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Post by bluemoose on Oct 2, 2010 1:54:50 GMT -5
I mean for dogs, not ferrets. I read that because garlic is related to onions it should be placed on the Do Not Feed list. But other people say that small amounts of garlic can be used as a natural flea preventative without any negative effects. I was wondering if anyone here had any opinions. For the past 6 months or so I've been using Shoo! Tags because I didn't want to use Frontline anymore. I haven't had any flea or ticks issues while using them but obviously that doesn't prove they actually work. My irritation with the Shoo! Tags is at least half the time the magnetic strips aren't facing inward. I'm kinda OCD about things like that and I just think the tags are somewhat unattractive. If anyone has any relatively easy and effective natural flea/tick control for dogs they'd like to share that'd be great. I don't use heartworm preventative. The only time I bothered with it was the short period of time Fenrir and I were living in New Orleans (his name at the shelter was Gumbo ). I've never had a need for it at home.
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Post by Heather on Oct 2, 2010 13:21:32 GMT -5
I know that garlic has been placed on the "no eat" list for pets. I definitely wouldn't feed it to ferrets and cats. I fed it for years with my two pyrs. I honestly can't say that it worked against fleas...I know it is supposed to, but one of my biggest flea outbreaks was while I was still feeding garlic . I used to put in in my veggie/organ mix because it was the only way I could get Shakespeare to eat his organ meats. If you're going to feed, I would feed very little. I haven't used it in years (since it became one of the do not feed items) but I have to wonder if it has to do with amounts and size of the dog you're feeding. People have a tendency to go if a little bit it good, another little bit added to that has to be better You can google it for information, but I think you will find for the most part that it's on the do not feed list. ciao
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Post by bluecoyote on Oct 2, 2010 20:38:01 GMT -5
i do believe it depends on the amount, same as onions. i know a man who feeds his lurchers a slice of onion for the same flea/parasite prevention. he got reamed out in that forum but he'd been feeding them that for years and never had a fatality or health issue (shrugs) and i've fed my own dogs a bit of garlic for parasites. there is even an organic garlic barrier for sheep and goats - www.garlicbarrier.com/sheep.htmlone sounds topical so now i'm interested in that lol good thing i like garlic too
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Post by mustelidmusk on Oct 3, 2010 12:28:06 GMT -5
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Post by bluemoose on Oct 5, 2010 0:02:36 GMT -5
Well I'll try it out for a while and if he gets fleas/ticks, I'll know I need to use a different prevention.
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Post by sherrylynne on Oct 5, 2010 18:51:40 GMT -5
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Post by bluemoose on Oct 5, 2010 20:26:59 GMT -5
Oh nice I'll have to give that a try
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Post by bluecoyote on Oct 6, 2010 15:08:51 GMT -5
one thing to remember, as i was told by people who do this with their dogs.. you have to keep doing it for a long enough period for it to be in their system. its not an over night kinda thing.
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Post by Chelsea on Oct 8, 2010 8:22:07 GMT -5
Garlic is fine for dogs, in reasonable amounts. It would take a very large amount of garlic to see negative effects in a dog. Personally, I doubt it works for flea control. It may HELP, but it definitely doesn't prevent it all together. I use Diatamaceous earth often, and it works great. Have you tried using that instead? I don't use heartworm preventative. The only time I bothered with it was the short period of time Fenrir and I were living in New Orleans (his name at the shelter was Gumbo ). I've never had a need for it at home. ... You don't give heartworm medication? What state/area do you live in, is it not considered a problem there? I certainly hope you have him tested often.
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Post by Heather on Oct 8, 2010 11:08:35 GMT -5
I don't use heartworm meds either, nor have I in a little over 7 yrs. I stopped after I saw the actual number of cases that were in my area. The decision became how much poison did I want to put into my furkids. My decision was between the use of toxin vs the chance of getting the parasite. The chance of the toxin destroying my little ones immune system was far greater than the chance of getting heartworm. You only need to test annually. ciao
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Post by bluemoose on Oct 8, 2010 11:14:18 GMT -5
That's how I feel. After looking at how low risk my area is for heartworm and asking my vet what he thought (he's a lot more open minded about holistic care than some vets) I decided to pass.
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Post by Chelsea on Oct 9, 2010 8:48:32 GMT -5
I wasn't accusing anyone, I was just wondering if you don't give HW meds because you just don't want to/think you have to, or because it really isn't a problem where you live. I know there are many areas where HW isn't an issue, and hardly anyone gives HW meds. I'm sort of in the middle ground. I know several people who live in my area and don't give HW meds, and that's their choice. When I adopted Bailey, he was HW positive and had to go thru treatment for it. It isn't something I'm going to chance happening again, so I do give him HW meds (Interceptor). Must be nice to not have to deal with it *edited to fix spelling*
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Post by bluemoose on Oct 9, 2010 12:56:28 GMT -5
I stated in my original post that I used heartworm preventative while living in New Orleans where there are high rates of heartworm so yes, I do use it when I feel it is necessary.
I don't use it where I currently live because I don't want to/think I have to because it really isn't a problem where I live.
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Post by Chelsea on Oct 9, 2010 19:50:16 GMT -5
I stated in my original post that I used heartworm preventative while living in New Orleans where there are high rates of heartworm so yes, I do use it when I feel it is necessary. I don't use it where I currently live because I don't want to/think I have to because it really isn't a problem where I live. Umm... yeah, like I just said, I wasn't trying to accuse you of anything. I was just wondering why Anyone know if there are any states in the US where it's "safe" not not give HW meds? I know in Maine you only have to give it for a couple months in the summer, because the rest of the time the temp gets too low at night for HW to survive.
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Post by Heather on Oct 9, 2010 20:21:04 GMT -5
I believe there is a website that gives that information. I've not needed to use it in a long time, so I can't quite remember what the web ID is, I will see if I can find it. The temp has to stay consistently above 68 to 72 degrees (I believe) Fahrenheit for longer than 2 weeks for the worm larvae to work their nastiness in the mosquito. Most areas where I am cannot lay claim to that type of warmth as usually the night temp drops below that, except possibly during the month of July and the beginning of Aug. This year has been an exception but for the last 3 yrs we've never even been close. ciao
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