Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  3. Flea,Tic, and Heartworm Preventatives

Flea,Tic, and Heartworm Preventatives

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • A

    I’d like to switch from prescription medication (Interceptor and Bravecto) to natural homemade solutions. Way too many listicles about ACV and oil/extract concoctions online though.
    Anyone here have experience with holistic alternatives? Preferably in the same general environment (greater NYC or tri-state area). Thanks!

    0
  • elbrantE

    No guarantees, but...

    Fleas & Ticks:

    • Cedar is a natural repellent for fleas: Scatter cedar shavings inside the "dog house" if you have one. Or, fill a dog bed with them. The kind they sell in the pet stores work fine.

    • Flea & Tick Spray: Combine ingredients in a spray bottle: 1/4 C Witch Hazel, 1/4 C Aloe Vera Juice, 10 drops of Lavender and Lemon Oils, 20 drops Cedar Oil. Do not spray this on the dogs face, avoid getting it into their eyes.

    • Homemade Flea Bath: Mix 1/4 C White Vinegar, 1/4 C Dawn Dish soap, and 1/2 C water. Lather up dog with solution (avoid face, eyes, ears, mouth, nose). Wait 5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly. Dry pup well.

    Heart worms:
    Heart worms are passed to the dog by mosquitoes who have bitten an infected dog. This concern is less prevalent in NY than in other eastern locations. It may be a concern if you are traveling south during the summer months. Mosquitoes require a mere tablespoon of water to breed, but the cold winter months tends to kill off the mosquito population. I do not know of anything that would be effective in preventing mosquitoes from biting an animal. Being a coastal NC resident, I swear by Avon's Skin So Soft spray. I do not know if this is safe to use on an animal.

    elbrant.net

    3
  • A

    Very belated thanks for these. Your spray formula works well in wooded areas from Westchester County up through the Hudson Valley area.

    1
  • tanzaT

    I would never take a chance with heart worm... I use NuHeart that is just for heart worm... small pill once a month... we do not have issues with heart worm in NoCal but I do not take a chance. I use it year round. In the area that there is frost/frozen for the winter you can use it just in the spring/summer/fall months.
    For fleas/ticks I use frontline but only when I see fleas... again in NoCal not too much of an issue.. I need to use it maybe about twice a year and only when need or if I am traveling with the pups.

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    2

Suggested Topics

  • C

    Lots of spots...

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    7
    1 Votes
    7 Posts
    2k Views
    helle deviH
    @coloradocolby Yes, freckles. If ever my girl has to be shaved, she'd be like a pink spotted lil' piggie :hugging_face: !!!
  • D

    Flea Products

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    3k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    I have used frontline and advantage for over 20 yrs without issue, but I do the spray on frontline, not the top spot. I have had maybe 10 fleas in 6 yrs at most so I rarely use anything most years. See a flea? I hit them with frontline. It has been 4 yrs but I just found a flea so I ordered a new bottle on line from amazon. I know many give monthly pills but I hate giving my dog internal meds for external issues. (Except capstar, which I do use if I pick up a rescue with fleas and give it an hour or 2 to do it's job before taking it into my house!) As for natural, people swear by them, but study after study after study finds they do very little. Fleas carry disease. Some of the store brands are worthless, others report major issues. If they only got them at kennel, then you might luck out with one treatment but probably you need one now, one in a month, one in 2 mos and that should clear it. Cedar is toxic and no longer recommended at all (though some put in center of bedding, cover with other material, which is probably safe). Frontline and Advantage are safe for older dogs, and they have proven low rates of any issues if used right. Additionally, they sterilze the fleas so they help stop the problem. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?A=545
  • H

    Heartworm Meds Question

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    19
    0 Votes
    19 Posts
    5k Views
    Rita JeanR
    I am so very sorry if I in any way bad you feel bad or upset. I know US our HOUSE we get going so fast sometimes Spring would be here and we would forget. We do not mean to we just look and time is gone. Yes weather can just be crazy here here in Ks myself I wish it could be 70 everyday of winter and even warmer if it likes I hate cold. Rita Jean
  • lvossL

    This Was All Preventable

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    61
    0 Votes
    61 Posts
    17k Views
    nomrbddgsN
    Thanks to all who have put questions and answers forward. I'm kind of glad I pushed the issue, I have learned much more about the syndrome from the people who actually have the experience. As Jason stated, there are a lot of questions that people have who have never had an afflicted dog. And as Andrea states, some do better on the protocol than others, while some have different organs affected over time. It's all a learning process for us. And, it opens our eyes to some of the more difficult aspects of Fanconi. This is the part of the education that I wanted-some real discussion on living with them. I'm sorry if I've offended anyone, but I really want to know. I guess I have an enquiring mind and feel a need to understand.
  • lwicksL

    Heartworm medicine

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    3k Views
    lvossL
    @Ninabeana26: I use Sentinel for Dallas' heartworm meds & I give it monthly. He has only had 2 months so far but I have never noticed anything funny after giving it to him. I just place it in with his evening kibble & he's been fine every time. Sentinel is actually two medications in one. It has the active ingredient for Interceptor and the active ingredient for Program. It is supposed to protect against heartworms and fleas. If you are still having problems with fleas, I would seriously consider changing to Interceptor only so you are not giving your dog an medication that is not working and then look for a more effective flea control.
  • K

    Flea treatment??

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    25
    0 Votes
    25 Posts
    14k Views
    LindaHL
    In the 15 years that we had Maxx, we never used any kind of flea product…and he never had fleas. We haven't used anything on Gracie or Blaze, either, and neither of them have fleas. If we ever do see fleas, our first line of defense would be a natural product of some kind. Only if the natural products didn't work would I resort to chemicals. Of course, YMMV. Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats has information on natural flea products. I'm sure there are other books and/or websites that do, too…just do a Google search.