Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  3. Fleas

Fleas

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • E

    I noticed that most of you seem to have your B's on flea medication. My Senji is 11 years old, and he's never been of flea meds. I just always assumed that basenjis didn't get fleas. Maybe he just has some strange body chemistry that keeps the fleas off. The same thing with mosquitos. I've literally seen a mosquito land on him for about a second and fly off. He was on Heartguard for most of his life. His previous vet used to test his blood and stool for heartworms, but always came back negative. Now that his new vet diagnosed his liver disease, he gets blood tests on a regular basis. (The previous vet, I found out, never tested him for anything other than heartworm!) I live in western PA and we get a fair amount of mosquitos in the summer. I think I've only ever seen him with one mosquito bite. He likes to walk through poison ivy too. Unfortunately, I'm always the one who suffers then! Dogs don't usually get poison ivy, do they?

    0
  • tanzaT

    To my knowledge, dogs don't get Posion Ivy…..

    As far as Fleas.... while we don't have a big problem here in No. California... I do need to use flea protection.. at times....

    To be on meds for heartworm is responsible... and I would never take a chance...

    Liver problems with Basenji is not uncommon... that to me is the biggest plus for blood work up at least once a year... especially with our old Basenjis... some as with the Kidney's starting to shut down... my 15 1/2 yr old has been Kidney failure (nothing to do with Fanconi, but just old age) for almost the last year.... we have kept her going to SUBQ fluids since we found this out... and while I would do no more then this, since she accepts the fluids well (we at this time give fluids 2 to 3x's a week...) we take each day as a bonus day until the time she is ready to cross the bridge....

    As far as flea meds.... if they don't have fleas... I would not worry about it.... of couse different then meds for heartworm... since that is a mosquitos born problem...

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0

Suggested Topics

  • tanzaT

    Serento Flea and Tick collars

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    6
    1 Votes
    6 Posts
    825 Views
    elbrantE
    @italeigha I had such high hopes!
  • A

    Flea,Tic, and Heartworm Preventatives

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    1k Views
    tanzaT
    I would never take a chance with heart worm... I use NuHeart that is just for heart worm... small pill once a month... we do not have issues with heart worm in NoCal but I do not take a chance. I use it year round. In the area that there is frost/frozen for the winter you can use it just in the spring/summer/fall months. For fleas/ticks I use frontline but only when I see fleas... again in NoCal not too much of an issue.. I need to use it maybe about twice a year and only when need or if I am traveling with the pups.
  • wizardW

    natural flea/tick spray

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    3k Views
    wizardW
    Can't use frontline drops - it burned the fur off
  • nobarkusN

    Flea control

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    3k Views
    nobarkusN
    @MacPack: We are in Florida and some years fleas are terrible in the summer. We use either Advantage or Frontline when we start to see a few fleas, and re-apply when we start to see fleas again, usually about every 6 weeks through the summer and fall. I have used it on an 18 year old with no problems. I feel that the problems fleas can cause outweigh the occasional use of a fairly benign chemical, and certainly keep the dogs more comfortable! If we lived where fleas were not a big problem, I would try some of the more natural remedies. Anne in Tampa You have an 18 year old? Wow how is he or she doing? I had a Tri color many years ago live to be 17-1/2.
  • K

    Flea treatment??

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    25
    0 Votes
    25 Posts
    14k Views
    LindaHL
    In the 15 years that we had Maxx, we never used any kind of flea product…and he never had fleas. We haven't used anything on Gracie or Blaze, either, and neither of them have fleas. If we ever do see fleas, our first line of defense would be a natural product of some kind. Only if the natural products didn't work would I resort to chemicals. Of course, YMMV. Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats has information on natural flea products. I'm sure there are other books and/or websites that do, too…just do a Google search.
  • M

    Heartworm and flea prevention

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    4k Views
    DeeD
    I have used it for about 3 months now. Seems to be doing good so far. I was Leary at first, I'm so used to the oral heart worm preventive !! Doesn't seem like something that goes on the skin could work as well. My Vet says it's great and she has been using it and advantage on her dogs since it came out.