http://www.care2.com/greenliving/all-around-non-toxic-flea-control.html
All-Around Non-Toxic Flea Control
The Care2 Staff
Let’s face it. Fleas are the WORST, but applying pesticides to our pampered pooches doesn’t make us howl with excitement either. In an attempt to find non-toxic flea control remedies, Care2 staff stumbled upon this amazing technique that kills fleas fast without toxic chemicals. While citrus peel extract (d-limonene) works well for dogs, cats can’t tolerate it, so this is an especially great choice.
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a powder comprised of microskeletons of deceased diatoms, which are a type of algae (both fresh water and sea water varieties occur). You sprinkle the powder on your pets and your carpets, and the fleas die from dehydration. As a foster care provider for hundreds of dogs, this stuff has been a miracle. You can use it on dogs, puppies, kittens, and cats.
How it works:
When applied to the animal’s fur, DE scrubs on the hard exoskeletons of fleas. The tiny granules of silicon (think finely ground sand) work in the tiny holes of the flea’s respiratory system and in the joints of the fleas. Every time the flea moves or breathes, the silicon grinds away at the exoskeleton, eventually killing the flea through blocking/maiming the respiratory holes or by water loss, as the exoskeleton helps keep in the flea’s body water. It works the same way when applied to carpets instead of fur.
How to use it:
1) Wear a mask and put one on your pet. Even though it’s nontoxic, you don’t want to get it in your lungs.
2) Sprinkle the DE along your dry pet’s spine. Massage it along the body, working your way carefully to the extremities, avoiding the eyes.
3) Spread some diatomaceous earth on the carpets, brush it in and leave for about four days. Then vacuum it up to remove most of the fleas in the carpet.
4) Repeat the application frequently during an infestation. You should notice a decrease in fleas within a couple days.
NOTE: Make sure not to use the kind of DE used in swimming pools. Use natural diatomaceous earth; it is available in gardens supply centers, some health food stores, and from natural-pet catalogs.
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63 comments
add your comment »Is the DE safe for cats that lick and clean so much? I mean you say to put on a mask to keep from breathing the particles - what keeps the cat (or dog) from breathing the particles when they clean or move about?
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Sylvia H., Thank you for your quick respond to my question. I also use Frontline, but not too crazy about using anything that maybe toxic for my little Jack Russell. So far these pass three years we've had no problems. But I think garlic is excellent. I've been using it myself for the pass 9 years and I haven't been bitten ones, so far. I've come to love garlic so much I practically put it on everything I eat, and I rarely come down with colds.
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I don' t know what a natural tick preventative would be, but we lived in a rural area for 14 years and know the horror of those little critters. The vet would give us Frontline which did not do the job, the only thing that I could get satisfactory results from was the Preventic collars. At that time I was using both the Frontline and the Preventic collar and I would say it was because of the collar it was close to 95% effective. We had 22 acres most of which was natural and ticks were a real problem because we used to walk the trails daily. It got to the point where my husband had more ticks than the dog. But, I am sure everyone would prefer a natural remedy. Hope to hear it here soon, because with the cities having less money to maintain the parks I see the high grass and wonder when we will come home with ticks with our latest addition.
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What can be used for Ticks? I'm always in the woods hiking with my dogs, and in the pass I came down with Lymes disease 4x's. Since then I've pump up on the garlic and I give it to my dog as well. And it seems to be working. But I would like to get some feedback on any other product I could use that is safe for my dog.
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Cedar is fantastic. We had a cedar closet in one of our past homes in the basement and clothes never smelled moldy. In the two homes we moved to since then I put the cedar chips inside my basement closets and I don't have moldy smelling clothes. I buy it from the pet store in a plastic bag, just take some out of the bag and put it in a small open container, but I keep the closed bag in the closet too. I bought my bag about 15 years ago and it still works.
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I use this already on all my livestock as well. Also, Cedarwood EO will make a barrier once they are gone.. to keep them GONE.. your area will smell like a cedar chest, but that is also great.
Be Well!
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I give my dogs brewers yeast tablets with garlic. This gives them a healthy coat and also makes them smell bad to the fleas. We've not had problems with them this year.
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Dawn dishwashing detergent works best. it kills the fleas almost instantly. Just bathe your pet with it. We've used it for years for all our dogs and never had an issue. Once bathed it keeps them off for a while. Can't say how long since during flea season I bathe every 6 weeks just to be sure. Inexpensive and easy.
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I love lemon as a flea repellent! Nasty little things!
http://anaturalday.net/todays-tip-lemon-a-natural-flea-repellent/
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Pennyroyal and eucalyptus both work to drive fleas away. Put small branches of eucalyptus under the couch, and at other places in the house, if you live in a state that has plenty of eucalyptus trees. One can go to pet storesma d healthfood stores to find euclyptus oil drops and also pennyroyal drops.
You can eve make a little cotton collar to add these drops to and then put it around their neck. You only need one drop of e. oil, I think, otherwise the cat will fight to get it off - - - more than that would be too strong.
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