Can garlic prevent, repel or kill fleas that infest dogs?

  • Louise Anne Buckley Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol

Published:

2020-08-28

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DOI

https://doi.org/10.18849/ve.v5i3.311

Abstract

PICO question

In dogs, is oral or topical administration of garlic, compared to no treatment, efficacious at preventing or reducing parasitism by fleas?

 

Clinical bottom line

Category of research question

Treatment

The number and type of study designs reviewed

Zero

Strength of evidence

Critical appraisal of the selected papers meeting the inclusion criteria collectively provide zero evidence in terms of their experimental design and implementation

Outcomes reported

The outcomes reported were none

Conclusion

It is concluded that there is a lack of peer-reviewed scientific in vivo evidence to address the PICO

 

How to apply this evidence in practice

The application of evidence into practice should take into account multiple factors, not limited to: individual clinical expertise, patient’s circumstances and owners’ values, country, location or clinic where you work, the individual case in front of you, the availability of therapies and resources.

Knowledge Summaries are a resource to help reinforce or inform decision-making. They do not override the responsibility or judgement of the practitioner to do what is best for the animal in their care.

 

Open Access Peer Reviewed

Author Biography

Louise Anne Buckley, Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol

Registered Veterinary Nurse. Programme Director and Senior Lecturer - Veterinary Nursing

References

Birrenkott, G. P., Brockenfelt, G. E., Greer, J. A. & Owens, M. D. (2000). Topical application of garlic reduces northern fowl mite infestation in laying hens. Poultry Science 79(11): 1575–1577. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ps/79.11.1575

De Castra Alvarenga, L., de Aguiar Paiva, P. C., Banys, V. L., Collao-Saenz, E. A., Rabelo, A. M. G. & de Rezende, A. P. (2004). Alternation of the thicks load of bovines under intake of different levels of residuals of the improvement of garlic. Ciencia E Agrotecnologia 28(4): 906–912. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1413-70542004000400025

Gholipour-Kanani, H., Sahandi, J. & Taheri, A. (2012). Influence of garlic (Allium sativum) and Mother worth (Matricaria chamomilla) extract on Ichthyophtirius multifilus parasite treatment in Sail Fin Molly (Poecilia latipinna) ornamental fish. Procedia APCBEE 4: 6–11. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apcbee.2012.11.002

Gorji, S. F., Gorji, S. F. & Rajablon, M. (2014). The field efficacy of garlic extract against Dermanyssus gallinae in layer farms of Babol, Iran. Parasitology Research 113: 1209–1213. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00436-014-3759-2

Fridman, S., Sinai, T. & Zilberg, D. (2014). Efficacy of garlic based treatments against monogean parasites infecting the guppy (Poecilia reticulata (Peters)). Veterinary Parasitology 203: 51–58. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.02.002

Massariol, P. B., Olivio, C. J., Richards, N., Agnolin, C. A., Meinerz, G. R., Both, J. F., Faccio, L., Hohenreuther, F. & Martinelli, S. (2009). Ectoparasite load alteration in Holstein cows fed with different garlic (Allium sativum L.) levels. Revista Brasileira de Plantas Medicinais 11(1): 37–42. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1516-05722009000100007

Renapurkar, D. M. & Deshmukh, P. B. (1984). Pulicidal activity of some indigenous plants. Insect Science and its Application 5(2): 101–102. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400001740

Vol. 5 No. 3 (2020): The third issue of 2020

Section: Knowledge Summaries

Categories :  Small Animal  /  Dogs  /  Cats  /  Rabbits  /  Production Animal  /  Cattle  /  Sheep  /  Pig  /  Equine  /  Exotics  /