halle1 (03/31/83)
Any form of Seven should work. Most or all garden product manufacturers make it. It is not toxic to dogs and cats and works well on tomatoes for controlling white flies. I don't think it's toxic to people, either, but wash your hands anyway. One caution: it is highly toxic to bees, so do not use it near them. There are some new chemicals out that seem to be very effective. We got a spray from our vet (I dont recall the name of it but I'll check if anyone wants to know) that is very effective. Spray it on and they fall right off. As with anything, it is most effective if you rub it in. Periodic dipping is also recommended by many. I dont, but then I've never had really big problems with them.
halle1@houxz.UUCP (11/18/83)
I have been hearing the Brewers Yeast story for years. While it might be good for the animal, it does absolutely NOTHING to control fleas. It is an old wives tale with no basis in fact. "Making the animal taste bad?" Fleas don't care how it tastes. The only way to get rid of fleas is dilligence and chemicals. Kill them on the pet, then GET THEM OUT OF THE HOUSE. (the fleas that is) Dips work, sprays work, Seven works. Collars usually don't. And Brewers yeast does't, either.
piety@hplabs.UUCP (Bob Piety) (11/21/83)
Maybe it doesn't work for your cats, but it works fine four ours! NO FLEAS!
gary@rochester.UUCP (11/23/83)
References: <151@cae780.UUCP> Relay-Version:version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site duke.UUCP Posting-Version:version B 2.10 5/3/83; site rochester.UUCP Path:duke!decvax!genrad!grkermit!masscomp!clyde!floyd!harpo!seismo!rochester!gary Message-ID:<3940@rochester.UUCP> Date:Wed, 23-Nov-83 11:47:30 EST Organization:U. of Rochester, CS Dept. On the subject of internally taken flea killers, my vet made an interesting point. I did not want something in my dogs blood that killed fleas, since it can't possibly be good for him. The vet said that even flea collars and sprays etc., have toxins that are absorbed through the skin into the dog. The point: the dog is only going to be exposed to these for ~12 years, whereas WE are exposed to whatever we put on the dog for our entire lives, if we own a dog during our entire life span. Also, a pamphlet I read at the vet said flea collars were of "questionable value" in controlling fleas. My vet ended up giving me this stuff which has "micro-encapsulated" flea killer in it, that can go on the dog and on the house. (there wer two products, one for the dog, one for the house, but the ingredients were identical.) One last point. My vet said you only have to spray an "X" on the rug with this stuff (or any spray for that matter) to make sure all paths cross the stuff. (And along baseboards) If anyone wants the name of this stuff I'll try to get it from home. gary cottrell
piety@hplabs.UUCP (11/24/83)
Some time ago, there was an article posted about fleas on cats & dogs. Well, we have found a solution: We give our cats about 2-3 teaspoons of Brewer's Yeast with their food each day. Not only is the yeast good for them (protein & vtamins) but it makes 'em taste bad to fleas. Its great! Bob
pec@houxl.UUCP (P.COHEN) (11/28/83)
When I first got my dog, I heard about the Brewers yeast treatment for fleas and decided to try it. When I saw a flea after a few days, I doubled the amount of Brewers yeast. In four years I've never seen another flea on my dog. This doesn't constitute a scientific study, but I'm happy with the results. Does anyone know a folk remedy for ticks?
bea@alice.UUCP (Bea Chambers) (04/26/85)
After trying everything from collars to supersonic units, the best was Hi-Lo dip, available from many pet shops. Not only does it work well, it has a pleasant clean smell. I was using it once every 2 weeks for my' standard poodle. I heard that Zodiac flea collars were good too. ALas, with warm weather, cometh FLEAS.