NATURAL PEST DEFENSE FOR DOGS

The following are suggestions if you are interested in trying natural pest controls instead of a chemical control on your dogs:

First, the items to beware of:

• Never get any natural or otherwise liquids into the eyes.
• “Pennyroyal”, although a natural occurring oil, can cause liver damage or death to your pet if not used correctly, so this is one essential oil I would NOT recommend using.  Also it could possibly be hazardous to a pregnant mother, human or animal, and to the unborn baby.  This is absorbed through the bare skin and could have disastrous results. So please check labels when choosing a prepared item whether shampoo or repellent.
• The same dangers apply to “Wormwood”.  Although I do have a good natural recipe for insects on your indoor plants using Wormwood if anyone is interested. 🙂  Wormwood comes from the perennial “Artemisia” so although a beautiful plant, I would be careful of this in your landscape around your home if it is in an area the dog is left alone in.  Also the perennial “Foxglove” could be deadly to your pets.  This plant is used in “Digitalis” (a heart regulator) for humans and could cause arrhythmias or death to a dog.
• “Neem Oil” should also be noted as a warning for children and pregnant mothers.

Before using any new substance on your dog, try it on a small area to see if there is any irritation or reaction.

FOR EXTERNAL USE:

Essential Oils for repellents:

“There are anywhere from 200 – 800 chemical constituents that make up a single essential oil. When the oil is not distilled properly, you will be left with as few as 10.” So choose an oil such as “Young Living Oils” or others which carries the words “Genuine & Authentic or Grade A” in which specific care is taken from growing to processing. You know the old saying; you get what you pay for!  Be aware that these are oils and may rub off on things.  I know the following sounds like a lot of work, but unless you have an infestation, these are great alternatives!

There will be some of the essential oils that your dog will have a bad aversion to. To test, put a tiny amount (not even a drop) on to a piece of Kleenex and present it to your dog.  Usually if they REALLY hate it, they will make a snorting noise and lick their mouth.  But each dog is different.  You will know!

Mix 20 drops with 2 cups of spring or distilled water in a spray bottle.  Keep out of sun and away from heat. You can choose one or more essential oils to make up your own individualized potion!  Don’t forget that you can use these on yourself too instead of the “deet”!  Take it along to shows and spray the area that you set up on to keep fleas from party hopping into your party!!!  🙂

• Rose Geranium Oil
• Rosemary Oil
• Cedar Oil
• Sweet Orange Oil
• Eucalyptus Oil
• Citronella Oil
• Pine Needle Oil

Here is my favorite combo:

*Bug & Flea/Tick Spray Repellent- 2 teaspoons of Rose Geranium oil mixed with 2 cups of distilled water in a spray bottle.  Make sure you shake vigorously before each use.

*Bug & Flea/Tick Oil Repellent

10-25 drops of Rose Geranium oil mixed with

2 Tablespoons of Sweet Almond Oil.  The Almond Oil is used as the “carrier” oil to dilute the essential oil before application. For quality, buy cold pressed or cold expeller pressed Sweet Almond Oil.

Place in a dropper bottle. You can sometimes find dropper bottles at the health food store or something similar at one of those “make your own perfume” stores.  Use this instead of the Advantix by applying in areas down center of their back.  Dot the mixture lightly on to the tips of dog’s ears but not close to eyes.

*Don’t forget that you can also try a specialty repellent that Dr. Becker recommends and is not available in stores:

Natural Flea & Tick Defense spray – made from natural Brazilian oils and ingredients: lemongrass oil, cinnamon oil, sesame oil, castor oil and purified water.  Dr. Becker says: “There’s one very important point I want to make about these ingredients … it’s not the individual elements that make Natural Flea & Tick Defense so effective, it’s the expert blending and balancing of the Brazilian oils with the pure water. This is what distinguishes a natural effective product from just a natural ingredient.” So, who knows, it might be worth a try!  $17.95 for 8 oz. with a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee. Purchased at mercolahealtypets.com

*”Cloud Nine” by Halo (purchased from health food stores) is also another product I’ve used.  It contains a concentrated blend of aromatic Tea Tree, Rosemary, Sage, Cedarwood, Peppermint, Sweet Orange, Eucalyptus, Citronella and Pine Needle oils, BUT, I don’t believe that they make it from “grade a” oils, so I feel it is less effective.  When I do use it I combined 2 teaspoons of Cloud Nine along with 25 drops of  (grade A) Rose Geranium Essential Oil.  Place in spray bottle with 2 cups of distilled water and shake well before each use. The Cloud Nine can also be used as a “dip” in different rates that are on the box.  NOTE: Tea Tree Oil should not be used on cats.

Shampoo & Rinse:

1.       For shampoo, you can add 1 teaspoon of “Sweet Orange” essential oil (or any other that works for them) to a bottle of natural pet shampoo and shake well before each use.  Start at head (because fleas run there first) and work down towards tail.

2.       For a final rinse after shampooing, that does not have to be showered off, prepare 1 Tablespoon of dried or fresh Rosemary, place into about 2 cups of water and bring to a boil.  Set aside to let steep for 10-20 minutes then let cool.  Strain when cool.  Pour this over your dog and rub on to all areas.  Do not rinse off.

3.       If you have seen fleas on your dog, you can make a dip with the Orange Oil by adding 2 Tablespoons to a few cups of warm water and shake vigorously.  Pour this on to dog (all areas), rub in gently and leave on for 10 to 20 minutes then rinse thoroughly.

*You can also put a drop of Orange Oil (or any other essential oil) on the top part of their collar for a repellent.   Repeat as necessary as the odor dissipates after a couple of days.

Diatomaceous Earth:   Be sure to buy natural DE, not the type sold for swimming pools. This looks and acts similar to baby powder but a courser material. Pour the DE into a shaker type container or reach into the bag with your hand which is a little messy but do-able. Just be aware that it is a dusty/billowy powder, so do it in an opened garage or outside.  And if you have asthma, or upper respiratory problems, you need to wear a mask OR not use at all.  To apply, start at the head and work down to the tail.  Get it down to the base of the skin including underside and legs, but don’t rub into the skin. IF by chance one of your babies has very dry skin either add or change your oil additive to their food (let me know if you need product suggestions) or don’t use it at all since it dries out the skin.  This is very dry fossil material it will dry out your hands too, almost immediately, so if you have dry skin, wash and then apply hand lotion. This can also be used on bedding and carpets. This acts like cut glass to the fleas.

FOR INTERNAL USE:

Fresh Garlic:

*45-70# = 1 clove or ½ clove 2 x daily

*75-90# = 1 clove 2 x daily

*over 100# = 1 ½ cloves 2 x daily

Toxin build up in body from chemical ingestion:

If you are paranoid, like I am about the pesticides and chemicals affecting your dogs liver, you can get a good human grade Milk Thistle and Dandelion Root detoxification product from your local health food store or a REALLY good one (not available in health food stores) called “Herbal Hepatox” from naturalrearing.com to help rid the liver of the toxins. After the application of the Advantix or dose of heart worm medicine, give 2 capsules 2 x per day for 2 weeks for large breed dogs. Repeat this regime each time you repeat the applications of Advantix or heartworm preventive products. Amounts should be adjusted for small dogs or dogs with very sensitive stomachs.  Not a bad idea for us humans either! 🙂