Pet Care: Flea Control
I recently ran across some interesting ideas on controlling flea infestation on your pets that I thought I'd share. Although we don't have need of this idea any longer and can't verify it's validity, it sounds like a more workable and inexpensive solution compared to the commonly used pesticides. Let me know if you have tried this method of flea control and what your results are!
Newspaper-Saturday, March 17, 2007
by Dr. Michael Fox, The Animal Doctor
Reader Comment: One year, there was a flea infestation in our area. A friend told me that if I rubbed my dog's coat and skin with olive oil, the fleas and itching would go away. I tried it, and the constant itching and fleas disappeared as if by magic. M.M., in NY
Comment from Dr. Fox: Thanks for the very simple and surprising anti flea treatment - cheap and harmless, indeed. And, no doubt, the dog's coat has a nice shine.
Olives contain several botanical compounds that are beneficial to the skin, hair and immune system when ingested, and , like most plants, they may contain mild insect repellents that are harmless when ingested in moderate amounts.
It would seem that a mild solution of liquid dish soap and water, scented shampoo and Avon's "Skin So Soft" really do repel fleas, and they are so much safer than the expensive flea-and-tick repelling pills, sprays, dips and drop-on drugs so widely marketed.
Anyone who advocates the routine use of these insecticidal drugs as flea prevention for indoor cats and dogs (especially in regions where there is a flea-and and tick-free cold season) should have his or her head examined.
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Note from Diane: If you choose to use preventative medications, Consumer Reports claims that the online pet web site, http://www.kvvet.com/ had the best prices on flea and tick preventives like Biospot and Heartgard. I do not have experience with this company-but I thought I'd pass it on for the the pet owners out there.
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Pet care
3 comments:
Thanks for the info. it was very interesting to read. (o:
Honestly I don't like using the chemicals (I use the once a month that goes on the neck) but they work so well and I'd hate to risk a flea infestation because with 4 animals it would be so hard to get rid of them!
I don't treat mine all year round though so they do get a break from the chemical.
Great tips! My two very hairy friends (my dogs, in case you thought otherwise, lol) will appreciate this!
BTW, I think I still have to select "other" when I comment as it didn't let me post when I didn't do that! Hmmm... I am so lost when my "IT guy" goes back to college! :-(
Mrs. B., I understand what you're saying as we used Heartguard medicine with flea protection built in with our two Maltese. Since they are gone, I don't have any dogs to try this idea out on... but it seems like a good solution for dogs with itchy, dry skin. Maybe Erin can see if it works on Peaches. :-)
April, if you are signed in on Google for your blogspot account, then your name should automatically appear under "Choose an Identity". Then all you have to do is click on the "Publish Your Comment" button and it automatically lists your name and gives a link back to your blog. Pretty neat, hugh?
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