"Char" wrote
cshenk asked:

Char, how often do you bathe yours? Don's more of the mind that it's 'as
needed' unless a critical part of flea or tick control (or the dog
wanders through a mud puddle).

I agree with that. As I don't use any pesticides on my dogs or in my
house, or in the yard for that matter baths can be a way to kill some
fleas. They can hurt your dog, your kids, and you. Do you really believe
that all of a sudden when the pesticide dries it's ok for children to
touch the dog? Of course not! And it's even worse for the dog who has
absorbed the pesticides into it's body.

Well, I can see how you feel and where it would come from. Still, we will
have to continue with our flea treatments as is. I've tried the
diatomaceous route and baths but it doesnt work here in our area. If you
were to google a map of 'highest flea problem spots in the USA' we'd be the
thick of the worst of it.

I use an organic one on the yard, and the vet stuff for the cat and dog once
a month. In cat's case it is also a heartworm preventive (Cash-pup gets a
monthly pill being a recovered heartworm victim).

Advantix is a pesticide and hurts dogs. I don't use any pesticides at all
and most times I'm flea free. I usually use diatomaceous earth, vacuum a
lot and use baths too.

I checked and a good bit of what goes on the yard (organic) is diatomaceous
earth mixed in with some sort of natural soap?

I'd be curious what yard treatment you have found? I may want to swap to it
and see if it works better. Must be organic (I'll use chemicals at need on
fleas here but I keep things as low as I can and the yard is shared by
squirrels and all sorts of wild life).

I used Advantage for years till I figured out there were safer ways to be
flea free. It was a huge leap for me and it does take a little work but to
know I've significantly reduced the chance of cancer in my whole family is
well worth it.

I'm happy for you! Do you have cats and if so, what did you find to work
for them? Frequent baths was my old method (I was trying to go pesticide
free, didnt work here for fleas so I'm the reverse route of you on that).
Oh, back then I had 4 indoor cats.

When we do wash the dog (or cat, which current one has never needed
being a neater soul), it's a very old remedy from a vet.
Head-n-shoulders (Kills fleas on contact, lasts as a flea killer for
about 4-5 days, kills most of the eggs).

Any lathering soap will kill fleas. I use Dawn dish soap if fleas are real
bad. I use an organic soap most of the time. Following up with
diatomaceous earth around the house and just vacuuming a lot just about
does it. I think the extra work is worth the peace of mind I get.

I used Octagon (I think that is the name) for a long time. It's organic but
doesnt strip the natural oils as much. Doesnt work as well as
head-n-shoulders and leaves a dryer skin but might be an option that suits
you better.

Then brush carefully with just
a very light coat of olive oil on the comb/brush (helps the dryness).

Yeah but doesn't it attract dirt? I guess if it's just a pinch here and
there it would work well.

I was mostly working with cats then (grin). Baths were due to fleas when I
was trying hard to be chemical free in a part of the world less suited to it
than most. Yes, it's just a drop or so worked gently into the coat.

(Side dive, Apple, the dog we have adopted and are awaiting the process to
take home, has dandruff from too frequent baths and improper coat care.
Patches of baldness show flea infestation issue pattern common here to any
untended pet. First we fix the coat issue with better feeding, then a
gentle bath with a knubby washcloth to help clear the undercoat and I'll
have to see what sort of lanolin sort of item might be good to help it heal,
or just go my old route).

Dry coat hasnt been an issue for Cash-pup since after about a month with
us. I may not 'raw feed' but we do add natural fats to our pets foods
for their coats. They particularily like duck fat (who wouldnt!) and are
very fond of pork fat rendered from a southern slow cooked pork shoulder.

Actually cooking the fat makes it not nearly as good for the dog as if
you'd give it raw. You are on to a good idea, you just need to feed it in
a better form.

Unfortunately we dont really have the meat eating syndrome here much to keep
fresh fats. When we do make a pork shoulder, we sliver some of that fat off
for the next 2-3 days and give them that. Cat won't eat fresh pork fat but
she likes fresh seafood fat (the little fatty spot inside a crab, she gets
one if we get 5-6 of the local blue crabs). I'm leery of fresh chicken fat
due to all the poultry issues. Fresh duck fat, yes, we chance that with her
and him.

Umm, we are not vegetarians, but we are a low meat eating family. Medical
issues mandate it. Because we eat less of it, we have the money to eat the
better types.

They *love* fresh ground beef from our own grinder. (since we eat little, we
get a bit upscale steak and grind our own). If it's a marbled cut, we take
some of the fat out for them right away.

(snips)

This BTW *IS* one of the spots where your 'raw feeding' is probably
better. Many folks overwash dogs (and cats) and have dry coat syndrome
due to not enough proper fats in the diet. Ok, kibble has 'fat' but it's
not the same type. Your pups I am guessing, never have this problem.
Mind dont either.

Yeah, we as a rule don't have dry skin problems except if the heat is on a
very long time. I'm in Florida so that is usually not a problem. However,
this winter was pretty chilly.

It's not as hot here. Heat tends to be relative though. I've lived enough
areas to learn that. Want real heat? Summer in Bahrain. ICK.

Raw fed dogs don't stink like kibble dogs do so they don't need a bath as
often. No bad breath, much less farts too. Raw is just a whole lot easier
on their digestive system because that is what it was made to process.

It seems though you are the only 'raw feeder', I _might_ be the one with the
closest habits here? I'm not saying mine get raw fat everyday (they dont)
but when I have it still in food safe condition, they do. Raw meat, same
thing.

A sidestep being this is a dog group, but on raw feeding of pets. In 10
cats I've never had one yet who will eat that canned tuna catfood. They
love however fresh real ahi/aku (skipjack/yellowfin tuna) just fed in
slivers. Human name: Sashimi (grin). Cats also love raw squid innerds
though our dog looks at her like she's crazy to eat that stuff.