Healthy Pet: Repel Pests Naturally
How to keep your dog comfortable this season
Winter’s over, and all sort of interesting bugs will soon come a-calling. Unfortunately, many conventional flea and tick treatments contain toxic chemicals that can remain on your pet's fur for weeks. Learn natural strategies for keeping spring from, well, going to the dogs!
Q: How can I keep fleas under control?
A: Try spraying your pet and his bedding with natural products containing neem (gentle to pets but toxic to parasites) to prevent infestation. In addition to fleas, neem can help keep your dog free from ticks, lice, mites, flies, and mosquitoes.
A: Try spraying your pet and his bedding with natural products containing neem (gentle to pets but toxic to parasites) to prevent infestation. In addition to fleas, neem can help keep your dog free from ticks, lice, mites, flies, and mosquitoes.
Another natural flea preventive is a homemade spray made of 50 percent apple cider vinegar and 50 percent warm water. For best results, use unfiltered, organic apple cider vinegar that has not been pasteurized. Fill a spray bottle with the solution and spray on your pet’s fur daily. Pay special attention to the base of the tail and behind the ears.
A gentle herbal shampoo that helps repel fleas will contain useful ingredients such as bergamot, citronella, eucalyptus, geranium, juniper, lavender, neem, pine cedar, or rosemary.
Q: Are there any natural products that help repel other types of bugs—such as mosquitoes—from my dog?
A: Diluted essential oils of peppermint and lavender are great for repelling insects. Commonsense precautions include always diluting essential oils in a carrier oil (such as grape seed or jojoba) before using them topically. First, apply oils to a small area of your pet’s skin to watch for negative reactions.
A: Diluted essential oils of peppermint and lavender are great for repelling insects. Commonsense precautions include always diluting essential oils in a carrier oil (such as grape seed or jojoba) before using them topically. First, apply oils to a small area of your pet’s skin to watch for negative reactions.
Eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary, rose geranium, or citronella essential oil can also be applied to a heavy-duty woven nylon collar or a bandanna. Use an eyedropper to put one drop of 100 percent pure essential oil on the collar each week. If your dog seems to tolerate the smell, you can try two drops per week. (Do not use these collars on cats, as most essential oils are toxic to them. Pregnant women should also avoid using undiluted essential oils.)
Q: What do I do if my dog gets stung by a honeybee?
A: Honeybees leaves their stingers behind. Gently flick the stinger away or remove it with tweezers. Rinse the sting with cider vinegar or strongly brewed chamomile tea. A drop of full-strength or diluted essential oil of chamomile or tea tree oil can be safely applied to a bite or sting on most adult dogs as long as you avoid the eye area. Do not use this disinfecting treatment on cats, very small dogs, or young puppies.
A: Honeybees leaves their stingers behind. Gently flick the stinger away or remove it with tweezers. Rinse the sting with cider vinegar or strongly brewed chamomile tea. A drop of full-strength or diluted essential oil of chamomile or tea tree oil can be safely applied to a bite or sting on most adult dogs as long as you avoid the eye area. Do not use this disinfecting treatment on cats, very small dogs, or young puppies.
for more information about natural pet care, read The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care by C.J. Puotinen ($21.95, McGraw-Hill, 2000)
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