Cedar oil topically to repel fleas?

[colliewog]

I've seen a few products lately in the health food stores that are cedar oil based. Anyone have any experience with this topically? I bought some and am using it on their bedding but am leary of putting it on the dogs, although how much worse could it be than Advantage?? Note - I don't have any reptiles (except a tortoise who lives outside), birds, cats, etc. - just the dogs.

The product I bought is Mere's ATLAST! Flea and Tick Spray:

Active ingredient: 3% cedar oil
Inert ingredients: water, ethyl lactate and lavender 97%.

 

[MafiaPrincess]

No experience. I just wanted to say watch their eyes, Or putting it on them in anyway they could rub it and transfer it to their eyes.

Smudge got what had to be the tiniest amount in his off a cedar hedge that I don't feel any oil on when I touch it and it turned into a nightmare e-vet fiasco. Was a horrible experience.. I just wouldn't want the same to happen to anyone else accidentally.

 

[colliewog]

Thanks. Actually, I'd only spray it on their legs and 'undercarriage' when they go outside. We've pretty much gotten them under control, but I'm still seeing one or two, so we're not out of the woods yet.

 

[Crowsfeet]

Personally, I don't think I would use cedar oil, it's an intense one.. This is possibly a biased answer though- I have a pair of small animals, and anything I've ever read regarding small animals recommends avoiding cedar/pine oil like the plague, as it can really, really aggravate the sinuses/lungs, etc. I've also read that, evidently some essential oils can be pretty detrimental to a cat's liver.. ? However, I can't seem to find any info in relation to dogs.. Any info on Neem Oil, however, seems to be positive(medicinal for all types of species, not just human)

I did recently use a topical mix of organic oils for my dog, and this is what ingredients were listed:
Infused Neem(quick wiki: Neem oil - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia), Catnip, and Lemongrass, Organic Essential Oils - Clove, Cedarwood(oh, look at that.), Lavender, Tea Tree, Juniper Berry, Lemongrass, Eucalyptus, Citronella, Calendula.

The woman at the store(who is knowledgeable, and I believe owns the store- which is holistic, carries no live animals, and at that, no bunk products, and has some nice big fridges for raw..) expressed that the Neem and Calendula would be the most active ingredients in that mix.

I also found these handy things:

* ANTI-FLEA DOG BISCUITS

Makes about 5 dozen bone biscuits.

1 C. self rising flour
1/4 C. wheat germ
1/4 C. brewer's yeast
1 t. salt
1 T. plus 1 1/2 t. canola oil
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/2 C. chicken stock, plus 3 T. for basting (you can use beef or fish broth instead of chicken)

Heat oven to 400 degrees, spray cookie sheet with cooking spray.

Mix flour, wheat germ, brewer's yeast, and salt together in bowl. In a small bowl, mix garlic and oil.

Alternately add 1/2 C. chicken stock and oil/garlic mixture to flour mixture, mix until well combined.

Knead about 2 minutes by hand on a floured surface, dough will be sticky.

On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out about 3/8 inch thick. Cut out bone shapes (or just cut into squares).

Bake 10 minutes, rotate baking sheet and baste with remaining 3 T. stock.

Bake 10 minutes longer.

And:

You can also concoct your own homemade flea spray! In a 16 oz. spray bottle, mix the following: 2 tablespoons cider vinegar; 1 cup Avon's Skin-so-Soft; 1 cup water; 1/8 teaspoon oil of citronella (optional - don't use if your pet hates the smell). Rub into your pet's coat to repel fleas and mosquitoes.

 

[colliewog]

Thanks for the recommendations. The problem is, I have allergies, not the dogs. And citronella and Skin So Soft are big problems for me. I can't even have them in my house. I'll look into the biscuits though ...

I know the cedar can be bad for other animals (small animals, reptiles, birds, etc.) but all I have are the dogs, so can afford to have a one track mind.

 

[PeggyPup]

I would personally stay away from cedar. My dogs had bad reactions to cedar. We already knew cedar was bad for small rodents, because we had rats and guinea pigs and knew to avoid it, but we thought it was different for dogs. Our old Papillon was litter box trained by their previous owner, and they had used newspaper shreds. Well it was getting stinky, so we tried cedar shavings in the little box. The pap started having sinus problems and discharge was coming out of their eyes and....well she was a mess! And yes, she was a small dog but...Then my BORDER COLLIE started having small problems, just with runny eyes, but still. As soon as we got rid of the cedar the problem dissapeared. We've never used cedar with my current pap and he's never had problems.

I would advise against it, but maybe your dogs won't react.



EDIT: I would second using the Neem Oil. It doesn't smell great, but that's what our dogs and my cat get and I've never seen so much as a single flea on them with the Neem.

 

[colliewog]

I'll use up this bottle for their bedding (no reactions to that) and look into neem for topical. I've used a Neem Oil shampoo for a Westie who had skin trouble and it worked great for him ....