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