[bxrluv]

For the last two months I have been using the odorless garlic and the Natural Defense on Duke and Spike and have had no fleas at all until the last two weeks. I have also just put the Natural Defense on the cats too. But I am starting to see more fleas on the dogs when they come in. I really don't want to switch to the chemicals, but I am getting nervous about an outbreak in the house. I vacuum every single day to try to keep them out of the carpet. But I know some must be in the furniture too, cuz they lay all over everything.

Anyone else seen an increase in fleas or had to switch to something stronger and yuckier!

[christineorr]

I know I'm a broken record, but have you tried the Ark Naturals or Neem Aura spray??? I've posted about this before that I saw a mosquito fly near Hannah and fly away!! I went out to cut grass yesterday and started to get eaten... Went in, sprayed the Ark Naturals on myself. When I was done, I sat on the swing and literally watched several mosquitoes fly near me and the dogs and then fly away!!! It's supposed to work for fleas too. I haven't seen a single one. You can use the spray on and around furniture as well :) The Natural defense has good ingredients, but the Ark Naturals has neem. The neemaura has neem obviously and also cedar wood oil which is an excellent bug repellent :)

http://www.vitaminbu...ctRepellent.htm

http://www.arknatura...ct.aspx?pid=350

[Zhanna]

Thanks again Christine! :)

That stuff doesn't irritate sensitive skin does it?

[christineorr]

Zhanna, on 29 July 2010 - 06:07 AM, said:

Thanks again Christine! :)

That stuff doesn't irritate sensitive skin does it?

No, it's actually supposed to be good for the skin :)

[Stiflersmom]

Well, the spot on treatments scare the crap out of me. Looking through all the pics of the dogs effected by those products, I saw a pics of boxers, with what looks like their backs burned? Looked awful, then all those pets die-ing a very horrible painful death because of reactions with those products...there was video of this with a golden retriever, very heart breaking. The government isn't recalling any products until Sept...that's just alittle too late for them to do their investigations if it's your pet that dies from using that product, so it's just something I'm not comfortable using. I decided to do the natural approach also, well, with direct contact with my dogs. Those collars are crap. This is my first time of dealing with fleas. So I'm treating it as many battles to win a war...The battles are all aspects of the fleas-the yard, the house, the animals, etc..I treated my entire yard with chemicals. Read up on just spraying vinegar around the yard...it's suppose to be a natural way of killing off all insects/fleas...so will probably try that next time. Bombed the house. Vaccume everyday, move all the furniture that I can, spray ortho max after I vaccume because the vibrations from the vaccume are suppose to bring up the larva. Have a bagless vaccume, so when I'm done I just spray Ortho Max in it. I've been spraying my dogs down with a lavender oil/vingegar water spray-every time they come back inside from being outside. Give them bathes a couple times a week, and vaccuming the dogs, is an easy way to remove fleas. And the dogs seem to love to be vaccumed..who would of known..Our plan is to bomb the house again-when I get back from my sister's funeral, and possibly a third time-just because the thought of bugs on me, gives me major hibby jibbies...I guess dusting with lavender or citrus smellin stuff repels fleas and spiders also...and yeah, I do all of this, practically on a daily level, just because I'm too afraid to use the so called products that are suppose to work....

[gotlucky]

Deb, this is a full time job!! LOL

I guess I'm lucky because I don't live in a heavily flea infested area. Have you tried diatimacious (sp?) earth all over the yard? You may be able to use it on carpet too? Supposedly works well on fleas -- maybe part of that big picture plan. If that's not working, I wonder if you can hang garlands of garlic around their necks, how cute would that be??!?! Added benefit of vampire-away.

[Stiflersmom]

^^^OMG, garlic around their necks is a pretty good idea! Deb, you're sooooo clever....I always wanted to live in a forrest area, by a lake, could do without the humidity...now I'm paying the price I guess...

[bxrluv]

I hate living with the fleas... I just keep imagining them multiplying in my carpet and pretty soon I am going to be over run! I had DH get me some neem spray last night and will try that also. But I think I might try the DE for they yard.

Last year when I was using the chemicals on Duke, he still would have fleas on him. So I am no worse off.

Might have to look into the vinegar....

[Zhanna]

Here is a link for diatomaceous earth.

http://www.earthwork...om/products.php

I got the 50 lb. bag and have been feeding it to the sheep to prevent internal parasites! :)

[Willow]

I also think this is a very bad year as well..I haven't had any problems with fleas, but the ticks, OMG, they have been horrible!! I have doubled up on the Bug Off, and also got some of the Ark Naturals to help combat them..The Diatamecous earth is great, just make sure it's the pet friendly version, not the stuff you use in pools..

[cadkids]

has anyone tried sevrin (sp) dust? that what we use in the yard and it seems to work it IS a bad year for fleas everyone I know is complaining about them but we don't seem to have very many but I dust the yard about once a week we also use it on the garden to keep cut worms away and we were infested with those due to someones bright idea to plant 2 rows of sweet corn in my back yard where I used to have grass http://boxerforums.org/public/style_emoticons/default/icon_wall.gif don't get me started on the "farmer bob" issue I am living with this year that's more of a topic for Rants

[Willow]

cadkids, on 31 July 2010 - 10:42 AM, said:

has anyone tried sevrin (sp) dust? that what we use in the yard and it seems to work it IS a bad year for fleas everyone I know is complaining about them but we don't seem to have very many but I dust the yard about once a week we also use it on the garden to keep cut worms away and we were infested with those due to someones bright idea to plant 2 rows of sweet corn in my back yard where I used to have grass http://boxerforums.org/public/style_emoticons/default/icon_wall.gif don't get me started on the "farmer bob" issue I am living with this year that's more of a topic for Rants

I've used it outside the fence,we have a lot of wild stuff that grows outside the fences, but you do need to be careful around your pets..

[gotlucky]

Sevin dust also kills beneficial insects like honey bees :( Because it's a powder and they have fury bodies, it takes the dust back to the hive and can kill entire colonies. With the ongoing problem with CCD, I just in good conscience couldn't do it.

[christineorr]

Willow, on 31 July 2010 - 09:11 AM, said:

I also think this is a very bad year as well..I haven't had any problems with fleas, but the ticks, OMG, they have been horrible!! I have doubled up on the Bug Off, and also got some of the Ark Naturals to help combat them..The Diatamecous earth is great, just make sure it's the pet friendly version, not the stuff you use in pools..

Oh, and, yes, the food grade diatomaceous earth can be sprinkled on the dogs as well to kill any unwanted hitchhikers... :)

[crazeedaizee]

christineorr, on 28 July 2010 - 12:34 PM, said:

I know I'm a broken record, but have you tried the Ark Naturals or Neem Aura spray??? I've posted about this before that I saw a mosquito fly near Hannah and fly away!! I went out to cut grass yesterday and started to get eaten... Went in, sprayed the Ark Naturals on myself. When I was done, I sat on the swing and literally watched several mosquitoes fly near me and the dogs and then fly away!!! It's supposed to work for fleas too. I haven't seen a single one. You can use the spray on and around furniture as well :) The Natural defense has good ingredients, but the Ark Naturals has neem. The neemaura has neem obviously and also cedar wood oil which is an excellent bug repellent :)

http://www.vitaminbu...ctRepellent.htm

http://www.arknatura...ct.aspx?pid=350

Christine,

YOU ROCK!!! :)

[Brooklyn]

christineorr, on 28 July 2010 - 02:34 PM, said:

I know I'm a broken record, but have you tried the Ark Naturals or Neem Aura spray??? I've posted about this before that I saw a mosquito fly near Hannah and fly away!! I went out to cut grass yesterday and started to get eaten... Went in, sprayed the Ark Naturals on myself. When I was done, I sat on the swing and literally watched several mosquitoes fly near me and the dogs and then fly away!!! It's supposed to work for fleas too. I haven't seen a single one. You can use the spray on and around furniture as well :) The Natural defense has good ingredients, but the Ark Naturals has neem. The neemaura has neem obviously and also cedar wood oil which is an excellent bug repellent :)

http://www.vitaminbu...ctRepellent.htm

http://www.arknatura...ct.aspx?pid=350

I just purchased the Ark Naturals Protect Spray but it doesn't say anything about repelling bugs or mosquito. Hopefully it will work. :)

[cadkids]

gotlucky, on 01 August 2010 - 12:17 PM, said:

Sevin dust also kills beneficial insects like honey bees :( Because it's a powder and they have fury bodies, it takes the dust back to the hive and can kill entire colonies. With the ongoing problem with CCD, I just in good conscience couldn't do it.

didn't think about the honey bees but I should have though they are all over my poppies but I sprinkle it on the dirt not the plants (except for the corn which seems to be infested with Every bug out there ) to keep the fleas out of the kennel and the cutworms away from my tomatoes roots as they were being eaten and dying the package says safe for use around pets and I havent had any problems http://boxerforums.org/public/style_emoticons/default/crossfingers.gif knock on wood

[christineorr]

Brooklyn, on 03 August 2010 - 11:23 AM, said:

I just purchased the Ark Naturals Protect Spray but it doesn't say anything about repelling bugs or mosquito. Hopefully it will work. :)

I know that the bottle doesn't say it's for bug repellent but it is marketed for that :) Here's the info from onlynaturalpet and what they say it's for :)

http://www.onlynatur...ray/121022.aspx

has good reviews, although person talking about use on cats and says they say it is safe for cats. You have to be careful with certain oils on cats, so check with vet first before you use on cats if you have any :)

This post has been edited by christineorr: 03 August 2010 - 07:39 PM