Dear Herbalist,
I have two dogs that I love and have read terrible things about the ingredients in most flea remedies from the Vet. I’d really like to treat this naturally. Any suggestions?
MM
Dear MM,
I feel your pain! I have 3 corgis and fleas and ticks are an issue every year, especially if you do a lot of hiking in the mountains. But rest assured. There are several natural remedies you can try that will not be toxic to your pets but will help them during the itchy summer season.
Every year as summer approaches, I get numerous e-mails and calls asking us about natural, non-toxic flea protocol for dogs and cats. The best protocol utilizes a consistent, integrated approach to flea management and minimizes risks to humans, the animal's health, non-targeted organisms, and the environment.
The flea moves through four stages of life: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The average life span of a flea is about six weeks, but under certain conditions they can live for up to one year. While in the adult stage, the flea lives on our dog's skin and even lays eggs there. But the eggs laid by females (up to 200-600 eggs in her lifetime) fall off and hatch in the environment, not on the animal.
As these eggs hatch, the emerging larva feed on the feces of the adult flea, which makes our dogs bedding an ideal place for fleas to develop. After a week or two the larva spins a cocoon and stays in this cocoon up to 140 days before hatching into an adult. While in the cocoon the flea pupa is protected from insecticides and other external threats.
The larva finally emerge as adults when stimulated by such things as heat, vibration, moisture, physical pressure, or carbon dioxide and especially anything that suggests a warm blooded host is available!
So how do you implement a consistent, integrated approach to flea management? To do this correctly you need to treat not only your dog but your indoor and outdoor environments. My suggestions for managing the flea problem would include:
Begin with your dog
It may sound strange but one of the most important steps you can take is to improve your dog's health and strengthen the immune system. Don Hamilton DVM and author of Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs: Small Doses for Small Animals says, " In general, given the same environment, healthier animals suffer less from fleas. It comes back to good food, lots of love, and minimal stress." Dr. Hamilton prefers a human grade food, preferably a raw meat diet, dietary supplements and a clean indoor environment and no vaccinations.
A health dog is a less likely target for fleas. Fleas seem to know which dogs are ill in a household. A healthy immune system will make your dog less tasty to a flea.
Use dietary supplements
Supplements containing Garlic, Vitamin B complex such as Nupro Supplement or Yeast and Garlic Bits can be useful in repelling fleas and providing additional healthful nutrients to your dog. I know what you’re thinking, “I’ve read that garlic is bad for dogs.” I can tell you that I’ve been using garlic in my dogs’ food for decades and have NEVER had an issue. Used in proper amounts, it is just fine and a very good deterrent to fleas as well as helping build their immune systems.
Bathe your dog
During the height of flea season bathe your dog weekly with a non-insecticidal shampoo. Rinse the dog completely to remove all soap to help prevent drying the dog's skin. You can also use a topical rinse made with Critter Oil to help as a repellant and to condition the dog's skin.
Look to the Outdoor Environment
The outdoor environment focuses on the 99% of the flea population; the non-adult stages of the flea.
Keep the grass cut short and rake leaves to prevent piles where flea eggs, larvae and pupae can harbor.
Work the indoor environment
Your indoor environment protocol is aimed primarily on the non-adult flea population.
Wash you floors frequently. Flea eggs, larvae and pupae are attracted to cracks and joints in your floors. Washing your floors frequently will help kill the non-adult fleas. If you have a steam machine you can steam clean your dog's bedding, the floors, and the carpets. Use only water in the steamer. The steam will kill both the fleas and the non-adult fleas. It is recommended that you vacuum after you steam the floors to get the dead fleas and dead no-adult fleas out of the home. Vacuum hard floors and carpeting daily. The vibration and suction of vacuuming will cause the non-adult fleas to be worked loose from the cracks in hard floors and from the fiber of your carpet. It is suggested you seal the vacuum bag each time you vacuum and dispose of the bag. If you want to reuse the bag it should be sealed and placed in a freezer to kill the fleas prior to reusing. (I know, ICK! That thing’s going in the garbage!!)
Wash your dog's bedding weekly in hot water and mild detergent or plain white vinegar. You can spray your pet's bedding with Critter Oil spray. Consider using a carpet/floor/furniture powder made with a mixture of Critter Oil, Borax, Salt, and other dry ingredients. This mixture can be dusted on your carpet, floors, and furniture, left for about 15 minutes then vacuumed up. The mixture will help kill the non-adult flea population.
I make a spray for my dogs with essential oils of catnip and tea tree mixed with aloe vera gel. Always remember to check their feet after a hike to see if you’ve picked up any hitchhikers. A drop of tea tree oil on a tick will cause it to let go and you can remove it with tweezers.
Hopefully, this helps. But remember, you MUST be consistent!
Valere! (Be Well!)
Karen
Comments