Hi,
I have always used Program Tablets for my dogs to combat fleas with good results . Now that the warm weather is back with us ( I hope) I will be starting with Program again.
The question I have is - Has anyone had any bad reactions with a pregnant bitch using Program (my vet says should be fine ) Also I am looking for any other natural ways ( I do use Garlic now and then in their food ). Any suggestions??

There is a product available called Dyna-Mite produced by Stock Nutrition, which contains Citronella, Lavender, D-Limonene and Lanolin and you dilute it and spray it on. It is the only repellent I have ever used and so far have not had a problem with fleas or ticks on my dogs (touching wood as I type this).

I originally got it for my birds but now use it on the dogs, myself (against midges) and have even been known to spray it on the plants when they have had greenfly!

Christine

I was told by my Vet Garlic and onion are toxic to dogs .

Patricia

When I worked at a rescue kennel, we put garlic powder in their food every night. The breeder I got my aussie from handed me a tub of horse garlic powder with her kibble and told me to put a 1/2 tsp in her food every night. She's been breeding, showing and judging dogs for ages. I think garlic is ok, but definitely NOT onions.

Thanks .I might start putting garlic powder in Zac food

Beware....they do get garlic breath, but it's better than pesticides on the dog and you after you pet him.

Do they ever!!!! Mine come running into the lounge after they've eaten and tell you how much they've enjoyed their tea by breathing their garlic breath all over you. However since I started putting powdered garlic over their food each day (the horse variety, from animal feed suppliers), no fleas.
sas

If everyone in the family eats garlic, no one will notice the doggy breath :D :D

Many things are poisonous in large enough quantities 'Onion poisoning can occur with a single ingestion of large quantities or with repeated meals containing small amounts of onion. A single meal of 600 to 800 grams of raw onion can be dangerous whereas a ten-kilogram dog, fed 150 grams of onion for several days, is also likely to develop anaemia. The condition improves once the dog is prevented from eating any further onion

While garlic also contains the toxic ingredient thiosulphate, it seems that garlic is less toxic and large amounts would need to be eaten to cause illness.' http://www.petalia.com.au/Templates/StoryTemplate_Process.cfm?specie=Dogs&story_no=257#ct-4

The behaviourist vet who came to see my younger Goldie a
couple of weeks ago said to crush a couple of cloves of garlic into some of her food to use as treats and make it more palatable.

We consulted the behaviourist because she was showing nervous agression to other dogs - none of them will come near her now because of the smell :D :D :D

Paula

Thanks for all your replies , I have Given my dogs garlic for years and my Akita howls when she smells Garlic being cooked in the kitchen she loves it so much . I have never tried Horse Garlic powder but I will have a look for it . Also I will look out for Dyna-Mite .

Best Wishes
Paul

Banger noticed you didn't post on here so take it MAX hasn't got fleas?:D
Recommed you get some dyna-mite for him though:p

If you treat a pregnant bitch with Stronghold drop on every 4 weeks , and then then puppies at 6 weeks , she and the puppies will be flea free. I personally dont treat pregnant bitches for fleas if they dont have them. Can you use Dyna-mite on lactating bitches? As it contains a repellant to fleas perhaps the mum wont "taste" very nice to puppies, would the Dyna-mite irritate their mouths/throats? I have checked my bottle and it doesn't mention it. If you are thinking of using it I would give them a ring to check: 01362 694957

Hehehehe Karl - well so far Max hasn't suffered fleas and I check him once a week for them. Its probably due to the fact that he has fire in his veins rather than blood :P

Garlic powder sold specifically for horses in sadlleries and feed shops tends to be expensive, however if you can get to a local 'ethnic' delicatessen they often sell packets of garlic powder for a fraction of the price.

Just wanted to add that if you have cats in the house too (sometimes the worst source for those 'Freddies') that they can have the garlic powder also. Mine go just as mad when then smell it cooking as the dogs do and I've not had to use chemical treatments on either for years now! :)

I don't consider a 500g tub of garlic powder for £2.60 expensive, and it lasts about 4 months+ - or am I being 'done'?
sas

Last time I bought garlic powder (OK - it was a few years ago before my pony died) I paid 54p for 500g............

I thought it was only the fresh garlic bulbs prior to cooking that were poisonous? You can buy doggie garlic tablets but I've no idea how expensive they are. When I had a horse she always got garlic in her feed because it was supposed to keep the flys away in the summer. I think it probably reduced the number of flys flying around her but that was all.