This 'n that

[Guest guest]

Borax - I've seen countless recommendations for treating a flea-

infested house with it. - both commercially and alternatively. I

haven't seen any warnings about pet exposure but then all too often

causes are never correctly linked to symptoms. I was ready to try it

on Wiley but now I'm hesitant. He over-reacts to EVERYTHING because

of vaccine damage. Maybe it is safer in liquid form and then rinsed

off? He would definitely lick the powder off. I've tried DE just on

the affected areas. I don't know if it helped or not and I don't know

if it can kill mites (if that's what the problem is).

Prey-model diet - My dogs aren't eating prey animals. In my case it

applies to the meat/bone ratio. Prey model is 80/20 (meat/bone) and

Barf or Sarf is 50/50 - huge difference. My feed source is so limited

that I can't really do an elimination diet. I had no idea I'd have

problems getting raw food but I only have access to what I can afford

to buy from the chain grocery store - chicken, turkey, pork, organs.

I KNOW this is not ideal but it has been working for 8 years. I'm

fairly certain that the quality of the chicken changed and that may

be the problem. Both the market and Tyson deny any change. I make

certain the meat is not 'enhanced' but you can't believe what is (or

isn't) printed on the package.

Flea myth - I think if you live in a flea-infested area, a diet

change might not help. I live in a tick-infested area and the raw

diet reduced the number of ticks on my dogs by 90%. That is based on

35 years of dealing with ticks. I'm on an Ozark farm. Pre-raw, I used

every remedy I found - chemicals, repellants - you name it, I did it.

I think you can get tennis elbow from vacuuming every day! Ticks are

no longer an issue - except on me.

- or anyone else who is being kept awake by itchy dogs. After

months of being kept awake, I gave the dogs melatonin. They were

exhausted and so were we. That helped immensely. The dogs still have

itching frenzies but they are able to sleep. I don't use it on a

regular basis, only as needed. It is a hormone, not a drug.

a

[Guest guest]

IMO the Tyson chicken often isn't fit to eat except as a stopgap measure to

avoid starvation... maybe the most likely problem in your case.

Tyson has an ugly history (of their expansion) and has consumed or ruined

the lives of lots of chicken farmers and displayed their ethics (or lack of)

which may well effect the quality of their products today. try Perdue...

(at least it was) much better, if available in your area.

> This 'n that

>

>

> Borax - I've seen countless recommendations for treating a flea-

> infested house with it. - both commercially and alternatively. I

> haven't seen any warnings about pet exposure but then all too often

> causes are never correctly linked to symptoms. I was ready to try it

> on Wiley but now I'm hesitant. He over-reacts to EVERYTHING because

> of vaccine damage. Maybe it is safer in liquid form and then rinsed

> off? He would definitely lick the powder off. I've tried DE just on

> the affected areas. I don't know if it helped or not and I don't know

> if it can kill mites (if that's what the problem is).

>

> Prey-model diet - My dogs aren't eating prey animals. In my case it

> applies to the meat/bone ratio. Prey model is 80/20 (meat/bone) and

> Barf or Sarf is 50/50 - huge difference. My feed source is so limited

> that I can't really do an elimination diet. I had no idea I'd have

> problems getting raw food but I only have access to what I can afford

> to buy from the chain grocery store - chicken, turkey, pork, organs.

> I KNOW this is not ideal but it has been working for 8 years. I'm

> fairly certain that the quality of the chicken changed and that may

> be the problem. Both the market and Tyson deny any change. I make

> certain the meat is not 'enhanced' but you can't believe what is (or

> isn't) printed on the package.

[Guest guest]

nice idea about the melatonin. Didn't think about it for dogs. :-)

I wouldn't use borax for fleas--you'd have to use too much. DE for

fleas is much much safer. Again, don't breath it in, but we use it

all the time for outside in the yard on fire ant mounds, and at the

entrance to our doors.

If you wanted to see if it Wiley's problem is mites I'd mix up the

borax into a liquid, and pat that onto Wiley. Or, if you give him

baths, I'd bath him and then use the liquefied borax as a final rinse

and let him air dry. But of course, that is your decision--only you

know how sensitive Wiley is.

Good luck.

samala,

> - or anyone else who is being kept awake by itchy dogs. After

> months of being kept awake, I gave the dogs melatonin. They were

> exhausted and so were we. That helped immensely. The dogs still have

> itching frenzies but they are able to sleep. I don't use it on a

> regular basis, only as needed. It is a hormone, not a drug.

[Guest guest]

> Flea myth - I think if you live in a flea-infested area, a diet

> change might not help. I live in a tick-infested area and the raw

> diet reduced the number of ticks on my dogs by 90%.

Have you tried to give them garlic in their food. I've read where

that will discourage fleas and ticks from pets.

Smitty

[Guest guest]

I unexpectedly came across the greatest flea/tick *preventative* for my dog than

I ever could've imagined.

I definitly live in " deer country " (and have had Lyme myself), and it's normal

for me to pull ticks off the dog many times a week.

Back in the mid 90s I briefly fell in love with aromatherapy and got caught up

in the Young Living beginnings. Though I'm no longer a distributor, I'd hock the

house just to get their Lavender shampoo and conditioner (baby fine hair here).

A few years ago, on a whim, I decided to bathe the dog in this shampoo, having

nothing else around that I felt safe enough for her.

This was late May and she did not get another tick on her till Nov!! Unheard of!

I repeat this Spring bath now every year, and the ticks stay away anywhere from

4-6 months.

She is a Border Collie (with enough hair for 10 other dogs), and cannot tolerate

being groomed, so we gear up for the battle once a year------unless she gets

into something vile. Fortunately, in her old age she is better behaved and stays

very clean.

If I couldn't get the YL shampoo, I guess I'd try pure lavender oil in some very

pure shampoo...........

Sharon M

[Guest guest]

When you use DE, be sure it is food grade. The stuff they use for pool filters

could be deadly.

Gail

ph Votta wrote: nice idea about the melatonin.

Didn't think about it for dogs. :-)

I wouldn't use borax for fleas--you'd have to use too much. DE for

fleas is much much safer. Again, don't breath it in, but we use it

all the time for outside in the yard on fire ant mounds, and at the

entrance to our doors.

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