How to Avoid Pest Infestation, Naturally

I do not use prescription or chemical flea and tick control. I live in South Florida, one of the ‘riskiest’ places for fleas and ticks, year round.

In the “puppy packs” that I received from my vet when I got Louis and adopted Ella, there it was, Frontline, with pamphlets to emphasize the importance of flea and tick control and the havoc that these pests can wreak on a dog’s health. Those scare tactics work. I was scared - so scared that I gave Louis an application of the stuff right after his puppy checkup, 48 hours after he arrived at his new home.

I hated the toxic smell and the oily residue it left on Louis’ coat. I hated that he fervently scratched at the application area for the next month. The packaging said to avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing and wash my hands thoroughly with soap and water after using the product.

OK, so am I just not supposed to touch my beloved puppy???

This is a pesticide. Would you apply a pesticide to your own skin???? Didn’t think so. I tossed the next month’s application in the trash. It wasn’t easy. I was blatantly ignoring a veterinarian’s advice. What kind of mom ignores a doctor’s advice? Ultimately, I felt I had to trust my gut instinct. This was a few months before my holistic education began, and often this is the type of event that leads pet owners down a holistic path.

Flea and tick prevention is not easy. It is a struggle for every pet owner, especially in warmer climates and during the summer when it is most fun to be outdoors with your pal. The truth is, I meet people all the time who tell me, “I use (insert choice of prescription pesticide here), every month like my vet said too, but Fluffy still has fleas and ticks!

Yeah, these products don’t completely protect your pets. Stinks, but its just another myth in the million dollar industry of dogs, flea and ticks. So, before I get into the health ramifications of applying a pesticide monthly directly to Fluffy’s skin, let me please say that even if you choose to use a veterinarian prescribed or over the counter flea and tick pesticide, you still have your work cut out for you. Nothing is as foolproof as being a proactive pet owner.

Owning a dog is a lot of work. Bearing in mind that my dogs weigh in together at a total of maybe 14 pounds, I am respectful of those who choose to parent Louis and Ella’s large breed cousins. Big dogs are awesome! But, they also need a lot more time invested in controlling fleas and ticks. Make sure you are ready for the commitment the dogs you own require, be they big, tiny, hairy or hairless, its a lot of work.

Since abandoning the standard flea and tick prevention route, I have taken on a routine that has kept my pups relatively problem free.

First off, please note that fleas and ticks are far more likely to infest the immune deficient pet. Your pet is likely to be immune deficient if he is eating a commercially prepared, chemical laden diet, if he is subject to routine vaccination, if he is in poor mental health or is neglected in any way. Unfortunately, any one of these descriptions are true of most pets. Flea and tick infestations are indicative of immune and vitamin deficiency and any infestation should be ample warning that your pet has an underlying health problem that will continue to progress without care.

The first step is nutrition. Feeding a whole diet that is fresh, natural and chemical free is the beginning. These products are beginning to become increasingly present in retail venues, making them easier to obtain then ever. Don’t rely on the packaging to tell you that the food is natural, look at the ingredients. Are their real meats and vegetables instead of byproducts and wheat gluten? Read up on animal nutrition. Dr. Pitcairn’s New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats contains the gold standard in what to look for as far as feeding your pet. It is easy to understand for beginners and is extremely valuable in easily understanding natural pet health. He also offers insight into raw feeding and is conscientious while describing the risks and rewards.

I am a raw feeder. The immunity benefits of raw feeding have been tremendous for my dogs. In addition, I use supplements catered to their specific needs. I use an enzyme supplement, so the dog’s derive the maximum health benefits from their food. I use a high quality cod liver oil to promote skin and coat health, but the real benefit of the oil are the vitamins A & D that promote immunity and overall well being. I also use an all around natural immunity booster called DMG. In addition, supplements such as garlic or yeast that make the blood of your pet unpalatable to pests. Don’t forget to stay calm and happy in your own life, as your stress and struggles are obvious to your dog and when he picks up on that and is subjected to it in extremes or over a long period of time, his immunity will be compromised. Dogs are exceptionally tuned into their pack or family. Louis had a tick hop on him (removed promptly, before he began feasting), had some diarrhea and a sore on his ear while I was in the thick of my illness. He had taken on my stress and fears, resulting in compromised immune function. Louis’ doctor’s prescription was for me to practice relaxation and meditation techniques with Louis in the room or on my lap. All that was unwell has resolved, for us both! Simple and inexpensive!

The second step to a flea free friend is frequent bathing. I aim for twice a week and up to four times a week in hot weather, more often if anything buggy has arrived. I know people say over washing dogs can lead to dry skin, but with proper nutrition and a gentle shampoo and good conditioner that contains skin soothing ingredients, I have not had any problems. A serious scrub with warm water kills fleas, removes their eggs and often reveals ticks that have latched on. If I see a flea or tick on one of my dogs, we head straight for the shower. I am not going to lie - sometimes its a pain to do this, but imagine the fleas or ticks in your bed at night or crawling onto your skin while you give your dog hugs and affection. That is enough to motivate me to get scrub happy. If thats still not enough, check out that gross picture of the flea I included. Eww.

If you are not using any homeopathic remedies, and you are having serious and consistent problems controlling the issue, you can use a product containing essential oils that are unfriendly to fleas and ticks. Some of these may include tea tree oil, pennyroyal, eucalyptus, cedarwood, sage or citronella. There are others I know I have left out. Do not apply essential oils directly to your pet. They are extremely concentrated and a few drops in the shampoo do the trick. If you are unfamiliar with these products, there are plenty of pre-formulated natural shampoos that contain these oils. If you wash frequently, please alternate essential oil containing shampoos with gentler natural shampoos to avoid skin irritation.

My next step is going to seriously make you think I am completely neurotic. Each night before bed, I comb both dogs out with a flea comb. Everywhere. Leave no ear unturned and no paw unlifted. Examine your fur kid as often as possible, even if in the context of playtime or belly rubs, poke around and make sure he is flea free. Make sure to diligently check in areas that are warmer, like the sensitive and vulnerable ears, his adorable belly, around his tail and the inside or outside of his thighs. These are common places for pests to take up residence.

Some of my holistic minded friends use natural repellent sprays before each trip outside that contain essential oils that make the dog undesirable to pests. This is another great option for big and or really hairy dogs. Spritz ‘em down! Again, if you are using any homeopathic remedies, your practitioner or guide will advise against this, as essential oils may disrupt the remedy’s process of stimulating natural healing.

Do not use essential oils or the suggested supplements on cats. They have very different nutrition and flea and tick needs - there are plenty of great natural cat rearing resources on the internet and at your bookstore.
This is the advice I dole out to dog owners. In sunny south Florida, with regular walks and romps through the park, I have found three ticks on Louis over a period of 8 months. Only one of them had attached and begun to burrow, and this was during the period while I was transitioning his diet. The other two were just hanging out, pretty bummed that they hopped on a guy who was to healthy and untasty to snack on!

I have yet to have a flea infestation. I have found “flea dirt” (bits of dried blood from flea excretion), so he has been bitten, but they didn’t hang around. A good week of daily scrubs deterred the problem.

Finally, frequent vacuuming and cleaning of carpets, floors, upholstered furnishings and all bedding will kill anything that fell off your pet. One flea on your dog can mean about thirty fleas are in the house. Sick! Be conscious of using non-toxic cleaning products to eliminate unnecessary exposure to chemicals which may compromise his and your immune system.

I realize this is all very time consuming. Assuming responsibility for a pet means a huge lifestyle change. As with children, we are the ones responsible for our pet’s health and well being. Its not easy being covered in fur! All kinds of things can get hidden in there.

There is plenty more to say on the subject and I will be following up with information about why fleas and ticks are dangerous, the health risks associated with these icky creatures and the risks associated with the standard pesticide pest controls. Fleas and ticks needn’t keep our dogs from enjoying a fulfilling outdoor life.

Responsible pet ownership is multi-faceted and each dog has his or her own unique set of needs. Getting to know your pet is ultimately the best thing you can do, know his needs, moods, likes and dislikes. Each dog, like us is an individual and when treated as such, its a safe bet that at the end of your leash is a dog brimming with vitality, spirit and health.

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