Poor Bubble is a fly magnet!

Lotti · 31-07-2011, 12:59

Bubble is constantly getting bothered by flies on walks... they were swarming around her head the other day and no matter how she ran, they just stayed in this swarm around her head... today they've been at her back end, landing on her rump and her back legs and she ends up spinning around trying to get them off.

I think it probably bothers her a little more because she's deaf and doesn't know if it's someone behind her touching her or what...

Question is... why and what can I do about it? They don't bother Takara - they're both fed on the same diet, although Bubble has tripe and chicken mince whilst T has rabbit. She isn't dirty, she doesn't smell... so I don't really know what they find so wonderful about her!

I'm quite happy to spray her in insect repellent before we go out if I have to but wondered if it was a sign of something wrong or if there's anything I can add to her food etc?

I've heard about putting vaseline on their ears to stop the flies bothering their ears (which I'm going to start doing again anyway as her ears have got crispy again bless her!) but wondered if anyone had any other tips?

jimmy62alan · 03-08-2011, 15:13

Hi Lotti,
can I ask if your dog has been bathed recently, if you have a dog shampoo that is scented that may attract the flies. Its a bit like going camping and you see all the none campers being chased all around the field by flies when they are cover in perfume, could you try a none scented shampoo and see if that works.
I lived in Cumbria and that is real fly country and my dogs would go in the rivers and lakes for their baths so they never realy got a real bath, but their coats were great thou.
ALAN

shazatko · 05-08-2011, 19:15

hi Lotti,
i also have a deaf dalmation we give her garlic tabs 1 aday they keep the fleas away maybe they work the same on flies altho she does fart well so that probably keeps other things at bay lol :-)

whitebull · 08-08-2011, 11:34

I'm having this problem with Danny too! He hates it and its making him really jumpy because he's been stung twice, poor thing.

Funnily enough he has tripe aswell. I've never noticed it with any of my other dogs but the bugs just won't leave him alone. Especially when he's wet.

Think I'll give the garlic tabs a go, thanks for that tip shazatko!

Moonbird · 08-08-2011, 11:41

I get this with Durham as well when its warm he is just covered by swarms of flies I always thought it was because he is almost all white and they are attracted to it? I'm sure that they think he is a cow

I might try the garlic too, I wonder if there is anything (non toxic and natural) that can be wiped over the coat to repel them a bit.

Lotti · 08-08-2011, 17:57

I did wonder if garlic would help as I know it repels fleas...

Alan, she hasn't been bathed, no. I have to say, I don't tend to bath them

, dals are generally self cleaning and the only time they're really bathed is for a special occasion but it's very rare! I'm of the opinion that if they don't really, really need it then don't do it!