Comments on Hello Summer! Goodbye Fleas!

Watched episode 5 "truth about vaccinations". Excellent. It made me reconsider some of my vets practices for my cat. I have switched foods and am using Sojos and what he eats outside. He typically ends up with worms at some point. I have treated this with Cina but is there more I could do nutritionally?

Hi, Dr. Falconer -- terrific website and content!
My last dog, a Lab/Chow who passed last year at 15yo, never took Comfortis, Trifexis, Nexgard or Bravecto because, as a member of the Facebook group "Does Nexgard Kills Dogs?" I learned a few things ahead of time. Frontline and Advantage no longer worked in my area, so I resorted to natural methods. Unfortunately, I was never really able to control the fleas appropriately on her for the last six months or so of her life.
With my new dog, a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon mix, I started out very leery of everything. When he first came into the shelter who got him, they gave him Comfortis with, supposedly, no ill effect. He was then taken in by a rescue, who gave him Advantix with, supposedly, no ill effect. When I adopted him I knew Frontline wouldn't work, and I didn't want to use Advantix (don't like combination drugs!), so I just went with Advantage, which I never used on my last dog. It "seemed" to work for awhile, but then, no. And, to top it off, I have been continually dealing with a flea infestation in my home (currently trying to fight off with dehumidifier, diatomaceous earth and, although haven't used yet, FleaBusters).
When I went to a dermatological vet for intense itching (flea bite, pollen, or both -- although I tend to think more pollen given the itching went away, although the fleas necessarily didn't), he didn't want to prescribe Apoquel (good!) but instead the more "old-fashioned" Medrol. My dog was on that for two weeks, definitely helped. Daily pills first week, every other day the second week til done.
During that initial appointment we talked about flea meds and I told him I didn't want to use Nexgard, Bravecto or Comfortis -- and he said, why don't you use Capstar? He told me that it's actually the safest, goes in the system and out within 24-48 hours. Give him one every other day. He said most people don't go that route because it gets very expensive, but it's the safest.
So, I started Medrol and Capstar the same day.
It was either during the end of Medrol or several days later, I noticed that my dog had developed a sort of....reticence, best word I can think of. Where before he would happily run out the door to the front gate for me to take him on a walk or to the dog park, all of a sudden he wasn't so willing and I actually had to start pulling him out. Or he'd come outside on the patio but just stand there looking at me and even though I call him over "Let's go, Perry!" I have to go get him. Also, in the car, he had done fine for months -- but since the Medrol and Capstar he seems to have high reticence and even, at times, fear, while in the car. Just today, although I usually put him in the back, I had to put him in the front seat. In the past, no problem. Now, he seems very unhappy, head bowed.
Here's the thing, though, he's is actually perfectly normal, as before, when we're on walks, at the dog park (very energetic and happy), visiting my landlords upstairs (who care for him while I'm at work) and generally while we're at home, he's FINE. It's just these two types of situations -- getting out of the house, and in the car -- but, still, very troubling to me since it seems to be continuing. It's almost as if "I've ruined a perfectly happy dog."
After a couple of weeks and my thought that this "personality change" might die down, and we were off the Medrol, I was thinking about Capstar and read more about it and, although found nothing conclusive, I decided it best to take him off of that completely. By then he had probably gotten approximately two dozen doses over the course of a month or so.
That's the backstory. So, any thoughts about this as far as (a) Medrol and long-term effects even after you stop using it, and (b) Capstar and the fact it's related to nicotine and that, sure, it leaves the body after 24-48 hours BUT, with repeated use, can actually damage the system?
Apologies, already gone on too long here but need to add one final note: I decided to take him to a holistic vet, who I thought was very good in many ways -- except, hm, for flea control, she said "the natural methods just don't work" (or she may have said they don't work "here"? -- I'm in a beach city in Northern California) and she did say she absolutely doesn't like Nexgard/Bravecto, combination drugs like Trifexis, BUT that she can recommend, and sell, one and only one: Comfortis. She said she doesn't like giving any flea poison to any dog but that in the heaviest season you need something and that is the one that has the least danger / side effects BUT using it only a few times a year when fleas are at their worst and then in off months (e.g., winter) simply frequent bathing and some natural methods would be sufficient.
Thoughts on that one? She convinced me to the point that I actually bought a box, but haven't used it yet.
Thanks so much for your time.

So what about cats and fleas. And if the cats go our and come back with them and even worse....ringworm ?

Peter- try giving your dog colostrum. You can find it at the health food store. It will balance the bacteria in the gut and take care of the digestive problem. Works for my dog (and humans) every time. Pour contents of 2 capsules in warm water, mix and offer 20 min before meals. Do this for a few days. Best of luck!

If you all want to know how these anti parasite drugs are being passed for market, go to this Facebook page. Stop Experiments at Young veterinary research services! These poisons are being injected into innocent lost and stolen pets who live in confinement their entire lives in little cages. They get no sun no play no enrichment activities. Imagine being a cat and living your whole life in a cage, only being handled when used to be experimented on restrained and drugged with needles repeatedly. Imagine you're a dog and you live your whole life inside a small kennel. These drugs are being passed on sick, and depressed, unhealthy and abused dogs and cats.

I have also put up
A cat fence to keep my yard free of neighborhood animals. I've done so much and only have fkea issues in summer, thinking now of moving to Nevada or Montana. I should t have to poison my animals just so they can go outside. I want a pesticide free life I don't use poison I use all natural sprays for my house and yard. I am pissed off that I used advantage which probably won't last anyway. The pharma industry is trying to phase out topical poisons. They want us to buy the pills oral PEsticides so they are purposefully making it less potent so that tou think the fleas are immune to it and you buy the pills from your vet. Try HS11 and artemisia combination and black walnut! Colostrum and a whole body immune booster. I'm not sure what your book says but why don't you just share your knowledge with us? Are you just trying to make money selling book. If you really care there would be no book and you would have a free manual.

I was using only wondercide every day I took them out but in the summer it doesn't work for my two small dogs with thick coat it still works on my senior golden retriever. I feel horrible I had to get advantage and they were so depressed when I applied it they just curled up in their beds and had no energy. It was awful. I am
Going to
Try to
Supplement them
With HS11, artemisia combination and black walnut. My golden eats his food w supplement but I can't get the little dogs to. They eat raw on some days and honest kitchen on others and home cooked. Maybe the herbs create an un favorable environment for fleas. I get his blood tested and he never has heartworm.

Hi Dr Falconer,
I didn't know where to post this but my dog has been having diarrhea for almost 2 weeks now. I have been feeding her raw for almost a year with no issues, she appeared to be very healthy, finally. We went on a backpacking trip recently overnight (8 hour hike first day, 5 hour hike second day) and it was strenuous, my dog is fit but we normally just do 30 minute to 1 hour hikes, she wasn't conditioned for this trip, but she did very well and was off leash, too. i have excellent voice control but i could not stop her from drinking out of brooks, streams and occasional stagnant water. i also changed her food cold-turkeyfrom raw (Prey model) to commercial raw Stella & Chewy's. She has a history of GI issues so this prob wasn't smart but she has been on it before and liked it. Anyway she ate that and I also let her drink bottled Smart Water that i had. When we're home she gets filtered water. When I got home I also stupidly put her right back on her regular raw with no slow transition or rest. So lots of factors why she has diarrhea. But her desire to go was frequent and urgent, and it was bloody and watery. No fever though. I had vet run fecal float, a giardia antigen, a leptospirosis PCR and it all came back negative. I understand it can be hard to diagnose but man this has got me stumped.... She was put on 2 rounds of metronidazole and 3 days of panacur. And a probiotic with a bland diet of boiled grass-fed beef with a hard boiled pasture raised egg. And now we're adding apple cider vinegar. Her pool have barely improved. Hardly formed and very loose. And straining/constipated. Vet doesnt know what else to do. I am also giving her some chicken bone broth. Any advice for me?
- Peter

Great timing of this article, Dr. F! I use Borax for flea outbreaks. (You can find borax in the laundry isle of the grocery store or places like Walmart or Target.) Borax works like diatomaceous earth. I sprinkle borax (20 Mule brand) on the carpets/rugs where my dog sleeps/hangs out, even the sofa- because that's where he likes to sleep while we're not home. And I do the same to his doggie bed. (Be mindful not to inhale the powder or apply it with your pets around.) I let it sit for a while (about 30 minutes or so) then vacuum it up and dispose of the vacuum contents immediately. If the situation is really bad, I also bathe my dog with borax. It leaves a bit of a residue on him but it's a much better trade-off than the fleas.
My dog is also exclusively raw fed, no vaccinations/no flea meds or heartworm preventatives. And I use homeopathic remedies for any ailments that do come up, which isn't often.
I had a flea outbreak almost two years ago and I haven't had another since. I'm not sure if it will remain this way but we're both happy to be flea-free right now :)

What about cats ?

I am far more afraid of what these poisons can do to my dog than I am of occasional fleas. My dog is raw fed and only vax he gets is the rabies one every 3 years- and the only time the fleas were out of control for a bit was after his last rabies vax- more than just a coincidence, I think? Even every 3 years is too often for that. Diatomaceous earth helped a lot. So did Wondercide (makes me sneeze too much) and an herbal powder I got (because of the sensitivity to the cedar) A plain old bath will help.

Like most of what You say, and -- as I think You're pushing the raw meat diet -- how animal lovers can be so blind to other animals suffering. Surely God did not create any of us to consume each other. Check out Genesis 1.

I have 2 dogs, a Sheltie and an American Shepherd. They are both on raw diets with organic vegetables, and the addition of sardines a couple times a week for the Omega-3. They also get probiotics every day in the form of Kefir, and a few organic raw eggs every week. Their coats are beautiful and shiny, their teeth look very good and they have lots of energy. My Sheltie never gets fleas, but my American Shepherd gets them every year. I have bamboo floors, I vacuum my throw rugs (or wash them) 3 or 4 times a week, I use Vet's Best Yard Spray and indoor spray, I have used nematodes, diatomaceous earth, organic shampoos, etc. But he still gets some fleas every summer. It is hard to see him scratchcing and biting his back. I use a flea comb and brush him every other day. I bathe him and do a vinegar rinse. None of this seems to keep him from getting fleas. So where do I go from here?

Fleas a big problem why don't you talk about flea prevention more or state that the book deals with fleas as well as heartworms more loudly.I saw were u said it as I had to read a lot to find that statement. BUT I GUESS IM ASKING WILL THIS HEART WORM BOOK HELP WITH FLEAS AN IS THE GUARANTEE FOR FLEA ALSO.