Fleas

I hate ‘em, you hate ‘em, your pet hates ‘em...
..That’s a lot of hate 'ems to throw out unto the world. But hey, fleas suck! Here are some basic tips to help deal with this pesky bug-beast. One general rule of thumb is that the more healthy your pet is, the less likely that you will have a severe infestation of fleas. A parasite will usually seek out weaker animals because they have a lower ability to combat their presence. The most important immune building tool that you can give to any living creature is a good diet. Healthy, natural dog food is crucial to long-term wellness. Like Dawg's Biscuits...

One problem with many conventional flea treatments is..
..that the level of toxicity is so high that you can actually make your animal sick from the constant barrage of synthetic chemicals. As result you may keep having the fleas come back for more and more once the chemicals wear off. Read the warning labels, and trust me, you won’t even want to touch the stuff let alone attach it to your beloved animal’s body. If you have an animal dealing with skin problems, it can compound the problem even further. I have talked to many people that have had skin explosions with their animals following a flea dip or the use of a topical powder. It can quickly make a bad situation much worse, and make your pet absolutely miserable. So what can you do? Apart from using Dawg's amazing "Scratchbuster" treats?

The following two tips should be helpful for most..
.. minor to moderate infestations, It may also be helpful for severe infestations, but the consult of a good holistic veterinarian is highly recommended. Severe infestations can be an indicator of other dog health problems. The most important tool you can purchase to fight the good fight is a flea comb. Not only is it a really cheap, non-toxic solution, but it removes both fleas and the eggs that hatch and hatch and hatch, and hatch. The comb is best used for short-haired animals, but I do know of people that have shaved the coats of their animals so that they can comb through the fur. Your goal here is to break the hatching cycle of the flea. In the height of summer that cycle is every two weeks. In conjunction with combing you also will need a natural flea powder to apply to the fur as a repellent. Most better pet stores or health food stores should have a product that will work. Begin by combing every day for at least 14 to 18 days, twice a day. If you miss a day those eggs can hatch and the cycle starts all over again. Have a bowl of water on hand so you can dip the comb in the water to remove any eggs or fleas into it. Follow the combing with a light application of a natural flea powder.

Even with natural flea powders please read..
.. the warning label. If you can’t find a natural powder, give this recipe a try. Slice 2 whole lemons with the peel and add to 1/2 gallon of near boiling water for a few minutes. Allow to sit at room temperature overnight. Sponge or spray on the liquid daily, rub onto the skin and allow to dry. It will repel the fleas and is also very good for the skin. Continue to comb two or three times a week for the next couple weeks. If all is well then drop to 1 time a week until the first hard freeze (or year round if in a warm climate.) It is also important to vacuum weekly, especially in the areas that your pet sleeps. You should dispose of the vacuum bag after each use so that you don’t continue to have fleas hatching in your vacuum.

Also put a couple of cloves of garlic into..
.. the vacuum bag to really get those fleas. It is also important to launder your pets blankets, pillows and other related items on a weekly basis. Wash and dry with high temperature settings and you will kill both the fleas and the eggs. If you are persistent, you can rid your critter and your home of these pesky critters, naturally, and save your hate for the politicians.