Hi everyone. Had read on here where some of you all sprinkle garlic powder on your dogs food to get rid of fleas. How much garlic do you sprinkle on their food? How often? Thanks for any replies!

-- Annie (mistletoe@earthlink.net), October 24, 2000

Answers

Hi Annie. Each morning I add a tablespoon of chopped garlic to my dog's food, maybe half that to the cats'. It will not prevent fleas completely, but it discourages quite a few. My animals have only had one or two fleas at a time on them and knowing how fast animals can become infested, I think we're doing well. When I used powder, it wasn't as strong. I just sprinkled it on, never measured, sorry. I hope that helps.

-- Epona (staceyb@myway.com), October 24, 2000.

Annie, we have a little sheltie (Angel) & we every morning since she was a baby/ when we take our vitamins & nutrition she gets hers, also. We give her pure garlic capsules/ it is 300mg per capsule. She hasn't had fleas,/ once in a great while we will find one on her--but the garlic also helps her heart. When she was little we use to wrap it in a treat to get her to take it--now when we get out ours to take she beggs for hers. Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), October 24, 2000.

Hi Other Annie, I have used an equal amount mixture of garlic powder, granulated kelp, and nutritional yeast at a rough rate of a tablespoon per 4 cups of dry dog food, also add 1 ounce of corn oil to dry food mixture to help the powders stick and to add essential fatty acids necessary for healthy coat and skin. I have cured all kinds of skin and allergy problems in dogs, as well as eliminating ALL fleas and greatly reducing ticks as well. I have used this mixture for over 6 years, and everyone who tries it and sticks to it, gets the same results, as well as increased mobility and energy in older dogs. You should start seeing results in about a month, these ingrediants are available in bulk from Frontier Natural Products Co- op, 1-800-669-3275, www.frontiercoop.com ; the garlic is about 3.75 a pound, the kelp is 5.25 a pound, and the nutritional yeast is 6.75 a pound. This lasts quite a while, the combination works much better than just the individual ingrediants alone, also seems to reduce nervous type behavior. I use Wally World high protein dry dog food and "doctor" it up with this stuff, really saves me money in the long run, we have 5 big, long haired dogs, their coats are beautiful, and the Akita is over 15 years old now. Have not had to buy any flea and tick powders, collars, sprays, and no medicated skin treatments in over 6 years. This also works great for horses, really helps their hooves and helps problem eaters, and general nervous behaviors improve. Annie in SE OH.

-- Annie Miller (annie@1st.net), October 24, 2000.

Thanks everyone for the quick responses. Just the info I was looking for. You all are great!

-- Annie (mistletoe@earthlink.net), October 24, 2000.

Annie, Its best to use minced garlic, either fresh or the jarred variety from the store as it is more effective. If your dog doesn't take to the garlic, try mixing a little minced onion and simmer it into a slurry to pour over dry food. I have yet to see a dog not take to the garlic and onion. If you worry about their breath, do what my wife started doing, give em a tic tac as a after dinner treat (our vet says it is o.k. as they are not real candy).

-- Jay Blair (jayblair678@yahoo.com), October 27, 2000.

Also works well to keep my husband away.

-- Annie Miller (annie@1st.net), October 29, 2000.