[tddots]

My dog recently has fleas. My neighbor told me that because of I feed my dog with human food. Yes I used to feeding my dog with what I eat. Is my neighbor right that dog is supposed to eat dog food?

[smudgebear]

Welcome! A lot of people cook for their dogs or feed raw, so I don't think feeding dogs human food is unusual. I also supplement my dog's kibble with cooked meat, yogurt, etc. As for the fleas, well, I've certainly never heard of whether or not a dog eats dog food vs human food as being a factor. It sounds like that's just your neighbor's personal opinion, not necessarily based in fact.

[tddots]

Originally Posted by smudgebear

Welcome! A lot of people cook for their dogs or feed raw, so I don't think feeding dogs human food is unusual. I also supplement my dog's kibble with cooked meat, yogurt, etc. As for the fleas, well, I've certainly never heard of whether or not a dog eats dog food vs human food as being a factor. It sounds like that's just your neighbor's personal opinion, not necessarily based in fact.

Thanks smugebear! I agreed with you too. However, it's weird that I've never given my a tour outside my home, she still gets fleas. Not many fleas yet on her body, only 1 or 2 found when giving her a shower every two days.

Does anyone have solution for the fleas problem?

[smudgebear]

I give my dog a monthly flea preventative and I haven't had any problems (we live in a very wooded area too). You might want to look into something like Frontline Plus or Advantage. Also, do you use a flea shampoo when you bathe her? If the problem isn't too severe that would probably keep it under control. I've heard that Adams flea products are good. I'm sure other people can offer more advice, but I hope this helps!

[Cracker]

Originally Posted by tddots

Thanks smugebear! I agreed with you too. However, it's weird that I've never given my a tour outside my home, she still gets fleas. Not many fleas yet on her body, only 1 or 2 found when giving her a shower every two days.

Does anyone have solution for the fleas problem?

Your dog has not been outside? And you shower her every two days? Just curious...is there a reason she's never been outside and that you shower her this often? (If you are just rinsing it shouldn't be a problem, but shampooing that often is very hard on their skin).

Either way.
Fleas only require a warm blooded breathing creature to feed on. Has little to do with what they eat (though certain foods may attract them more, as it changes the animals secretions).
If your dog has not been outside there are three possibilities:
Your house was already infested
Your dog was already infested when you brought her home
You brought the fleas in on a pantleg or sock from outside

If you have seen adult fleas on your dog this only represents a very small percentage of the total population in your home. The flea lifecycle is such that the flea hops on for a meal, lays the eggs on the animal. The eggs are smooth and fall off the animal into the environment...usually bouncing around the area, they hatch to larvae who, being lightsensitive, move towards dark areas (baseboards, under furniture) to get to pupae stage. The pupae stage lasts until they mature and then they are stimulated to hatch the adults when three things occur:
Carbon dioxide is present
warmth is present
vibration is present
so, when a flea is ready it waits for any living, breathing creature to walk by...boom adult flea on dog, cat or human and it all happens again.

You need to treat the dog (topical flea medication, talk to your vet)
You need to treat the environment:
Vacuum regularly and empty the vacuum outside of the home, pay special attention to the "dark areas" I mentioned earlier
Home sprays, diatomaceous earth etc can be had to help kill the environmental fleas, but the pupae stage is pretty bomb proof so a second treatment several weeks to a month later is necessary to get the "second wave".

You may also want to have your dog checked/treated for tapeworms..where there are fleas, there are usually tapes as well.

[tddots]

Thank you guys!!! I meant she has been outside for a few times, but not on a regular walk on the street or in the park every day or week since I got her home few weeks ago. I'm planing giving her a walk 3 times a week but am worried since she got fleas. I just gave her first dose of Frontline, hoping this helps! I'll consider buying Adams flea product too.

Alright I'll consider giving her shower without shampooing every two days too since she always sleeps with me on my bed :-) Thanks!

[tddots]

Someone recommended to use eucalyptus leaves to kill fleas' eggs today, putting those leaves together like a necklace around the dog's neck. Any ideas, folks???

[dieterherzog]

I agree with Cracker - even after applying Frontline, you need to vacuum the house thoroughly and wash all bedding in hot water and put it to dry on a hot cycle. It's going to be hard to make sure all the fleas are gone in the house, but it can be done.

You can put cedar chips around your dog's bed - that helps repel fleas. Diluted neem oil, lavender, tea tree oil and you're right - eucalyptus also helps.

Fleas are more attracted to dogs that have poor health and immune systems - so even though you're feeding a homemade diet, make sure your dog is getting enough nutrients. Adding a LITTLE (tiny tiny tiny) bit of garlic to his diet can also help.

[FilleBelle]

Originally Posted by tddots

My dog recently has fleas. My neighbor told me that because of I feed my dog with human food. Yes I used to feeding my dog with what I eat. Is my neighbor right that dog is supposed to eat dog food?

Feeding your dog what you are eating could easily compromise the dog's overall health, making it more vulnerable to fleas. What, exactly, do you feed the dog?

[tddots]

Beef, pork, vegetable, chicken breast, fried rice and noodle, and foods on my dinner table in general that I believe they can't choke her when she swallows; since then she never eat dog food again :-(

[Labsnothers]

I doubt feeding human food as such will cause fleas. Now a dog with health problems due to a poor diet may be more subject to fleas.

It is quite easy to assure your dog a good, complete and balanced diet. Just pick almost any commercial food and feed it and as little else as possible.

Tons more bad advice where your neighbor came up with that.

[DobManiac]

Originally Posted by tddots

Beef, pork, vegetable, chicken breast, fried rice and noodle, and foods on my dinner table in general that I believe they can't choke her when she swallows; since then she never eat dog food again :-(

That’s not a balanced diet for a dog. Dogs have an enormous need for calcium in their diet, and more importantly they need the correct balance between calcium and phosphorus. Meat is very high in phosphorus but does not contain calcium. Check out the stickies at the top of the food forum own raw diets. One has a list of websites that will give you an idea about how much research is needed to correctly balance your dog’s diet.

Also check out this article: http://www.dogaware.com/wdjhomemade3.html

I'm not trying to discourage you. But canines have different nutritionally needs than humans, so throwing the dog today’s leftovers just isn't good enough. You need to research their nutritional needs before you can hope to correctly balance a diet.

[wolfsnaps]

All those foods you mentioned sound fine EXCEPT that since you made them for yourself, they are probably saturated with salts, spices, and other things not good for dogs. Thats the problem with "People" food. Its processed and seasoned and thats what makes it bad. My dogs do get a taste of my dinner sometimes (as long as it isnt too salty, or have no-no foods like onions {which can hemolyze the blood} or are otherwise dangerous) but its just that, a taste. These things should not make up the bulk of their diet.

[Ty_Tyler]

Just thought I would share what I use for flea prevention for my dogs. I use essential oils from Young Living which are high quality and very pure. There is a blend I use called Purification. I put it where I would normally use Advantage. It seems to work great.