that has at least the same amount of Omega-3 RC has (they said .48%). Should I move him back to Royal Canin or try another type of food (whether with or without grains)? I guess I just don’t exactly know which type of food to look for. When I started researching I looked for food that has Growth and All Life Stages profile. Then I looked at the numbers for protein, fat, fiber, Omega-3 %, Calcium and Phosphorus % and C:P ratio.

But now, after reading some posts on here, it seems that the Calcium and Phosphorus % is not as important as my pup is now 2 years old but the and ratio should still be between 1:1 – 2:1? Should I still be focusing on Growth / All-Life Stages food or should I broaden the search and look at Maintenance and/or Unspecified profile?

Ah, so confusing D:
I guess I just want my pup to eat food that is close (or better) to what RC offers, without the questionable ingredients. Here are the data I gathered from RC:

Crude Protein – 23%
Protein (DMB) – 25.56%
Crude Fat – 12%
Fat (DMB) – 13.33%
Fiber – 3.1%
Fiber (DMB) – 3.4%
Omega-3 – 0.48%
Calcium – 1.20%
Phosphorus – 0.80%
C:P – 1.5:1
kcal (kg/cup) – 3633 / 336