Clinical studies have found no efficacy in vinegar to repel fleas.

You may get many anectodal responses that vinegar, especially apple cider vinegar, is a wonderful flea repellant. I rather trust the studies and the statistics.

DE is of no use to repel fleas. It kills them in some situations. It is inert, and functions by abrading their exoskeleton.

Most products effective on fleas are insecticides rather than repellents.

I would think that DE could be dangerous for the pet if its in their food. Its abrasive and can be harmful if inhaled.

Of what clinical studies do you speak? This is akin to "they say". Food grade DE is used among other things to filter beer. Do a Google. Now, I don't use either on my two Welsh Corgis, but rather Frontline. The purpose of my post is to find out if any one is using either alternative method.

Experience with either: tried both. they were useless. Then searched for clinical studies and found a few. Do your own research.

If you only want stories about various treatments, I guess you will get them.

joepye, there are two types of DE, one of which is generally safe.

The DE for pool filters is not safe. It is mined from the same sources as "food grade" DE, but then it is heat-treated to make it more effective as a filter material. The grains are thereby made sharper, hang in the air longer, and are not safe to breath.

The "food grade" DE is not heat-treated. It can irritate your lungs like regular fine dust, not like the sharper heat-treated stuff. Food grade DE is safe for animals and humans to ingest. It abrades the internal parasites. It is also used safely as a garden dust for edible plants where it has a similar abrasive action on the exoskeletons of insects. It must be reapplied after each rain to remain effective.

My MIL breed Shish Tzus (thanks for the spelling I wasnt making it work ) LOL She swears by the vinigar!

I wasn't aware that there were different types of DE. Learn something new everyday!

Yup, DE is used in livestock feed.

On the subject of fleas,

A few years ago my vet told me to use the collars to prevent them. Had two large dogs that played, which meant that they both mouthed the collars. They got the most horrible diarrhea I have ever experienced. And yes, they had numerous accidents in the house.

I took the collars off, and the problem went away (thank you dog god). My vet swears that the collar couldn't cause the diarrhea, but it is poison, so I guess we disagree.

Since then, I have acquired another large dog, now have three. I never have a flea problem, because I keep them and their surroundings clean.

SG

Heartguard for tape worm, and advantage or frontline for fleas - if vinegar worked all those people in the middle ages probably would not have died from the black plague.

DE is very bad for people with lupus. It is very bad for dogs with lupus too.

All mineral grit should be avoided, with lupus. This includes silica, and s.gel, stone dusts, granite and quartz, kaolin and betonite clays, and talc, lime, wallboard dust, cement powder, etc..
I've been combing the web for lupus dos and don'ts for a few years [dear friend] and only just found this out.

DE would be hard on any creature's fuzzy digestive linings, please don't put it in the food, just because you can. If he comes down with it later, it may be related.

White vinegar is a great household product, but never use directly on a pet. Use diluted, 50-50 or 40- 60. in an old spray bottle. Use on bedding, [it would have to be repeatedly], and let dry, not the dog or cat.
You're right mazer, it is only somewhat helpful, for germs and bugs. Sometimes mild, can be better than nothing. This is strongish. I use it on the wall, for plant bugs. On the rose forum, people use it on black spot, a fungal problem.

It's mostly used and excellent for, smelly places after they've been cleaned, for spit up, or other bodily products. The smell is gone in 20 minutes, and it can be used on wool carpet or sweaters. This was a common freshener, in the 19th century.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lupus and D.E. auto immune disease risk

Add to the list that fleas and mosquitos are not supposed to like mint either. I do notice there are not many skeeters around my mint bed nor is there much bug activity going on as far as eating the plants. So I put some dried mint in the dog run to see if it repelled any pests. Anyone else have information on the mint?

Marigolds are suposed to good for repeling fleas from where they are planted. Skin so Soft diluted with water is suposed to be a flea reppellent, also good for mosquitos. Don't know how effective it is for sure but it makes to dogs smell great

Lisa