Start with prevention:
Don’t wait till fleas make their
appearance before doing something
about them. Taking preventative steps before the season starts will
help your dog or cat repel any fleas he does happen to pick up, and
greatly minimize the chances of an infestation. The two keys to
prevention are a healthy immune system and good hygiene.
1. DIET:
The healthier and stronger your
companion is, the less he’ll be
affected by fleas. One of the primary ways to keep him in peak
condition is to feed him a high quality diet made with whole, natural
ingredients free of hormones and pesticides. Stay away from those cheap
commercial diets containing artificial preservatives, coloring and
other additives; these toxins are secreted through the hair follicles
and can exacerbate skin problems, including flea bite dermatitis.
Instead, try a raw frozen or premium canned food. A good diet will not
only improve your companion's wellness all round, but will also go a
long way towards keeping fleas at bay.
2. SUPPLEMENTS:
The great thing about flea repelling
supplements is that they're also
good for overall health. Salmon or flaxseed oils are full of essential
fatty acids that promote healthy hair and skin, while adding a clove of
fresh grated garlic to your dog’s food each day will help build up his
immunity and generate an odor fleas find unattractive. Many vets don’t
recommend feeding garlic to cats because it can sometimes damage the
red blood cells and cause anemia. Try brewer’s yeast instead: it’s a
good source of vitamin B1 and also acts as a flea repellent. When
introducing any supplement to your animal’s diet, it’s a good idea to
talk to a holistic vet.
3. GROOMING:
Frequently brushing your dog or cat
removes the dead hair, mats and
tangles that provide a perfect hiding place for fleas. Ideally, your
animal should be brushed daily, but once or twice a week will suffice
if you do a thorough job. Invest in a flea comb as well: this
fine-toothed grooming tool is designed to snag adult fleas. Be sure to
get the comb as close to the skin as possible and pay special attention
to areas where fleas n congregate: under the legs, around the head and
tail, and the belly area.
4. BATHING:
Regular bathing is a highly
effective way to help keep fleas off your
animal. Just be sure to use a gentle shampoo with natural ingredients
that won’t dry out or irritate his skin – aloe and oatmeal is an
excellent choice. For dogs, you can also select from natural shampoos,
conditioners and rinses that contain flea-repelling essential oils such
as lavender, rosemary, tea tree, mint, neem and citrus. These oils
offer the added benefits of soothing and refreshing the skin and
cutting through odor and grease without drying the coat. Remember not
to use essential oils on cats – they’re toxic to felines. When bathing
your animal, soap him well, especially around the areas where fleas can
collect, and try to leave the lather on for 10 to 15 minutes, to drown
existing fleas. Rinse thoroughly.
Control measures:
What if you
already have a serious flea
problem? The above suggestions are still crucial, but you’ll need to
take a few additional measures. Fleas reproduce prolifically and
rapidly, which means you need to break their life cycle in order to get
rid of them. And although adult fleas lay their eggs on your animal,
the eggs drop off into the environment before hatching. Once the larvae
mature into adult fleas, they jump on the animal and start feeding. As
you can see, it’s a vicious circle, and while flea-repelling products
can help, they don’t actually kill the fleas, eggs or larvae. So as
well as looking after your animal’s hygiene and health, you also need
to tackle his environment in order to have a real impact on the fleas.
5. INSIDE THE HOUSE:
Go on a major cleaning spree.
Thoroughly vacuum all carpets and
upholstery, taking care to get into all those dark corners and crevices
and along the baseboards. Dispose of the vacuum bag promptly. Launder
in hot water anything that can be washed, such as cushion covers,
curtains, or bed spreads. Frequently wash your animal’s bedding and
regularly clean all other surfaces he lies on. To help keep fleas from
returning to the bedding, try sprinkling some cedar shavings or
lavender seeds in and around it.
You can also carefully sprinkle
natural, unprocessed diatomaceous earth
on carpets, along walls and in cracks in the floor or corners. It will
damage the fleas’ interior functions and kill them. Sodium based
flea-killing products, meanwhile, act as a dessicant and break the life
cycle by drying out flea eggs and larvae.
6. OUTSIDE:
In warm weather, fleas can live
quite happily in your backyard, ready
to jump on your companion as soon as he walks past. Clear the area of
any piles of dead leaves, brush, or other yard and garden debris where
fleas can hide, and keep dog houses or cat enclosures clean and dry.
Consider buying beneficial nematodes – these are naturally occurring
microscopic worms that kill fleas by infesting their larvae. The
Steinernema (Sc or Sf) varieties are the best. Nematodes are usually
available in a pellet or powdered form; just mix them with water and
spread them over the area you wish to treat, using a watering can or
sprayer.
7. TOPICALS:
For dogs with fleas, essential oils
can make an effective alternative
to chemical spot-ons. Tea tree oil is especially effective and will
kill fleas when used as a topical. Keep in mind that essential oils are
very strong and should be used sparingly. It’s best to dilute them with
some water rather than use them neat. Consult with a professional
aromatherapist for more detailed advice. Again, do not use these oils
on cats. Use aromatic hydrosols instead. A hydrosol is not the same as
a diluted essential oil: it’s the water (sometimes called floral water)
that’s left over after an essential oil is produced using steam or
water distillation. Herbal flea powders and collars are another
alternative – be sure to get a natural product.
In many regions, it’s still early in
the year to be thinking about
fleas. But the sooner you put a prevention program in place, the better
your companion will cope if he does pick up a few fleas this summer,
and the easier it will be to keep them under control.
Conventional
flea products:
When dealing with a serious
flea infestation, it can be tempting
to resort to chemical treatments. While it’s true that some of these
products may work faster than more natural alternatives, you pay for it
by exposing your animal (and yourself) to toxic substances that can
have a variety of adverse effects. In addition, overuse of pesticides
can actually cause immunity in new generations of fleas. It’s therefore
best to avoid commercial flea powders, collars and sprays altogether.
The same issues apply to non-OTC
chemical spot-ons. Here’s a brief
overview of a few of the ingredients used in these products, and the
potential health problems that have been linked to them.
Fibronil:
skin irritation, thyroid cancer, skin irritation and damage to organs,
nervous system and reproductive system.
Imidaclorprid:
organ damage, and neurological or reproductive disorders.
Selamectin:
ingestion may cause vomiting, diarrhea, muscle tremors, drooling and
lethargy.
Reprinted with
permission from
Animal Wellness Magazine