Natural Flea Control

Lexis and Heidi

I used Advantage on my Golden Retriever and Comfortis on my Shih Tzu, Heidi, because of her allergies. I am now going natural for flea control, especially after reading the following! Heidi doesn’t have any reaction to the Comfortis but one flea bite on her and she is biting her behind like crazy. She is also on a grain-free diet. I cannot stress enough how important your dog or cats’ diet is. (without preservatives or corn is best)

Chemicals act as poisons and can lead to allergies and many other chronic and potentially deadly health problems. With all the chemicals our pets have to deal with now-a-days, it’s no wonder that cancer and many other diseases are increasing at an alarming rate in the US. Unfortunately, harmful chemicals are found in most commercial flea and tick products. And this is why holistic veterinarians and other pet professionals suggest using an all natural flea prevention product.

Natural flea control, which is toxic to fleas but not your pet, is a multilevel approach. I have found natural flea control is no more time consuming than putting toxins on my pets and is definitely less expensive.

INTERNAL
Flea Free (for cats too)is added to your pet’s water or food daily for long-term flea prevention. The liquid is a garlic and vinegar based formula that develops a chemistry in your pet that is undesirable to fleas. It’s safe to use on any age of pet, and won’t interfere with other supplements you’re feeding. This our favorite supplement to deter all blood-feeding insects.

Feeding fresh foods to optimize your pet’s health is the number one thing to do all year ’round to deter fleas and reduce the effect they have on the body. Fish oil should be included because of their high levels of omega-3 fatty acids,which help fight skin inflammation.

Ensure that their liver is functioning well by doing a “Spring Tune-Up” with Animals’ Apawthecary Detox Blend and your pet’s body will be better able to keep their skin healthy and unattractive to fleas.

If your pet suffers from an allergic reaction to flea bites we’ve found that homeopathic formulas containing pulex irritans,  such as those from Homeopet or Newton Labs, help relieve the itching and redness that they experience.

EXTERNAL

A flea comb is one of the essential grooming tools for dogs and cats.  Just comb through next to the skin, trap the the fleas on the comb, and wipe them off into a small amount of any kind of soapy water (any soap kills fleas). Spending a minute a day on this easy grooming task will help keep fleas in check.

Deflea is a product that kills fleas and flea eggs on contact without harming your pet. The spray can be used directly on your cat or dog (over 12 weeks of age), their bedding, and household furniture. The formula uses dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate to soften the shell, and undecylenic acid (an extract of castor beans) to kill the fleas, larvae, and eggs.

Natural deterrent sprays made with essential oils are an important addition to your arsenal. Spray them on before heading out to the lagoon or trail to deter fleas and ticks from hitching a ride. We have cat-specific ones too, for your indoor-outdoor felines.

Insect Repellent

–Plain vinegar and herbal tinctures containing cider vinegar repel insects, including fleas and mosquitoes. Spray the neck, torso, tail, underbelly, and overall coat (avoid the eyes, nose, and mouth) and let dry.

-For a nontoxic flea dip, cover your dog or puppy with ACV (spray, sponge, or simply pour it on), working it into the skin and coat. Avoid the eyes, nose, and mouth. Let stand for several minutes before washing with gentle shampoo.

-Dab full-strength cider vinegar or a cider vinegar herbal tincture behind the ears, near the tail, and on the dog’s coat. Because herbal tinctures and cider vinegar can stain light or white coats, substitute distilled white vinegar for light-coated dogs.