For the Love of My Furry Friends
I love spending the afternoon in the yard with my very energetic kids. They can run for miles and seem to never run out of energy. Although this might be true for my red-headed boy, I’m not talking about my 2-legged kids. I’m referring to my 4-legged fur balls. Holly could play ball for hours, then enjoy a good roll in the grass. My pooches love the outdoors, especially Libby who could spend hours just basking in the sun. When it’s time to drag her inside, I don’t want her bringing in extra visitors. We have a house of 10 already, and I don’t want backpackers to take over the bedding.
When I decided years ago after the many books and articles on research of how synthetic chemicals were dangerous to my body, I knew the same was true for my pets. So, if you want what’s best for your 4-legged family, read on.
Let’s be honest…I’m a busy, homeschooling mom of 4 kids, 3 dogs, 2 cats and 12 goats. Anything I do must be like pushing the EASY button. I love convenience, but I’m also not going to sacrifice my pet’s health for convenience. The products I use must be convenient but also so safe I feel like I can ingest them.
Here is why I don’t do conventional….
The Problem with Chemical Flea & Tick Treatments
How to Avoid Exposing your Pet to Unnecessary Toxic Chemicals
Many of us treat Sparky as one of the family, and if you wouldn’t put it on your child, then you wouldn’t put it on your dog. Lucky for pet lovers, there are numerous ways to ward off pests like fleas and ticks without jeopardizing the health of your pet.
Essential Oils
Essential oils are very diverse and usually serve multiple purposes at once. Cedarwood oil not only repels fleas and ticks, but it also kills them by dehydrating and suffocating the pests while also calming & grounding your pet. Lavender also deters fleas & other insects. Just like lavender baby wash calms babies for bedtime, lavender essential oil has a calming effect on your dog. Other oils like Clary Sage, Lemongrass and Geranium are highly effective as well.
An easy way to incorporate essential oils in your pest control regimen is to add a few drops to your dog’s shampoo. Young Living’s Animal Scents shampoo already has several of these essential oils in it so you can wash and go with no added steps. You can also dilute these oils by adding 1-2 drops in a fine mist spray bottle with a half and half mixture of witch hazel and water. Spray the mix directly on your pet’s coat to ward off pests each day.
As a frequent user of Young Living products, I’ve found their all-natural plant based insect repellant to be highly effective. It works two-fold because it’s great for keeping bugs off you AND your pets. No need to buy a different product! Mix half repellant with half witch hazel in a fine mist bottle and spray on your pet’s coat to repel pests all day. It’s that EASY.
Bath & Apple Cider Vinegar
Surprisingly a warm bath is highly effective in ridding pets of flea infestations. The fleas just fall off when exposed to water because they don’t hang onto the hair shaft. Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is another great repellant because it is anti-parasitic. Add ACV to the water as a final rinse at bath time. It can also be added to your pet’s drinking water to repel ticks through your pet’s skin. ACV can also be used as a spray for your pet’s coat to not only deter fleas, but it also makes their coat shiny. The smell goes away in a few minutes and doesn’t harm your pet in any way.
Garlic...more than a seasoning
If you want a treatment to not only repel bugs, but kill the existing ones then garlic is good option. Garlic is deadly to ticks. Fresh cloves can easily be minced up and fed to your pet. Raw garlic contains enzymes that will not only rid your pet of ticks, but they are very beneficial to your pet’s overall health. These enzymes get built up in your pet’s skin making it unsavory to the terrible little blood suckers. In order to build up the enzymes in your pet’s skin, add about ½ a teaspoon to your pet’s food daily for two weeks and then cut back to twice a week for maintenance. This ratio is safe for small and larger breeds. Be sure to let it sit for a few minutes after you mince it in order for the pungent smell to subside.
Citrus Juice....not just refreshing
You can also rub freshly squeezed citrus juice onto your pet’s coat to repel fleas. It also has the benefit of smelling nice. Be careful to avoid your pet’s sensitive eye and nose areas though.
Diatomaceous Earth & Nematodes
If you treat your pet, but they are consistently picking up new bugs when they go outside, then you may need to address your yard or outdoor pet area as well. Diatomaceous earth is safe and can be sprinkled anywhere you think pests may be congregating. Since this product is microscopic shards that are harmful to tiny pests, be sure not to breathe it in while applying and that your pets aren’t actively present while you use it. Once it’s applied it’s safe to be around and will help kill existing pests by cutting and damaging their soft outer layers. You can also invest in natural predators like nematodes to help ward off any infestation in your yard. Nematodes are tiny worms that infest their host and kill it from the inside. They are completely safe for humans and your garden use as well for added pest control. (3) (4) (5) (6)
At the end of the day our pets are like our extended family, and there are so many ways to win the battle against blood thirsty insects without pumping them full of harmful chemicals.
I do love sharing my love of essential oils with others, and I am very picky on the brand I use. If you want to know how to get a discount on the highest quality, most potent essential oils on the market, follow this link.
