Fleas are such a
pain! In some parts of the country, they are a horrible menace, and in others hardly a
flea is around. Since I would rather keep my animals' (and my own) exposure to chemicals
as small as possible, I opt to prevent fleas and ticks in a natural way. Here are some
good tips for keeping those pesky critters at bay!
1. Good nutrition.
This cannot be stressed enough. Study after study has shown that fleas and ticks are not
as attracted to healthy animals like they are to ill animals. Good nutrition means a
natural diet of meat, bones, and vegetables. Premium quality kibble (NOT Science Diet or
Purina) is better than some, but still can't compare to the quality of a homemade diet.
Sugar of any form should be avoided, because bugs like the taste of blood with lots of
sugar in it. Grains behave the same way in the body as sugar, so avoiding them too is a
good idea.
2. Garlic. Depending
on weight, your pet can ingest garlic and help repel bugs of all kinds. My 40-pound dog
gets about a clove of garlic a day and my cat about 1/4 a clove. If you don't already
know, the cloves of the garlic are the smaller "pearls" inside the whole bulb of
garlic. I wouldn't give garlic everyday - 3-5 times a week should suffice. Also, don't
give garlic to your animal if he or she is anemic or very young - it can thin the blood.
3. ACV, or Apple
Cider Vinegar. A splash of ACV in the water or in the daily ration can do many things
(like garlic), and just one of those is helping keep the bugs away. Organic unfiltered is
the best ACV.
4. Essential Oil flea
products. These include collars, sprays, shampoos, etc. Aromaleigh Co. formulates
all-natural flea and tick repellents with essential oils as well. A certified
Aromatherapist formulates their products for maximum safety and effectiveness - an
individual trained in the safe use of essential oils. Aromaleigh Co. only makes products
for dogs, as essential oil use in cats is considered to be unsafe. Their website,
http://www.aromaleigh.com
is rich in information on how to use essential oils safely in dogs as well as how these
potent substances work. Kristen Bell Aromaleigh Owner and certified Aromatherapist can be
emailed from their site for answers to specific aromatherapy-related questions. Natural
Animal's Herbal Shoo and collar are also good flea repelling products, although the
essential oil mix does contain some Rosemary EO, which can induce seizures in those prone
to having seizures. Just because something is 100% natural doesn't always mean it is 100%
safe.
5. Vitamin B Complex.
Bugs hate the taste of B1, or thiamine, in the blood. B vitamins are found in many dietary
sources, but if you are feeding a commercial diet you may want to supplement with the
entire B complex (supplementing with only one B can lead to deficiencies in other B's). B
vitamins are water-soluble, which basically means it would be almost impossible to
overdose on them. Small amounts, in the neighborhood of 5 mg are fine for pets. B vitamins
are another item that does so much more than just repel fleas - for further reading in
vitamins I suggest Earl Mindell's Vitamin Bible. If you decide to get a supplement, try to
get a source of B vitamins that is yeast and dairy free. Raw liver and many veggies
contain a lot of B vitamins.
6. A clean house!
Regular vacuuming can work wonders for picking up the eggs of fleas. Remember to vacuum
under the bed, in the couch cushions, etc. several times a week - daily if you can. Change
that bag frequently too. Fleas eat a blood meal on your pet (or you!) then drop off of
him/her and lay eggs, which can take several weeks to hatch (usually in the carpet or in
the blankets of a cat bed/dog bed). The hatchlings, until they are adults and can hop on
an animal, eat the excretia from the adults, called flea dirt. If you can start breaking
the cycle, you can be flea-free! Fleas will freeze outside, but unless you let your house
freeze, they can remain cozy inside all year long. Frequent washing of any bedding or
pillows that your pet likes to curl up on are a good idea too - the washing can remove
them (or if washing with hot water, the hot water can kill them). Try to time your flea
eradicating together - one day take the dog outside and spray him/her down with an herbal
flea repellent and let him/her stay outside for a while, so all fleas will jump off
outside, rather than inside. Then head inside to throw all the laundry in and vacuum
everything. Let the dog back in several hours later (another spray down outside couldn't
hurt, just make sure you cover their eyes/ears/nose/mouth). Spraying a dog from the head
to the tail, as opposed to spraying from the tail to the head is best, as the fleas will
start migrating when you start spraying, and it is easier to remove them from the tail
than it is from the head. A good flea comb is handy in removing fleas outside daily.
7. Since ticks can
carry diseases, there is a vaccine now out for Lyme disease. In my opinion (and in the
opinion of MANY vets, allopathic or homeopathic), this vaccine is not only useless, but
can cause major problems for your dog.
8. Herbs like fennel,
peppermint, tansy or lemon balm grown in the garden and placed in the house (like under
beds, in blankets pets like to lay on, etc.) are very helpful too in repelling fleas.
9. Diatomaceous
earth. This silicon-laden powder can safely
kill many parasites. Make sure to use
food-grade DE and to always wear a mask.
10. Beneficial
nematodes. These are small worms that you spread in your yard to eat fleas. I haven't used
the personally, but they are definitely worth looking into.
11. Ants. If you have
ants in your house, they are probably feasting on flea eggs and larva. I am not saying you
should encourage ants in your house per se, but maybe don't discourage them.
12. The salt method.
Put all animals in crates or carriers or take them to the groomers for a bath. Next, take
a container of ordinary table salt and run gleefully around sprinkling and spreading it
liberally on everything: floors, rugs, under beds and other furniture, on all upholstery,
soft chairs, under sofa pillows - everywhere a flea larvae could hide. Rub it into
everything (except maybe the black leather sofa). Let it sit on any surface you can't rub
it into, leave overnight, and vacuum up the next day. Bring the pets back into the house
(or out of their crates) after you have already vacuumed up the salt.
13. Avon Skin-So-Soft
- Mix together a cup of SSS, 1 Teaspoon of the oil of citronella or eucalyptus or
geranium, 2 cups white vinegar and 2 cups water. Apply from spray bottle, taking care not
to get in eyes or mouth. Also helps repel flies. Shake well before each use. Since our
animal friends have a much more sensitive nose than ours, go easy on the oils for animals.
If it smells strong to you, it is too strong for the animal and should be diluted with a
carrier oil or water. This goes for any recipe involving oils. And don't forget, essential
oils should never be used on cats or around birds.
14. Natural flea/tick
dip - 2 cups, packed, of fresh rosemary and/or peppermint (can use 50/50 of each); 1 quart
boiling water; 4 quarts warm water. Pour the just boiled water over the fresh herbs and
let steep, covered, for 30 minutes. Strain and add liquid to the 4 quarts of warm water,
then saturate the animal. Air dry. Note - dried herbs may be substituted.
15. Use magnets.
Placed in four corner of your house, they can really repel fleas and ticks and other
unwanted bugs. Call (in the United States) 1-800-695-9956. These are good for several
years.
16. Try these
essential oil (EO) recipes for dabbing on yourself or your dog (don't ingest or get near
eyes). A couple drops of citronella, lavender, peppermint, clary sage, lemon or lemongrass
in a spray bottle filled with pure water works well. If you add some vodka or vegetable
glycerin to the water it will help the essential oils to emulsify better. EO's do not mix
with water, so shaking well is necessary. Or add this to 16 ounces of water in a spray
bottle - 2-4 drops of each EO - tea tree, Atlas cedarwood (it must be Atlas cedarwood or
it can be toxic to animals), peppermint, sweet orange, eucalyptus and citronella. (You can
start out with 2 and add others if you need some extra ammunition). Or try mixing 10 drops
of lavender, 10 drops orange, 5 drops of eucalyptus, 5 drops of citronella, 10 drops of
neem in a base of 50 ml apricot or almond oil (use a lighter oil like coconut or grapeseed
for your furry friends). Use sparingly on exposed areas (human) - dabbing on or spritzing
on with a spray bottle and water. Lemon grass candles in the evening act as repellents
too. Another nice recipe is to take 5 drops of Lavender off. and 5 drops of Eucalyptus
radiata in 4 oz of purified water in a spray bottle. Shake well and spray over coat. If
this doesn't get rid of all the fleas, try adding 2 drops peppermint to it. Another recipe
is - 15 drops Eucalyptus EO, 15 drops Atlas cedarwood EO, 10 drops tea tree EO, 10 drops
geranium EO, and 2 oz carrier oil. Don't forget to dilute if it seems strong, and never
use on cats or around birds.
17. Try this
non-toxic treatment for your carpets (if you think you have an infestation, can be used in
conjunction with washing everything mentioned at #6). Mix one-cup cornstarch, one-cup
baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon of flea repellent oils (listed above). Mix together and let
sit for 30 minutes. Sprinkle into carpets and let sit another 30 minutes. Leave your doors
and windows open if possible so that the fleas can leave. Vacuum up and notice the lovely
smell your house will have!
18. For an
inexpensive, non-toxic way to get rid of fleas and ticks (or whatever insects you are
concerned about) head over to
http://www.medicinegarden.com under the "Classical
Homeopathy" section. There is a great article written by a homeopathic doc about
making your own cure.
19. Here is a nice
skin wash for any icky skin - 1 quart water 1 heaping tsp. dried sage 1 heaping tsp. thyme
1/4 tsp. Epsom salt Boil everything together ~ 5 minutes and then let it sit overnight.
Strain off herbs and refrigerate. Dab onto skin. Can add to shampoo to make a
"medicated" shampoo. Thanks to Karen Perdue for this great recipe.
20. Fleabusters powder.
This powder, made up of diluted Boric Acid, kills fleas like the DE does.
Notice that all these
methods work at REPELLING fleas and ticks, not at killing them. WARNING - Essential oils
can be very detrimental to bird and cats. Never have essential oils around a bird - this
includes diffusing them, candle with EO's, topical applications, etc. Cats are VERY
sensitive too - they should follow the same guidelines as birds, although essential oil hydrosols
are OK to use as the percent of EO in the hydrosols is very small. The product you buy
must be a HYDROSOL and not a floral water though. No oil should be used on cats topically
either, as they have very sensitive and thin skin, which absorbs EO's very quickly. Only
the highest quality oils should be used because in cheaper versions there might be
adulteration and often synthetic chemicals are added. If you have any questions about
aromatherapy that are not answered by this document, you can email Kristen Bell, who has
worked with essential oils with dogs for many years and pose your question to her
http://www.aromaleigh.com.
If you already have some bug bites, try wetting some baking soda and making a paste and
putting it on the bite - it will really soothe! Also you can try 1 teaspoon meat
tenderizer (basically a source of enzymes) in 1/8 cup water, stir to dissolve, then put on
bite - same thing happens as the baking soda. To pull out a tick, take your fingernails or
tweezers and grasp at the base (head area). Slowly pull straight out. Put tick in jar of
rubbing alcohol to die and also to preserve in case it ever needs to be tested for Lyme or
Ehrlichia (a date would also be good to put on the jar). Ticks will feed for a very long
time - if you pull the tick off before 18-24 hours, you are basically home free, as the
organisms that cause Lyme reside in the gut of the tick and won't be introduced into your
animal until 18-24 hours go by - when the tick starts regurgitating waste (ticks have no
anus). So a daily tick check is really important.
Thanks goes out to
Leah Knipp, for her timely and welcome tips and for her help in revising, as well as
Kristen for helping me with the aromatherapy guidelines. The overall basics are to keep
healthy and keep clean. Common sense tells us that if we are healthy and clean, we are
less likely to have bugs, be they external or internal.
Tiffani Beckman ©
Copyright 1997
**Disclaimer** The advice in this email is not
to take the place of your veterinarian's advice.
Also
available upon request:
1) Intro to Diatomaceous Earth
2) Intro to Worming
3) Intro to
4) Intro to carsickness
5) Intro to Hotspots
6) Intro to feeding naturally
7) Intro to CHD (Canine Hip Dysplasia)
8) Intro to vaccinations
9) Barbeque's Story (How a raw diet can cure disease)
10) Intro to oils/essential fatty acids
11) Intro to Allergies
12) Intro to Natural Memory Aids
13) Intro to Natural Immune Boosters
14) How I got my cat to eat raw
And coming soon -
15) Intro to feline and
canine nutritional physiology
