| There's nothing like a flea to ruin a dog's good | | | | carpeting. Sprinkle your dog's bedding and any |
| time!If fleas are making your dog miserable, then | | | | place he likes to "hang out", since that's where the |
| there's only one thing you can do: find the flea's | | | | most fleas will accumulate. Be sure to get |
| number one enemy. And no, it's not a flea collar. | | | | underneath |
| It's not flea powder either.Let me | | | | the furniture, because fleas like to hide out in |
| explain....Evolution has given fleas quite a few | | | | dark places.While vacuuming and washing the |
| advantages | | | | floors often is helpful, unless you can do it daily, it |
| This is what makes them so tough to get rid of. | | | | won't be enough. You should also know that fleas |
| You see, the flea is a very adaptable and resilient | | | | that get sucked into the vacuum bag can live and |
| little pests (not unlike the cockroach--ugh).What | | | | reproduce there, so be sure to vacuum up some |
| advantages do fleas have? There are three | | | | DE powder too, to kill off fleas in the |
| major ones: | | | | bag.===========What about my dog's irritated |
| First of all, small as they may be, fleas have an | | | | skin?===========All that scratching and those |
| immune system. And they will develop immunity | | | | powders can leave a dog's skin pretty irritated. |
| to any kind of pesticide you use on them. It may | | | | Well, Mother Nature has something for that |
| take a few generations before this happens, but it | | | | too...Neem seed oil is a very bitter oil with a garlic |
| doesn't take all that long for fleas to reproduce, | | | | sulfur smell and contains vitamin E and other |
| so a few generations is nothing in "flea | | | | essential amino acids. It's completely natural, and |
| time".Second, fleas go through several stages of | | | | has been used as a botanical pesticide for years. |
| development, referred to as a "life cycle". During | | | | When used on fleas and other pests, it impairs |
| the fleas life cycle, it progresses from egg to | | | | their development. Added bonuses are an |
| larva to pupa, to adult flea. Trouble is, only the | | | | antibacterial property, and a soothing effect on |
| adult and larval fleas are susceptible to attack. | | | | the skin.( Humans have been know to use Neem |
| Flea eggs and cocoons can live quite comfortably | | | | oil as an anti-arthritis and anti-wrinkle |
| through a "bug bomb", or in the presence of flea | | | | formula!)Comb the oil through your dog's coat |
| collars and powders. | | | | with a flea comb to help distribute it to both coat |
| Third, fleas don't live just on your dog. It would | | | | and skin. Now, your dog is not only free of fleas, |
| be great if they did, because we'd only have to | | | | but her skin feels better too.Essential oils are |
| deal with our pet and we'd be done. We all | | | | another natural and effective way of repelling |
| understand that dogs pick up fleas outdoors, and | | | | fleas. Cedar, tea tree, citronella, eucalyptus and |
| that every time they step outside, dogs are | | | | pennyroyal, (the last two are toxic to cats) are all |
| tasty targets for fleas inhabiting the yard, woods, | | | | repulsive to fleas and can be obtained at most |
| etc. So, we know there's danger lurking outside. | | | | stores that sell herbal remedies. There are also |
| But you might figure that once a flea hops on | | | | essential oil blends containing Neem oil. Just dab a |
| board, it'll live out its life cycle on your pet. To | | | | drop of the essential oil on your dog's collar, and |
| some extent, that's true.Initially, fleas lay their | | | | mist it -- diluted with water-- onto her coat. Or, |
| eggs on their host. But, most of the eggs don't | | | | buy a pre-formulated spray and mist her to drive |
| stay there. They fall off, landing on the floor, in | | | | fleas away.If your pet is already suffering from |
| the carpet, and back in the yard! And we're not | | | | flea bites and itchy skin, herbal sprays will help |
| talking about just a few eggs. A single flea can lay | | | | soothe irritated skin. They contain aloe, which we |
| 10 to 50 eggs a day, and can live as long as 100 | | | | all know is great for burns and hot |
| days. That's as many as 2000 eggs in the lifetime | | | | spots!b>Bathing your dog is also an effective, |
| of a single flea. Imagine the possibilities... | | | | safe and natural way to get rid of fleas, using a |
| Here's another disturbing (and pretty disgusting) | | | | neem or oatmeal based shampoo if her skin is |
| fact about fleas: when they bite, they inject a | | | | irritated. "Bathe" her bedding too, by washing it |
| tiny amount of saliva into your dog. It acts as a | | | | weekly in hot soapy water. A flea comb will help |
| blood thinner, making the blood easier to extract, | | | | you find their hiding spots.==========What |
| but this also can be a means of spreading | | | | about the yard?==========You can sprinkle DE |
| diseases and tapeworms. And it certainly isn't | | | | powder here too, or apply it with a sprayer. |
| good for allergy-prone dogs, who can develop | | | | Another option is to use "beneficial ematodes". |
| rashes and hot spots.==========The Trouble | | | | Nematodes are microscopic soil worms that |
| with Traditional Methods==========Convention | | | | attack white grubs, fleas and crickets. They can |
| has it that dogs should wear flea collars. If that | | | | be purchased from nurseries and similar outlets, |
| doesn't work, sprinkle her with flea powder. And, | | | | mixed with water and sprayed on the breeding |
| of course, fumigate the house and yard. We've | | | | areas.In order for the nematodes to survive, the |
| already discussed one problem with that | | | | soil must remain relatively moist and watered at |
| approach, which is that fleas become immune to | | | | least twice weekly. Beneficial nematodes do not |
| all pesticides sooner or later, so you must | | | | harm plants, animals, humans or birds. |
| continually change products. But the other problem | | | | Concentrate your spraying within 50 feet of |
| is more serious. It's the fact that all pesticides are | | | | where your dog "hangs out", since that's where |
| poisons. They weaken your dog's immune | | | | the most fleas are found.=========Ready to |
| system, making him an even tastier target for | | | | go high tech?==========So far we've been |
| fleas. And they can make him sick in other ways | | | | taking the all-natural approach. But these days, |
| too.Poison is poison, no matter how you package | | | | there's a gadget for everything, and killing fleas is |
| it. (Yes the "spot-on" products are full of toxins | | | | no exception. An "Electronic Flea Zapper Comb" |
| too) And in your fight to eradicate fleas, you'll end | | | | which relies on a safe, low electric charge that is |
| up spreading poisons all over your yard, around | | | | harmless to you and your pet, is reportedly |
| your home, and --through his skin--into your dog's | | | | "instantly deadly to fleas.Does it work? I can't |
| vital organs. Sure, no more fleas, but at what | | | | honestly tell you, but I love the idea! One of these |
| cost to everyone's health?========So, what's a | | | | days I'll get around to trying one!As for the rest, |
| dog lover to do?===========Fortunately, | | | | these are time-honored methods for combating |
| there's an answer. What most of us aren't told is | | | | fleas and I can vouch for their effectiveness. |
| that there are natural substances that fleas can't | | | | Don't forget that any method you choose will |
| tolerate, and that are actually lethal to fleas. One | | | | work best if you start using it about a month |
| of these is call "diatomaceous earth", or "DE".DE is | | | | before flea season begins. And use it continuously |
| composed of finely milled fossilized shells of | | | | once you've spotted fleas on your pet. That way, |
| minuscule organisms called diatoms. The | | | | you'll be sure you catch all fleas that survived as |
| microscopically fine, sharp edges dry out the | | | | eggs and pupae, by being ready for them as they |
| insects' outer shell on contact and fleas will | | | | enter the vulnerable stages of their life cycle -- |
| dehydrate and die within hours.The insects also die | | | | larval and adult fleas.==========Yippee!! No |
| when they eat the dust. And it works on lots of | | | | more fleas!!===========I know all of this may |
| other pests besides fleas! What's great about DE | | | | seem like a lot of work, but in the end, it's well |
| is that your dog (or cat) can eat it and it won't | | | | worth it. Your dog will have no fleas, and will |
| hurt her at all. And since it works by dehydration, | | | | suffer no harmful side effects from collars and |
| fleas can't become immune to itDE can be | | | | traditional powders. What's more worthwhile than |
| purchased as a powder and sprinkled on your pet | | | | having a happy, healthy dog who's thrilled to be |
| and around your home. Don't leave out that most | | | | alive? |
| important step! Sprinkle the floors, furniture and | | | | |