Sentry Natural Defense - Flea & Tick Spray

[Catiana]

I saw this at PetsMart yesterday. Has anyone tried it or heard anything about it. Its an all natural flea and tick spray. I was wondering if it really works.

[Shanti]

Here is the ingredients for the cat and kitten spray:
Ingredients:
peppermint oil 3%, cinnamon oil 4.5%, lemon grass oil 4.5%, clove oil 5%, thyme oil 5%, 2-phenethyl propionate 5%.
Other ingredients :
vanillin, isopropyl myristate 73%
Notice the percent signs?
Notice that isopropyl myristate is 73% ?

This is what isopropyl myristate is:
Isopropyl myristate is the ester of isopropyl alcohol and myristic acid.
Isopropyl Myristate is used in cosmetic and topical medicinal preparations where good absorption through the skin is desired.
Moreover, it occurs in technical fats.

Isopropyl is derived from propane, a gaseous and flammable component of petroleum. Myristic acid, a fatty acid, can be derived from most vegetable and animal fatty acids, but most especially from nutmeg (Myristica fragrans), palm seed fats, milk fat and sperm whale (Physeter catodon) fat.
In its pure form, isopropyl myristate is flammable; it re-acts with strong oxidizing agents; it is not a known carcinogen or teratogen.

It is not known to be poisonous to swallow.

Isopropyl myristate is a known irritant of eyes, skin and 'respiratory' systems.


I havent tried it and I dont plan too.

[Catiana]

Yeah, that doesn't sound too encouraging, but I have to wonder if its any worse then the pesticides in other flea treatments, It seems like a lose-lose situation.

[Shanti]

I worry about my kids touching animals with stuff on them.
I flea treat through my worming which is ivermectin. Thats what we use on our livestock. It also prevents heart worms.
We use it off label.

I just don't like treating from the outside, except with 'food' grade diatomaceous earth which we dust the critters lightly in spring, summer, fall and winter. That stuff is safe for my kids.

[Catiana]

an oral flea treatement? That would be awesome. Is it OTC or do I need to bring them to the vet? I don't like the topical treatments either.

[Shanti]

Ivermectin and fenbendazole are off label for pets..meaning we and other livestock owners use livestock meds on our dogs and cats that are not approved for use in dogs and cats by the FDA. We buy our stuff from the farm supply store. Vets cant give meds for off label use.
And we often use the injectable drugs because we rotate drugs and administered methods, it make a big difference in effectiveness. When using livestock meds on pets, its at your own risk.

I know vets have a flea pill made for dogs, if you ask, but I don't know if they have one for cats. You could try calling your vet and ask if they have a flea pill for cats.

Food grade DE works great. Safe and easy to get at a feed store. You may just have to ask for them to order it. I buy it in 25 pound bags. Its cheap too. Here I pay 1.75 per pound. Or less then 1.00 per pound in bulk. I buy bulk. :)

[Catiana]

I know so little about livestock I don't think I want to risk trying to use a livestock med on the kitties. But I am going to try the DE, that is if I can find a feed store here. I'm not sure if we have any, although there are a lot of horse properties here so there must some.

[person of shadow]

TSC(Tractor Supply Company) is a big feed store. Maybe theres one around you.

[Shanti]

I know so little about livestock I don't think I want to risk trying to use a livestock med on the kitties. But I am going to try the DE, that is if I can find a feed store here. I'm not sure if we have any, although there are a lot of horse properties here so there must some. Make sure its 'food' grade DE. That stuff is for human consumption and safe. Anything else can and probably will contain impurities that can be harmful if indigested.

[LavenderWolf]

Here is the ingredients for the cat and kitten spray:
Ingredients:
peppermint oil 3%, cinnamon oil 4.5%, lemon grass oil 4.5%, clove oil 5%, thyme oil 5%, 2-phenethyl propionate 5%.
Other ingredients :
vanillin, isopropyl myristate 73%
Notice the percent signs?
Notice that isopropyl myristate is 73% ?

This is what isopropyl myristate is:
Isopropyl myristate is the ester of isopropyl alcohol and myristic acid.
Isopropyl Myristate is used in cosmetic and topical medicinal preparations where good absorption through the skin is desired.
Moreover, it occurs in technical fats.

Isopropyl is derived from propane, a gaseous and flammable component of petroleum. Myristic acid, a fatty acid, can be derived from most vegetable and animal fatty acids, but most especially from nutmeg (Myristica fragrans), palm seed fats, milk fat and sperm whale (Physeter catodon) fat.
In its pure form, isopropyl myristate is flammable; it re-acts with strong oxidizing agents; it is not a known carcinogen or teratogen.

It is not known to be poisonous to swallow.

Isopropyl myristate is a known irritant of eyes, skin and 'respiratory' systems.


I havent tried it and I dont plan too.
Ick! Reading all that I can certainly understand why you want to avoid it.

[Catiana]

Make sure its 'food' grade DE. That stuff is for human consumption and safe. Anything else can and probably will contain impurities that can be harmful if indigested.


Thanks, I will make sure I get food grade. Hopefully I'll be able to find a feed store this weekend and get it.