Beware Flea Products

[Erny]

Gammawash ...

Hey! I remember Gammawash! We used to bath our dog in it too.

BUT ....... a friend of mine's father died as the result of washing his dog in a flea chemical substance. I can't say it was Gammawash because I can't rightly remember. It was one of those rare things, but it turns out he was allergic to it and it caused a violent reaction which led to a heart attack, which was, at the end, what actually killed him.

In defence of the more modern parasite protections though ...... Our (childhood) labrador suffered something terrible from flea allergy. He was often shaved by the Vet on his back where the excema from their irritation (and his constant itching) became infected. I remember there being the first ever product come out that was given orally (it was a liquid and you squirted it in their food - I think it was daily, although I can't be sure if I remember correctly) and it was the only time that we were able to control the fleas that he consistently picked up.

After a while we stopped giving this to him and the problem didn't seem to return.

But we'd also moved properties and I think the flea infestation related to the soil condition where we had previously lived.

So whilst I think our modern remedies/preventatives definitely have their use and their place, I think they do need to be used more judiciously rather than merely as an everyday thing that we do because the advertisements (and some Vets) tell us that this is the 'norm'.

Edited December 5, 2009 by Erny

[Mas1981]

Gammawash ...

Hey! I remember Gammawash! We used to bath our dog in it too.

BUT ....... a friend of mine's father died as the result of washing his dog in a flea chemical substance. I can't say it was Gammawash because I can't rightly remember. It was one of those rare things, but it turns out he was allergic to it and it caused a violent reaction which led to a heart attack, which was, at the end, what actually killed him.

In defence of the more modern parasite protections though ...... Our (childhood) labrador suffered something terrible from flea allergy. He was often shaved by the Vet on his back where the excema from their irritation (and his constant itching) became infected. I remember there being the first ever product come out that was given orally (it was a liquid and you squirted it in their food - I think it was daily, although I can't be sure if I remember correctly) and it was the only time that we were able to control the fleas that he consistently picked up.

After a while we stopped giving this to him and the problem didn't seem to return.

But we'd also moved properties and I think the flea infestation related to the soil condition where we had previously lived.

So whilst I think our modern remedies/preventatives definitely have their use and their place, I think they do need to be used more judiciously rather than merely as an everyday thing that we do because the advertisements (and some Vets) tell us that this is the 'norm'.

I cant help but agree with you!

When i brought my puppy home i started using Advocate, no problems etc but it has such a strong smell that I started think how bad can this be for my dog? I asked the vet if there are any long terms effects of using these products and she admitted that there has no been studies on long term usage. I now dont feel comfortable using Advocate monthly, what I think i will do is do heartworm monthly and worm 3 monthly, I just dont feel that all these chemicals can be good for my dog!

Edited December 11, 2009 by Masons_mom

[Erny]

I now dont feel comfortable using Advocate monthly, what I think i will do is do heartworm monthly and worm 3 monthly, I just dont feel that all these chemicals can be good for my dog!

Masons ..... I don't worm my boy regularly either. If I'm unsure or if it's been a while and I just want to check, I get worm burden counts done at the Vets - just requires the provision of a stool sample.

Edited December 11, 2009 by Erny

[luvsdogs]

My parents only ever used Gammawash on the dogs for fleas. Up until the mid 60's my parents had a holiday house on a cat with us whenever we went there which included 4-6 weeks of the Christmas holidays. I don't ever remember the paralysis tick being mentioned in relation to the dogs nor any preventive or treatment being used. Don't even remember if they checked for ticks, only for fleas. If you go to the South Coast now they can be a problem almost year round. My son lives in Ulladulla behind a reserve & they found a tick on their dog in August.

[Shmurps]

I have seen 2 dogs in Vic with heartworm. Not nice, and the treatment is harsh. One dog died and the other survived but didn't live a long life. Seen plenty of parvo and I know of 2 families that don't use any flea treatment and we come home with flea bites, yuck. Do we over treat, probably. I worm myself so my dogs get wormed. I change products every 3-6 months and treat every 5-6 weeks instead of 4 weeks.

[frufru]

Gammawash (active ingredient diazinon) ceased to be available in 2003 as diazinon was found to be detrimental to aquatic life.

When I was a child the lantana on our farm was aerial sprayed with what was basically "agent orange" - very effective but healthy - don't think so. DDT was also widely used in agriculture. Our dogs - went through the cattle dip and dipping programmes were widespread - certainly no ticks or fleas but then they were swimming through a very toxic substance.

Personally, I find that todays chemicals are less toxic than those used in the past and information about them is more readily available. However, I only treat my dogs for fleas when I find one - but then I check them every day. I do use a tick collar over the summer but I also live on the far north coast where paralysis ticks are rampant. I used Proban (an organophosphate) on my standard poodles when they were in show coat because I would rather a dog protected from paralysis ticks than a dead dog. This was an informed decision on my part weighing up the possible long term side effects.

I find the average pet owner very ignorant about the chemicals they apply to their pets ( I don't count DOLers as average LOL)

Don't you just love the people who think it is "natural" for dogs to have fleas - ever heard of a flea comb. There are lots of options available to us as pet owners and we just need to make sure that we inform ourselves and take care of our dogs health.

JMO

Edited January 2, 2010 by frufru

[pinky11]

Anyone else been using the shootag!! interested to hear from u

[elsa]

My dogs haven't had a flea treatment in their lives. On seeing these sorts of things, makes me very glad.

Neither have mine. These chemicals can be extremely toxic & are absorbed into the bloodstream. Toy breeds do seem to have reactions more than larger dogs.

One time when my new kitten arrived by plane from interstate we got her home & out of the carrier & gave her a cuddle.

I immediately broke out in huge welts & my son had an asthma attack. I rang the breeder & found she had been sprayed with Frontline the morning of the flight. Guess that was the problem.

A bath in a diluted solution of Martha Gardeners woolwash, a dry & a thorough inspection then a comb through with a nit comb, then an ear clean out in case they have crawled in their during the bath, is all I have ever done for rescues & it works fine.

I do hope your poor dog recovers ok. You were doing what you thought was the right thing. More controls/testing needed over these things.

If you arent using any sort of flea treatment, I would be very interested to know what you are using. We have a terrible flea outbreak and one of my dogs has a flea allergy. I have found Neem Oil very good, but keen to hear of anything else without chemicals

[CavsRcute]

I have just ordered the Shoo Tag and will be using neem oil spray.

I am trying to detox my girl as I think some of her "allergic" problems might be due to using Advantix every 2 weeks.

We live in a very high tick area and I check her every night but still think we need extra help with ticks. The fleas have been really bad lately too.

So will let you know.

BTW she was still getting ticks with the Advantix

[persephone]

Our dogs have not had any flea treatment for about 12 months.

if we notice they need it- they get a brief spray of permoxin.

Luckliy, in some ways. we have the stickfast fleas only.

This means that they are easily found, as they live between toes/on ear flaps, and sometimes on belly.

A spray once every few days in those spots- and we're done. Only ever in Summer.

[pinky11]

thanks cavsrescue interested to see how yr dog goes.

as i live in high tick area and we have fleas bad atm

[Kelpie-i]

Our 'adopted' cat ended up losing her hair and ended up with a 5cm round sore at the spot where I applied Frontline. Needless to say I have not applied it since.

[highsociety007]

Hi,

I want to warn anybody that will listen about the possible side effects that your pet can suffer from applying flea products.

Last week I applied advocate to the back of my toy poodles neck. 4 days later she had a large sore seem to appear overnight and ended up being 5cm by 5cm in diameter and 8mm deep of dead skin. She had surgery today to debride the wound and now has to endure bandage changes every 3 days for a least 4 weeks, fingers crossed it heals well so that she doesnt have to go through it for too long. I have spoken to the company that makes the product, the lady that I spoke to on the emergency number was great but when I spoke to customer service today I felt like I was getting fobbed off, half of the info that I gave her she a didnt record, this was evident when she rang me back 5 minutes later to ask for info that I had told her. She then told me that she doesnt seem to certain that they will pay for the vet costs. I will happily pay it so that my little girl gets the care she needs but todays surgery was $500 and it will then cost me $60 whenever she has the bandage changes and then more when antibiotics are needed again.

So tell as many people as you can to be aware that these things can happen. Sorry but the pictures may be a little shocking

Linda

I'm new here so hello everyone! My border collie Max had had similar reactions (nothing quite as severe as in this pic) and I was frustrated that there was nothing on the market that didn't involve chemicals. I hated putting chemicals on Max but had no choice as I couldn't bear watching him scratch all the time.

I was reading Burke's Backyard Magazine and read about a new product called Shoo Tag. It claimed to be totally chemical free, lasts for 3-4 months and comes with a money back guarantee. It sounded too good to be true. I really didn't think it would work but it came with a 30 day money back guarantee so I had nothing to loose.

I attached the tags to Max's collar and for the first day he was still scatching and when I rolled him over I could see fleas.

The next morning I woke up and checked Max and to my amazement he stopped scratching and when I rolled him over I couldn't see a single flea on him.

I've been using the Shoo Tags for just over a month and i've not see a single flea. He is so much happier and so am I.

Finally a product which effectively treats fleas without chemicals. I would recomend Shoo Tag to anyone. I have also read other glowing reviews from their website Visit My Website

[Paganman]

Finally a product which effectively treats fleas without chemicals. I would recomend Shoo Tag to anyone. I have also read other glowing reviews from their website Visit My Website

"Visit My Website"???Are you the proprietor of the company?

[cazxxz]

Finally a product which effectively treats fleas without chemicals. I would recomend Shoo Tag to anyone. I have also read other glowing reviews from their website Visit My Website

"Visit My Website"???Are you the proprietor of the company?

Given that highsociety007's first and only two posts so far have been to bump old threads and say positive things about shootag, it seems very likely. How transparent.

[Zug Zug]

My bichon had a very similar reaction to his first spot on treatment when he was a young dog, a bit over 11 years ago.

It was awful - looked very similar to the photo you posted here. Worst thing was he had been shaking his head and scratching and I had just thought he didn't like the cold liquid on him so didn't do anything until I saw how bad it was the next day. Poor little thing - I felt awful. The vet took photos and sent them to the company.

I changed brands to something that was recommended as being very mild and suitable for puppies - no more problems.

I can use spot on treatments on him now with no problems and we currently use Advocate with no reaction. But I watch closely and if I ever saw him shaking his head or scratching I'd wash it straight off.

[Dagmar]

Hi,

I want to warn anybody that will listen about the possible side effects that your pet can suffer from applying flea products.

Last week I applied advocate to the back of my toy poodles neck. 4 days later she had a large sore seem to appear overnight and ended up being 5cm by 5cm in diameter and 8mm deep of dead skin. She had surgery today to debride the wound and now has to endure bandage changes every 3 days for a least 4 weeks, fingers crossed it heals well so that she doesnt have to go through it for too long. I have spoken to the company that makes the product, the lady that I spoke to on the emergency number was great but when I spoke to customer service today I felt like I was getting fobbed off, half of the info that I gave her she a didnt record, this was evident when she rang me back 5 minutes later to ask for info that I had told her. She then told me that she doesnt seem to certain that they will pay for the vet costs. I will happily pay it so that my little girl gets the care she needs but todays surgery was $500 and it will then cost me $60 whenever she has the bandage changes and then more when antibiotics are needed again.

So tell as many people as you can to be aware that these things can happen. Sorry but the pictures may be a little shocking

Linda

Linda,

I think, if you put enough pressure on them, they will pay the vet costs. You could send those pictures to the media...

I only once used Frontline Plus on my dogs and will never ever do it again. Not only did the fur turn white at the spot, my dogs had the worst allergies for months afterwards! Once on you cannot get rid of that poison. And that is it, lets face it - it is supposed to kill fleas!

That was an eye opener and since then I only use natural methods which work perfectly, with no side effects at all.

I hope your poor girl will recover quickly. Maybe talk to your vet, if you can apply Manuka honey under the bandage it will heal a lot faster.

Dagmar

[MolassesLass]

Finally a product which effectively treats fleas without chemicals. I would recomend Shoo Tag to anyone. I have also read other glowing reviews from their website Visit My Website

"Visit My Website"???Are you the proprietor of the company?

The phrase "Visit My Website" is what DOL suggests when you insert a link - if you do not change the text that will come up. Not that I am saying this member isn't a Shoo Tag employee.