Flea & Tick prevention

[mtoy]

I used to have Millie on Sentinel (heartworm/worm/flea preventive) but it doesn't work on ticks, plus I think it's overkill for our needs (our vet actually wants her to take it year-round, despite our extremely cold winters, but I don't do that). Last year we used Heartguard and then Frontline Plus for the bugs. I hated that because our hands would get coated with the stuff for a few days after application - EEEW! I've never used any herbal preventives - do they work? There have been reports of lots of ticks this year here in the suburbs. I haven't even taken the dogs into the woods and lake across the street yet for fear of this. When we go camping we'll need flea preventive for sure. I don't know what to use. +SAD+

[corgimom]

I used to have Millie on Sentinel (heartworm/worm/flea preventive) but it doesn't work on ticks, plus I think it's overkill for our needs (our vet actually wants her to take it year-round, despite our extremely cold winters, but I don't do that). Last year we used Heartguard and then Frontline Plus for the bugs. I hated that because our hands would get coated with the stuff for a few days after application - EEEW! I've never used any herbal preventives - do they work? There have been reports of lots of ticks this year here in the suburbs. I haven't even taken the dogs into the woods and lake across the street yet for fear of this. When we go camping we'll need flea preventive for sure. I don't know what to use. +SAD+

mToy,

I use the frontline Plus on Cody every month during the summer and then every 3 months when it gets cold. I will say that I do the monthly heartworm on him even during the winter months. Last summer my vet said he treated 4 patients in one week for flea infestation and all the owners gave them were garlic pills.

I have read about herbal things for treating fleas and ticks, Lots of these products have Essential oils in them; One thing to think about is if you use them on your dogs, and have cats, some of these oils can make your cats quite ill if they come in contact with your dogs, but you would have to do some more reading about them.

Last year I gave Cody the vaccination for Lyme Disease, have you done this?
I decided not to do it this year because he really does not spend any time in the woods or anywhere where there are a lot of ticks.