Control fleas on your dog or cat without chemicals
With the warmer weather just around the corner, so are fleas just waiting to jump on your dog or cat.
I read somewhere that the skin is the largest organ of the body, and you shouldn't put anything on your skin that isn't safe to eat, because it absorbs into your system. This applies to our pets as well.
Last year I searched for and found a chemical-free flea control product called Only Natural Pet All in One Flea Remedy that worked very well for me. It looks very much like standard chemical flea powder, and is rubbed into the pet's fur. You can also shake it on carpeting, bedding, and furniture. It is odorless and completely safe, even if eaten by the animal. Ingredients are: diatomaceous earth, sage, eucalyptus, yellowdock root, fennel seed, and rosemary leaf.
The reason it works: It's based on a centuries-old insect remedy used in gardening and other applications. Diatomaceous earth is actually tiny fossilized skeletons of microscopic organisms, and are razor sharp at the microscopic level, but feels like a fine powder to humans and animals. When a flea comes in contact with it, their protective coating is pierced, they dehydrate and die.
Neem oil added to your pet's bath is also very effective at killing fleas, lice and scabies, and is a safe alternative to chemical flea soap.
I read somewhere that the skin is the largest organ of the body, and you shouldn't put anything on your skin that isn't safe to eat, because it absorbs into your system. This applies to our pets as well.
Last year I searched for and found a chemical-free flea control product called Only Natural Pet All in One Flea Remedy that worked very well for me. It looks very much like standard chemical flea powder, and is rubbed into the pet's fur. You can also shake it on carpeting, bedding, and furniture. It is odorless and completely safe, even if eaten by the animal. Ingredients are: diatomaceous earth, sage, eucalyptus, yellowdock root, fennel seed, and rosemary leaf.
The reason it works: It's based on a centuries-old insect remedy used in gardening and other applications. Diatomaceous earth is actually tiny fossilized skeletons of microscopic organisms, and are razor sharp at the microscopic level, but feels like a fine powder to humans and animals. When a flea comes in contact with it, their protective coating is pierced, they dehydrate and die.
Neem oil added to your pet's bath is also very effective at killing fleas, lice and scabies, and is a safe alternative to chemical flea soap.
The pesticides in standard flea products are made from toxic chemicals. There is evidence that long term use can significantly harm humans and animals. So why take the risk when a natural remedy works just as well.
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19 comments:
We've read about Neem oil on our Airedale yahoo list and everyone swears by this stuff. We've never tried it! Guess it's about time!
Love ya lots
Maggie and Mitch
Do you have any article about how to train a pup not to whine too much for too long when they are first brought home?
Luv,
Snowball
Hi snowball,
I haven't covered this topic on my blog yet, but it's a good topic so I will do research and post about it in the future. That won't help you right now though, so here's a link to a site I found that gives ideas of what others have used successfully. Good Luck!
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080106190504AAj5c4c
Hi Maggie and Mitch,
You'll be glad you checked out Neem. It really works well
That is great information. We will have to get some of that stuff. Chemicals are BAD..
Big Sloppy Kisses
Gus and Louie
Thanks for sharing it here. LS puts me on Neem oil and some other essential oil based shampoo. It really works and the smell is pleasant too.
I've actually never heard of it before...I'll have to see if the local shop carries it. My pooch is on a raw diet and never had a single flea or insect *whew* but a backup never hurts!
Thanks everyone for your comments. And Wolfgirl, you're doing the right thing with the raw diet- it goes a long way in making your dog healthy, and healthy dogs don't have a problem with fleas in general.
We've switched to Revolution about 3 years years ago, at least. We haven't had any ill effects from it, and it does work - no fleas, worms or ear mites. Our VET swears by it, and he convinced Mom to switch. Hooray for no bugs on kitties!
I have read a bunch about flea control, but ticks are a big problem in our area, even year-round. Any non-chemical ideas for prevention?
Thanks!
The product from Only Natural Pet store says it kills insects such as fleas and also ticks, as it cuts their shell, and they dehydrate and die. Neem oil is also very good for killing ticks.
Thanks Wildcatsthree. I will check out the product you mentioned. How long does Neem oil last in keeping ticks away? i.e. how often does it need to be reapplied?
Jesse,
I've never read how long the Neem will last, but what I do is add it to my dog's bath water with the dog shampoo. It will kill any pests on the dog and does provide some protection after the bath. To be safe, I then apply the diatamaceous earth product from OnlyNaturalPet.com a few days later, rub it into their scalp, and that lasts at least a month, maybe longer, until the next bath.
One of my readers found a neem flea powder that seems to be working very well on her cat. I don't know where she got it though. Neem oil by itself is very potent, and should be diluted with shampoo and water according to it's directions- just a little goes a long way. I hope this helps you.
Chris
Thanks!
I can vouch for the ONP All-in-One. Used it last summer to kill fleas on our kitty and in our home (Buddy was a stray who adopted us after we lost another kitty). Another product to try is Azmira's Para*Clear - it's also food grade diatomaceous earth... and sold in larger containers, so more bang for your buck!
As far as neem oil goes, Ark Naturals makes a Neem Protect shampoo & spray. I'm in pet supply retail and have lots of customers who love these products.
Thanks for the info Pluff Mud. It's always good to have multiple sources for our pet's needs.
Chris
what a wonderful blog I enjoyed reading your post and have to mark you and come back. You have wonderful information.Best Wishes
Sage, Eucalyptus and Rosemary all contain terpenes, which are high note phenolics and therefore are potentially toxic to cats. The cat's liver is extremely sensitive to these substances. Terpines are also found in the highly toxic Tea Tree oil and nearly all essential oils, so should never be used on cats, diluted or otherwise. Neem oil, especially solvent extracted Neem oil, also contains triterpenoids, which are chemically similar to terpenes. Too similar to ignore the risks. Admittedly raw herbs would not be anywhere near so concentrated as in essential or pressed oils made from these herbs, but the terpenes are still there and still dangerous. I do understand that many people want to stop using synthetic chemicals, but "natural" does not always mean "safe" - I don't think it's a good idea to use any product that contains terpenes or related chemicals/substances on felines ever, the risk is too great. Whether these substances are natural,synthetic, highly processed or in the raw, they are still "chemicals".
Jane,
Thank you for your comment and opinion. I personally don't use the above product on my cats as they never go outside so do not have fleas. I know others have used it on their cats with no problem, but all pet owners should do their homework no matter what product they use.
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