Where do you buy green tripe & question about raw garlic

[mistymama]

Thanks in advance for helping with a few questions I have -

Do I have to buy green tripe online? I can't seem to find it anywhere around, here - the stuff they have is white and I've read it does not carry the same nutrition.

If I do have to buy online, does anyone have a place they recommend?

Also, I have tried to feed raw garlic (just a little to help with flea prevention) but our dog will not touch it. How necessary is garlic? Can I try another form, like garlic powder? He's been flea free all summer, which is amazing to me. He's been with other dogs at the lake, etc, most certainly around fleas and has not had the first one. So are we good to go without garlic in his diet at all? Any opinions would be great.

Thanks!!

[Ola_]

I get beef tripe from a local raw feeder who knows a butcher. You won't find it in grocery stores because by definition uncleaned tripe is not human grade. Try looking for raw feeding groups or co-ops - do a Google search or look on Yahoo groups.

We don't feed garlic and have no flea problems, but I understand that can depend somewhat on the climate you live in. Sorry can't help you there.

[Sailor]

I also do raw garlic with my dog. But, he'll eat anything. I just give him one whole clove, and he thinks it's a treat. Can you wrap the garlic in something? Like a piece of sausage? If you can disguise it in something, that's always a good way to get an animal to eat it.

I always thought it had to be raw garlic, but don't take my word for that as I'm not 100% certain.

I also get green tripe locally. You could probably ask around in your area - I asked around on Craig's List, freecycle, as well as my local food coops. It took a few weeks before I found someone. I recommend trying that before trying online.

[Nicole915]

Not sure about the tripe, but the garlic is an issue I've had clients struggle with. What has worked for some is giving just a clove at a time, and giving it just like a pill. If you need a demo, I'm sure you can just stop by your vet and a tech can show you how to pill your dog, its super easy to do, but challenging to describe in text. Good luck!!

[mistymama]

Thanks everyone - Nicole that is a good idea about giving like a pill, never thought about that.

I guess I'm also wondering how necessary it really is. I mean we live in the deep south which = flea and tick heaven and he has not picked up the first thing this year. And he's had no chemicals, frontline, etc applied - he seems to be repelling them naturally because he's raw fed.

Anyone else NOT feed garlic and continue to have their dog not pick up fleas? I will keep trying for sure, but just curious if it's even necessary, kwim?

[Sailor]

My mom lives in the deep south, and I'm visiting her now. I haven't had issues with fleas, but I've never not fed garlic. I feed my dog raw too, btw.

I do remember from growing up there, we had an inside cat to whom we gave no medication. She was fine for years, and then out of the blue she had a MAJOR flea infestation. Like to the point of becoming anemic. I remember petting her, and the fleas would visibly move out of the way of my hand. It was scary!

I'm all about precautions. In my mind, it's just easier to give garlic as a precautionary measure than to deal with a possible flea infestation later.