Perfect! Thank you Amy. I was looking at a salt shaker and thinking I wish I had like a king size version of one for this, haha.

Just from people in my own neighborhood, the drops aren't working for anyone anymore. Most are using Comfortis or Trifexis, with Trifexis being preferred (not a totally accurate study or anything, just people here in my general area), both working equally well, but the Trifexis it seems, has little to no side effects in their experience. But as I said, those using those two products, don't notice fleas anymore. Nexguard has also been brought up to me. With these products though, when I read more info about them on their websites and stuff, I do see the words "possible seizures"...my two now have passed that two year mark that, in my experience, was key for the genetic seizures, I just KNOW I can't go through another seizuring dog, so that is my main hang up in not using these oral products as of yet. I remember my Malamute was on an oral flea med (he was allergic to fleas to the point of chewing himself raw) and a product called Program not only rid the flea problem, but in turn cleared up his allergic skin. He lived a long life (16 years) so I don't think there were any adverse affects from the pill, and his quality of life increased as well from not getting the skin issues anymore. All the pill did was keep fleas from being able to reproduce, but in doing so, rid him of fleas. I'm thinking about finding Program for these two.

In thinking more about Val's "healthy dog" theory, I wonder if that's not what happened with my last huskies. In their last 3 years of life, in an attempt to figure out if something around here was triggering their seizures, I did my best to have them in a chemical free environment, no more drops, no pesticides in or out of the house, no fertilizers outside, etc. and they were flea free.

We use a powder duster for applying DE outside (wear a mask!). Works wonderfully!

This is what we have: http://www.amazon.com/Gilmour-D1-1-Pound-Capacity-Application-Garden/dp/B000BX4R8W?ie=UTF8&keywords=powder%20duster&qid=1465488064&ref_=sr_1_10&sr=8-10

You're welcome, Jimmy - glad to be of service That was a trick I picked up from beekeeping - use it for a "sugar shake" to check bees for varroa mite.

Keep in mind with your search for external parasite control that fleas as well as ticks, carry disease - both human and canine. Plague being one of them. Really need to weigh risk benefit ratio.

Jimmy and to anyone else....I must have read flea stuff for hours yesterday...I find it odd how the neighbors around you suggest a difference between comfortis and trifexis, since they are the same except for one thing, the comfortis is only for fleas where as the trifexis is for fleas and heartworm and basic dewormer. So in theory the trifexis has more chemicals in it than comfortis does. Now my common belief is one of two things going on with all of that....1) vets make more money off of the trifexis then they do comfortis so they push the trifexis...2)It is a clever way for vets in your area to get dogs on a heartworm preventive, even tho it is not a common issue.

I did look up the program pill, and there is not a lot of complaint as far as side effects. However, again two things stand out...1)it only stops the larvae process, so it does not kill adults, read people call it birth control for fleas, eventually as long as inside and outside is treated and the adult fleas just die off, flea problem would be fixed, and a side note capstar was safe to use in conjunction, would have to reread how often to use the capstar....2)you may have a hard time finding program, did see a few websites that offer it. It may have been replaced by sentinel, since they both contain lufenuron which is for fleas, sentinel also contains a heartworm and dewormer.

@Val, thank you for that link! I never knew such a device existed, lol, that's pretty cool. Looks similar to a hand pump I have that sucks up water.

@Amy, I actually thought of you this weekend! I was at Costco and they sell a bee keeping starter kit now, haha. It's ugly though, picture like...a Rubbermaid storage crate. And yes, the article Renee posted a link to talked of diseases and the plague...I don't think where I live, plague would be very possible, according to the article atleast. In any event, I just want my dogs not having to itch so I will do whatever it takes when first giving the malamute I had the Program pill, I hated the idea of a chemical in his body...however quality of life was suffering cuz of his reactions to fleas so I came to the realization that his quality of life came first.

@Renee, I have no clue to be honest. One girl is a good friend of mine, she has a Great Dane, and her Dane often threw up when given Comfortis, among other things...on Trifexis, there has been zero vomiting. So your guess is as good as mine.

With Capstar, there is a lengthy insert in the box talking about using Program in conjunction with Capstar, complete with life cycle information and things of that nature. With my malamute, we did not use Capstar, not even sure it was available, however, he never had flea issues again so I think it's an effective product. I'd probly choose it over these newer chemicsls like comfortis.