Why use flea preventative?

[britishbandit]

Well for the health and sanity of you and your pet/s that's why!
The complete life cycle of a flea can be completed in as little as 16 days (but generally 3 weeks). So, once an egg has hatched, it becomes an adult flea, ready to lay those next generation of eggs in that little time. Scarey thought huh? No wonder they don't take long to infest your pet, your home, and even your yard.
Just some "food for thought"...LOL.

[Shadowkins]

Very timely post, British and right on as ususal
Tis the season for fleas and ticks, we have seen a large amount of ticks at the grooming shop YUK! So please take British's advice and get your pets on some preventative treatment!!

[zoe08]

I am about to get Zoe on some flea and Tick stuff but I have to decide which kind...

I also want to spray our yard, but am waiting for my sis's friend to get back to us on what she uses for her yard that is safe for dogs.

[papillon806]

I have been using Frontline Plus about every other month for my pup, and it keeps the fleas and ticks off great. When I take him to the barn (I ride horses), all the other dogs have ticks except mine I think the every other month thing has been working well, does anybody do it every once in awhile or mostly every month?

[GreenleafGreyhound]

Call me crazy, but I have not applied a topical flea medication on Lucky since, oh say, last spring, and I have NEVER applied flea meds on Giselle. That would amount to Giselle being naturally flea free since I adopted her around 1 1/2 years ago. I have qualms about using unnecessary chemical products on my pups and I don't find any necessity for me to use a flea preventative in a cold climate that rarely sees ticks and fleas. Besides, I believe in a naturally healthy immune system so flea preventatives have no part in my dogs' lives. Until I see signs of infestation, I won't use it.

[Shadowkins]

Alot would depend on where you live . Here in Saskatchewan , spring and summer are awful for fleas and ticks...especially if you happen to take your dogs out for a walk and run in the fields. If i personnally had a pet that stayed in the house , then I would not bother with any preventative treatments and other that the peak seasons , I would not use them. However, in the worst months of the year I would certainly advise it as long as your pet can tolerate it and is in an environment that exposes him to the fleas and ticks. Bear in mind that boarding kennels can also be a possible place for your dogs to be infected ( because of other dogs coming in ). In any case, it is up to each owner to check his pet daily for any signs of these "wonderful" little parasites. Just my take on things.

[shandoggy1]

If you want to go all natural instead of putting PESTICIDES on your dog you can try Critter oil at www.naturespet.com. Owning dogs for all my life and never putting chemicals on them I have never had a problem with fleas and the only way my dogs have gotten ticks was because we went in the woods. I have been using this critter oil on Cai when we go hiking and he has been tick free. The tick season is supposed to real bad around here in Mass. because we had such a mild winter.

[SunGurl372]

Harley has SERIOUS flea allergies. We're talking incessant itching, hair loss, and raw bald patches within days of a bite. So I've always been adamant about keeping her on a strict monthly schedule for flea preventatives.

I like the idea of a natural alternative, but would love to here from someone using this who has a dog with flea allergies.

[LVT]

Never seen it work for a dog with flea dermatitis. I hate to see them suffer until people finally realize they need to kill them. Stinks. I live in the tick capital of the country so I've gotta be careful as nothing is 100%, and my dog has already lived through the renal failure due to lyme. i hate ticks and fleas.