Monday, March 18, 2013

Discover the Best Natural Dog Flea and Tick Control

By Geraldine Dimarco


Unless incessant scratching has a purpose, I will have to say not everything on earth has a purpose as long as fleas and ticks exist. Sure, fleas aren't at all fatal; but they do cause a lot of discomfort to our pets. Even if we want to unleash the full power of chemicals on these little vermin, we can't - at least not without harming the animal as well. You can instead try one of these natural flea repellant for dogs in this article.

Natural dog flea and tick control can begin in their diets. That's right - what they eat can help keep the fleas at bay. Did you know that garlic repel more than just your date? A moderate amount, grated on your dog?s dish, will make your pet taste unpleasant to the clueless flea. Boost their immunity by Omega-3 fatty acid and B complex supplements, apple cider vinegar and saffron oil. Check with your vet as to the most appropriate dosage for your dog.

You can also dilute apple cider in water and use it for your doggie's bath time. The taste and smell of this mix will ward off fleas. If apple cider is an unpopular choice for the animal, mix instead rosemary essences to the bath water. The effect is the same.

Another easy remedy is this: take the juice of four lemons and combine it with half a quart of water. Spritz this all over the dog's body - be sure not to mist his face with it. This citrus spray is a natural flea repellant for dogs. Essential oils like lemongrass, cedarwood, tea tree, geranium and lavender applied to the dog's collar, joints and behind (not the delicate parts) will also help. Be sure to note that cats are not good with these essential oils so do not use this on them.

There are actually more fleas scampering atop your furniture than on your animal's coat. Sanitize your home as thoroughly as you are able. Vacuum the carpets and upholstery and sprinkle crushed rosemary leaves or regular table salt over them. Leave it to sit overnight to evict the unwanted visitors and vacuum the next day. Do not forget to throw away the contents of your vacuum bag afterwards.

Wash your dog's beddings and sheets carefully. Add some eucalyptus or citronella oil when you rinse it and let it dry in the sun. When you see a tick, do not squish it - the secretion may cause further infection. These pests also do not drown so when you find one, wrap it in tissue and flush it out; or douse it with rubbing alcohol to kill it.

Humidity in the summer months breeds more of these organisms. Bathe your dogs frequently during summer and always inspect their coats for fleas by running a fine tooth comb through them. Remember, these fleas may potentially carry harmful bacteria that cause heartworm, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, and Lyme disease - any preventative measure will do your pet good in the long run.

Perhaps the most effective natural dog flea and tick control solution is simply keeping your dog as healthy as possible. A clean environment, nutritional food and a stress-free environment will ensure a stronger immune system to fight off any infection.




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