Scared of Sevin Dust ~ help with fleas needed fast!!!

[TammyTX]

Beneficial nematodes....make sure they are fresh. I think you mix them with water and spray over the lawn and they eat the flea eggs.

I've never used it but I hear the Natural Gardener show recommend them all of the time.

ETA:

This is a quote from The Natural Gardener website:

"Beneficial Nematodes
These are a microscopic organism that eat the larvae of the fire ant (also fleas and grubs!) They can be used anywhere that gets supplemental water in the summer - no fields or natural areas. We offer bags that cover 8,000 square feet or 15,000 square feet. It is usually applied with a hose end sprayer and must be kept cool, i.e. in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it."

 

[LynneP]

These work too

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=7693-Coop_Hygiene

(Scroll)

 

[007Dawn]

Sevin dust is pretty effective and is used to control a wide variety of pests, including moths, beetles, cockroaches, ants, ticks, and mosquitoes. It is however toxic to humans and a suspected carcinogen because it increased tumors in mice.
Because it is a carbamate, it is easily metabolized in the body if ingested. It kills beneficial insects along with the targeted crowd. It has a reputation of wiping out whole colonies of bees. A small amount of bees take it back to the colony and wipe out the others. It is banned in several countries. It has been around since I was young.
It is thought to break down in water and sunlight in less than 6 months. It is not thought to be highly toxic to birds, but some aquatic life is affected by its presence.
My opinion is to try and find another way to control pests if possible. The affect it has on bees is enough for me to not use it. We need the bees!

 

[Epona142]

Quote:
I am in no way shape or form arguing with you, debating this, or starting anything. I just wanted to share my 2 cents. I am/was a vet tech. While working as a vet tech I went to a few conferences on some of the various products such as Frontline. Keep in mind, these were not sponsored by the product manufacturers. They went into the science of different products (Drop form) flea killers. Over the counter medicines like Hartz, or anything you can pick up at walmart..Walgreens, etc are BAD business. They have known carcinogens in them and the level of toxicity has been known to immediately kill extremely sensitive animals. However prescription flea killers like Frontline (Mostly, the expensive ones!) work off the dog's lipids (Fats) by soaking into the fatty tissue.. they're not a "poison" like you're thinking. They're a sort of enzyme that is in fact toxic to fleas, but little else. They destroy the fleas neurological system, and make unlaid eggs that survive to be laid unable to hatch. As disgusting as this sounds, Frontline specifically can be overdosed by 100 times (The most I personally know it has been tested at) and even drank by a human up to a 100 doses with absolutely zero side effect. Just because something is toxic to a particular critter doesn't mean it's dangerous otherwise. I believe wholeheartedly in the prescription lipid absorbing flea products.. the OTC ones are the dangerous ones.

First let me say thank you for the informative post. I totally believe that what you are saying is the truth because I have had more than one vet/vet tech say very similar things BUT my mother's dog had a horrible reaction to some flea drops. Please know that this dog was extremely small and it was not frontline that was used. I think it was something called Bio-spot or something like that. Anyway now that I have that out of the way, is there ANYTHING besides drops that can be used on DOGS effectively? I know collars are useless and sometimes a very unhealthy choice for the tiny breeds. I did use one dose of the hartz brand drops on my dog but now I am hearing horrible things about that product. I just can't afford the frontline at this point in my life and I do not intend to continue with the hartz drops.

Bio-Spot has been shown to be extremely dangerous. I've heard story after story AND I've seen several cases through our vet's office regarding severe adverse effects from Bio-Spot.

One of the things I tell people is to NEVER NEVER buy any "over the counter" flea meds. Flea meds should come from your vet; I've just seen/heard so many horror stories about Hartz, Bio-Spot, Seargent's, etc.

Oh, and I use Advantage. It lasts around two months on my pups, no problems ever.

http://www.viewpoints.com/Bio-Spot-Spot-On-Flea-and-Tick-Control-for-Dogs-review-0b5d2

http://www.biospotvictims.org/

http://vetmedicine.about.com/library/viewers/uc-flearx.htm

 

[007Dawn]

Wow very interesting about frontline and thank you for posting that. It makes me feel better because we just had to put some on our dogs.

We have fleas and those blood sucking vermits bad this year!

 

[SangaChicken]

Quote:
I am in no way shape or form arguing with you, debating this, or starting anything. I just wanted to share my 2 cents. I am/was a vet tech. While working as a vet tech I went to a few conferences on some of the various products such as Frontline. Keep in mind, these were not sponsored by the product manufacturers. They went into the science of different products (Drop form) flea killers. Over the counter medicines like Hartz, or anything you can pick up at walmart..Walgreens, etc are BAD business. They have known carcinogens in them and the level of toxicity has been known to immediately kill extremely sensitive animals. However prescription flea killers like Frontline (Mostly, the expensive ones!) work off the dog's lipids (Fats) by soaking into the fatty tissue.. they're not a "poison" like you're thinking. They're a sort of enzyme that is in fact toxic to fleas, but little else. They destroy the fleas neurological system, and make unlaid eggs that survive to be laid unable to hatch. As disgusting as this sounds, Frontline specifically can be overdosed by 100 times (The most I personally know it has been tested at) and even drank by a human up to a 100 doses with absolutely zero side effect. Just because something is toxic to a particular critter doesn't mean it's dangerous otherwise. I believe wholeheartedly in the prescription lipid absorbing flea products.. the OTC ones are the dangerous ones.

First let me say thank you for the informative post. I totally believe that what you are saying is the truth because I have had more than one vet/vet tech say very similar things BUT my mother's dog had a horrible reaction to some flea drops. Please know that this dog was extremely small and it was not frontline that was used. I think it was something called Bio-spot or something like that. Anyway now that I have that out of the way, is there ANYTHING besides drops that can be used on DOGS effectively? I know collars are useless and sometimes a very unhealthy choice for the tiny breeds. I did use one dose of the hartz brand drops on my dog but now I am hearing horrible things about that product. I just can't afford the frontline at this point in my life and I do not intend to continue with the hartz drops.

If you would like to use Frontline, and it is simply the cost that is holding you back.. I would be happy to mail you a couple small dog doses. They lasy 30 to 45 days each, and that would get you through the worst part of flea season. We buy it by the case pretty much for our animals and I can spare one. Maybe you could throw me a hatching egg someday in exchange whenever you have some.

If it isn't the cost and you'd prefer to use a different product for personal reasons, thats totally fine too. Just offering to help if I can.

 

[SangaChicken]

Oh and just so you all know.. this is how we buy our Frontline and save money. Go on Ebay and buy one of the Frontline "Kits". Basically, what it is, is sellers who create a little kit (You only have to buy one, then you can do it yourself) with vials and measurements (Its really basic). Then buy one large dog dose, or a pack of three and split them into 4 or 5 small dog doses. The formula you get with the kit does the EXACT vetrinary dosage. Vet clinics do this themselves.. buying the small dog doses is a waste of money.

For you to treat your Chihuahua for 6 (!!!!) months would cost you about $16.99 and free shipping. For you to treat your cat for 8 months would cost you the same with free shipping. You just can't beat that. This is EPA approved, safe, guaranteed and will not hurt your animal. And it WORKS. There absolutely is no better product for your pet to keep them safe or make them comfortable during the bad months.

Here is a link to an example auction. None of these other suggestions will protect your animal for 6 months for less than $20.

 

[RuffTuffCreampuff]

I have several dogs, so I buy Frontline in the spray bottle; it's much cheaper for me to treat my animals vs. buy individual doses. If someone just has a couple of dogs, it would last several seasons.

Pam

 

[agoodegg]

I have a vague memory of hearing about using Frontline on chickens. Is this possible?

 

[chicksalot]

A warning to all...I am not against pesticide use, but please try the least toxic road first...sometimes people do not read the label & follow directions properly, nor do they fully understand how toxic these chemicals can be. So, as a service to all, please visit www.pesticide.org There you will find info on many pesticides & have access to results on studies that have been done. Awareness is what I seek for you & your animals when utilizing these chemicals, ultimately YOU CHOOSE...so BE INFORMED. Read Labels, Heed Label Warnings, Use Properly...KNOW your CHEMICAL to minimize unnecessary risks to you & your pet.