Question for dog owners

chipmk228 · March 2015

So I recently put Advantix on my dog and when my husband found out, he freaked out and spent hours doing online research that convinced him that it was harmful to the baby as the chemicals used in the majority of the flea and tick products are neurotoxic. I assured him that I used gloves and that it gets absorbed in my dog's skin but he told me that a small amount would eventually get on our skin especially since I let her run around the home after application. I honestly am not too concerned but I know he will freak out if he sees anything like Advantix, Frontline, etc around the home. At the same time, I don't want fleas and ticks and the risk of Lyme Disease! My husband is a physician so he does have a reasonable point....but he also used this as a argument to why we shouldn't keep our dog (the thought of which brings me to tears and I regress to a 5 year old).

Does anyone have any good "natural" anti flea and tick solutions? I looked online but I'm a little skeptical of the effectiveness of some of the proposed home recipes. I also plan on asking my OB next week as well.

stark01938209 · March 2015

Here's my totally non-expert opinion: I'm sure all will be fine. Just wash your hands after petting her- like you probably do anyway. On another topic- my dog needs a bath and I really don't want to do it. I need to sway the hubby to do it thins time. She stanks

bean8213 · March 2015

Ask your pedi. Your H may be a doctor, but unless he is a pedi, it's not his area. My husband is also a doctor - and we use advantix on our dog every month. I don't apply it and we always do it at night so that it won't be wet by the time our daughter touches the dog. Our pedi told us that unless your kid is drinking the little bottles, you are fine.

cassietegtmeier · March 2015

I'm sure plenty of parents use flea and tick meds on their dogs & their kids are just fine.

PutMeintheZoo · March 2015

I wouldn't stress out too much. I'm sure you'll be fine. You can also use a pill medication that includes the heart worm prevention meds + flea and tick prevention. We use TRIFEXIS for our dog and your vet will know about it.

Tammyb0828 · March 2015

Ask ur vet!... Getting rid of your dog bc of a child isn't the right answer! Thousand of homes have pets and children! Flea and tic meds aren't meant to be consumed or used by humans!, but come on they are safe enough for mild exposure when applied or they wouldn't be available at just any old pet store! .......That's why we Dnt have access to high end pesticides! Your husband sounds like a lovely FTB but daddy might be over reacting just a little on this one! Best of luck!

DMEL · March 2015

You can spray non toxic bug spear on your dog before he goes outside (honest and badger both make good ones)

kmb0324 · March 2015

I'm sure all will be fine as you assumed! However I LOVE using the pill for my dog to fight fleas, ticks and heart worm. It kills them within 4-6 hours and you don't have the oily spot on their back to watch out not to touch. Also my dog is a swimmer so that way I don't have to limit him after giving him meds

! Call your vet it's so worth it and seems to last much longer for us!

animaldoctor12 · March 2015

I am a vet and I don't know of any concerns past reasonable precaution. But, there are excellent oral flea and tick meds now that allow you to bypass using a greasy topical. Call your vet and see if you can get Nexgard or Bravecto.

tdart14 · March 2015

My opinion is for your husband to get over it. That is no reason to get rid of a dog.

What you are using is fine. I wouldn't change. I use it on my dog, I'm pregnant, I have a toddler who clings to the dog.

I'm seriously side eyeing your husband.

manacita · March 2015

bean8213 said:
Ask your pedi. Your H may be a doctor, but unless he is a pedi, it's not his area. My husband is also a doctor - and we use advantix on our dog every month. I don't apply it and we always do it at night so that it won't be wet by the time our daughter touches the dog. Our pedi told us that unless your kid is drinking the little bottles, you are fine.

Wss- refrain from licking your dog and you'll be fine.

sunnysidexup · March 2015

I helped wash my dogs and Frontlined them a few weeks ago and I'm not getting rid of them. You'll be fine. I'm annoyed with your husband though I know he's just looking out for the baby.

manacita · March 2015

Also, look up all the health benefits to your kids. They are innumerable and fabulous.

chipmk228 · March 2015

Thank you everyone for your help! I'll definitely ask my vet about oral meds! I did a little research on oral medications but they only killed fleas so I'm glad there are more "broad spectrum" solutions! And trust me, my pup is not leaving my side unless she actually causes physical harm to the baby (which, judging by her temperament, is highly unlikely). Husband has already been told that we come as a team/package (she had my heart before he did!). Don't get me wrong. He loves the dog but he grew up in a family where pets were considered "cute but dirty" optional accessories versus an extension of one's family. Yeah I know. My family doesn't understand his [immediate family] on soooo many levels...

kimmeenoelle · March 2015

I put new flea meds on my dog around 16wks and the vet had said to avoid touching/petting for 48hrs. It should all be dissolved into the skin by then.

anysven · March 2015

I use Biospot on my dog. It's suppose to be more safe and organic based.

ekaeb · March 2015

Sounds like my husband! We have two dogs and we live out in the country so flea tick all the above is around here I'm "not allowed" to put the meds on them or pet them for a lil wile and he dos it outside that way if they do have fleas they can jump off outside! I asked my doc she said there was no problem with me putting it on them! But I dicided I'd let my hubby win this! And no dnt get give ur dog away ur hubby's probably just worried about the baby and what the dog will do. Show him videos of dogs taking care of there new sibling! (YouTube)

sb184 · March 2015

I really wouldn't be too conserned. You wore gloves, and we're safe about it. Obviously you don't want to get it on your skin if you don't have to, but I wouldn't be so conserned as not never pet your dog again. My parents always used frontline when we were growing up and we've never had problems. Currently my dogs are on a pill and prevents heartworms, fleas, and ticks.

crsanchez87 · March 2015

My dog's heartworm prevention pill also protects against fleas and ticks. I love that I don't have to put that greasy crap on her anymore after her baths.

ArcadianDreams · March 2015

Tell your H that if it is that big a deal to him, that he should apply the medicine himself next time and have you avoid the dog for a few hours after until it is all cleared.

As a physician he knows, when thinking practically, that gloves when used and removed properly are perfectly adequate protection. Have him show you the right way to remove gloves so that you only touch the outsides, if it might make him feel better.

You made a commitment to this new baby but you also made a commitment to your dog when you took it in. He's going through a very normal new-parent mental freakout, but if you prepare yourselves for what's coming there is no reason to get rid of your pet. It's hard to have pets and new babies, and honestly for a time you may resent the dog to death, but in the long run things will adjust and there is plenty of research that owning pets is a very good thing even for children.

PS - I work in medicine too.

ArcadianDreams · March 2015

Getting fleas in your home is an incredible PITA and getting rid of them would involve far more chemicals and mental aggravation than the prevention. I've got a crunchy streak but as a lifelong pet owner I can tell you this one from personal experience. Stick with the good stuff. Let your H handle medicating the dog if needed. This is one instance where the ounce of prevention is worth far more than a pound of cure.

ldmw · March 2015

We switched our dog two years ago from Frontline to Sentinel. She was getting Frontline applied monthly and a Heartguard pill. Sentinel takes place of both of those as it protects against fleas, ticks, and Heartguard. Plus it's a pill so I don't have to worry about her Rolling around the house and transferring the greasy and chemical Frontline around the house. We get sentinel from our vet. She has not had a flea or tick since she's been on it. And she got fleas maybe 2-3 times when on frontline.

jwm29 · March 2015

PutMeintheZoo said:
I wouldn't stress out too much. I'm sure you'll be fine. You can also use a pill medication that includes the heart worm prevention meds + flea and tick prevention. We use TRIFEXIS for our dog and your vet will know about it.

We use trifexis as well...there have been concerns surrounding animal's reactions to the pill, but our guy has used it for a season and seems fine. We used to use advantix but are happier with the heart worm flee combo and like a pill better than a topical!

jessmaydvm · March 2015

I'm a vet, and as far as I know there is little to no toxicity risk to humans unless a significant amount of the topical product is actually ingested. But to be clear, neither Trifexis nor Sentinel protects against ticks, although they do protect against fleas. You need an oral heartworm and intestinal parasite preventative (definitely want your pup protected against intestinal parasites that can pass to your baby) as well as a tick preventative. The only oral pills that protect against ticks are Nexguard and Bravecto (at least that I am aware of). So Sentinel+ Nexguard or something like that would be what you would need.

FTArmyM · March 2015

I dont know if it was mentioned but they have chewables to prevent fleas and ticks now that you just give once a month like the heart guard. Ive been stop using the drops between yhe shoulder blades. I always hated how it makes my dogs coat oily and as soon as they came out with the chewables i switch. I give it juat like the heartguard and my dog thinks both are a treat.

shandanturdbutt · March 2015

We tried nexgard for our dogs last summer and loved it. It's a pill made by the same company that makes frontline. I was worried as all 3 of our dogs have sensitive stomachs and none of them had any issues with it. I've always hated the liquid. They all also still take heartgard too. I have husband give then the pills just to be on the safe side so I don't have to handle them.

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