Hi, im wondering if you guys can tell me something, im getting a golden retriver from a breeder who swears that flea medication gives dogs lymphoma and other forms of blood cancer, and that we shouldn't give our dogs any flea control or if we have to to use lavender essential oil on the legs and chest. Is this true? I know not to use flea collars, but should I avoid ingested and topical ones as well? Thank you so much for your time!!
Hi, Sueanoi here.
There is no evidence of your breeder’s claim. In contrast, flea/tick medication will help reduce the risk of many blood parasites that are tick borne. In SEA, we battle Ehrlichia canis on a daily basis. It’s a tickborne disease that makes a dog bleed from every orifice to death if not receive vet care in time. I’ve seen it happen first hand. It’s not very pretty.
As for lymphoma, Golden Retriever is already a high-risk breed on its own. Your breeder is blaming the cancer on the external product while it actually already in the breed’s genes.
As for essential oil, Dr Ferox had made an extensive post about it. TLDR? don’t use essential oils on pets. It’s very easy to poison them.
To choose the most suitable anti-flea/tick for your pet, please consult your local veterinarian. As each area of the world, different products have different levels of resistance. The active ingredient is more important than the method of application. There are many edible products, and there are many topical products. Different area of the world have different available products. Ask your vet what is the best product for your animal.