Is there a remedy that will help repel fleas??

Poor Ben seems to be inundated with them in the hot climate that we live in.

Also, he licks allllllllllll the time and drives us nuts with it.....but he is terribly loveable....just sometimes want him to stop!!

Otherwise - he's been fairly healthy

save one incident when he was under a year old: he ate a rat (not the entrails!! smart cookie!) that he caught in the garden....a couple of days later he got very sick - and started shaking violently....wonder if this would have any long term effects....and wonder if eating the rat had anything to do with the terrible shakes that he had...

the shakes lasted two days.....and he would not eat or drink........

fine at the moment - except for fleas and the constant (I mean constant!) licking!!

any thoughts anyone? Thanks, Lisa

I read some of the other posts and realised that i must give more on Ben.

He is very eager to please...and is incredibly clever. He knows when we are going out.....and broods about it. If we are on leave (month long) and the person taking care - doesn't walk him every day AND play with him during the day.......he digs holes to get out of the garden - to the point that he has cut his face BADLY a few times. He doesn't do this when we are home.

He lost his virginity two years ago (he is 3 now! June6 1996 is his bday)....and when the bitches are in heat - he barks his head off now that he's sampled what's out there!!

He is protective and will chase someone if he preceives they are a threat....but he has never bitten them. He has nipped all of us on occasion...he bullies me especially!!

When I had our son, HE knew my waters broke - BEFORE I did....and his head was stuck in the shower with me as I was preparing to go to hospital to deliver...and he cried and would not eat ANYTHING for three days - until I came home with baby, who he licked like mad....from head to toe!! (Nice greeting for the baby!)

He is brilliant - absolutely brilliant with the children...has chased snakes in the garden - away from them - very protective. Has even nipped other children (never BITES) if they have been nasty to my children.

He is a big baby and sleeps next to us (on the floor!).....and when husband is away - he switches sides of bed to be near me!

He LOVES children...

He eats fairly well now....but up to age two he did not eat all his food every day. If he doesn't get his walk - he sulks and won't eat!

He barks at the sails on out sailing yacht (yes - he goes sailing with us!!) - and won't urinate on the mat that is on deck....rather will hold his urine until we take him ashore.....(husband even wee'd on the mat to show him - go ahead laugh - I still do!! ).

He doesn't listen very well - and has been trained (by us - my husband is very good with him!!) when I try to call him - unless I use an angry tone of voice...he's STUBBORN!! And I hate using that tone of voice to make him mind. Also, he nips me sometimes just to bully me - but IMMEDIATELY lays on his back to say sorry mum!! I can't help but laugh at him - but sometimes I feel intimidated and hate when he nips me.

He's had all the normal (conventional) vaccines for dogs in UK.....and has a yearly rabies vaccine - which is required here! We also worm him every six weeks....and from reading some of the threads, I take it that this is not good?? Please explain - and give alternative - please...

Any thoughts now? Thanks..Lisa

[This message has been edited by Lisa007 (edited 08 March 2000).]

[This message has been edited by Lisa007 (edited 08 March 2000).]

Dear Lisa

In GM's hopefully very temporary absence (doesn't the BB seem empty without him!) I would direct you to GM's reply to my posting about cat fleas. It sounds as though Ben probably needs Nat Mur. , say a 200c. When you say he licks all the time do you mean that he licks you and your family's skin? If yes then he needs the salt and Nat Mur is likely.

If a cat lick as this, its usually vit b, and not salt it need, im not certain if the same goes for dogs, but its worth a try.

Dear Lisa, At the moment we are feeding the two rats, one trantula spider, one rabbit and trying to catch two crickets, all which my daughter dropped off on her way to Virginia to visit her boyfriend. She's in such a great mood that we really don't mind the zoo, as long as our chickens stay outback and our pooch downstairs. By the way, our dog is part border collie. When I go out to feed the chickens, she nips at my heels. Ouch! I found out that it's a herding instinct. If I yell at her she nips harder and more, (never biting), If I remember to softly say with a sad whine in my voice, "that hurts mommy" she backs off! She's soooo cute. Got her from the shelter last August. Too bad she's spayed otherwise we could try long distance insemination! Toodles, and hi to the kids! Best Wishes, Mselle.

Thanks everyone - Anna - he licks anything - your clothes and your skin....perhaps he does need extra salt as well...

Gm - How do I get vit b for a dog - just a regular old vit b pill - like I might take??

Mselle - yes, he does the nipping thing as complete instinct....he herds ANY goats that he see while out walking in the Jebel (local mountains).

Oh - and he tends to be a bit nervous when on the boat....but SOOOOO loves to be with us - he wouldn't want to be left behind!! So, we take him everytime!!
Any other thoughts?

OH - and WHAT ABOUT THE WORMING THING?? ANd the rabies vaccine - will it do him harm in the long run??

[This message has been edited by Lisa007 (edited 09 March 2000).]

I read a report by one of the original developers of the rabies vaccine that stated the 1 year, 2 year and 3 year vaccines were all the same vaccine. What they did in the lab was inoculate a group of dogs. At the end of year 1, one-third of the dogs were tested and were rabies free. That was the 1 year vaccine. Same batch of dogs......year two.....one third tested, rabies free. That was then the 2 year vaccine. On to the last one third of the dogs...that was the 3 year vaccine. He stated that rabies vaccine is the same if called 1 yr, 2 yr or 3 yr. He also stated the vaccination was good for life and no boosters were ever necessary! He was, needless to say, fired from his position immediately. Personally, I think rabbies vaccine is one of the most dangerous. I truely believe that many agressive problems we see in dogs (and cats as they become more "cared" for and consequently more vaccinated) is because of the rabies vaccine. Sometimes I think the aggression in our youth could stem from having close contact as children with rabies innoculated pets. These pets and children "flip out" and attack with no provocation, much the way a rabid animal does.

I have no intention of ever allowing any in my care to be innoculated with the rabies vaccine. I know the package insert states only to be used on healthy animals. That is the out because today, hardly any animals are truely healthy. Caregivers must be clever to get around the laws but it can be done.

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HOW? AND - what is the alternative to the giving the Rabies Vaccine??? To protect him from rabies?? In UK - no problem - it's been eradicated...or so we are told....but what about here? I would not want him to catch it...and there must be documentation stating that he has been vaccinated in order for us to take him back to UK>>>>>Any help would be GREATLY appreciated on this! Lisa

GM and others can better advise you about this but I suppose you could use nosodes of hydrophobium as a prophylactic but don't know if UK would accept that in place of vaccination. Years ago the UK had quarantine regulations that could actually be met by pet caregivers in their home. I don't know if that is still accepted. Perhaps if your pet is under the care of a vet (who practices homeopathy) who states the pet is in treatment and therefore not well enough for a rabies vaccination, it would excuse him as long as your facility for isolation was inspected and approved by the government?

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Sulph x30 is the best prophylactic, given a day before the vax, general for all types of vax, sulph throws the shit out.

Dear Geir
I have read that you use sulphur in humans,too. Is it in the same potency?
Wouldn't you use thuya in any kind of vaccination?