The feeding, training, and grooming involved in having a dog can become overwhelming. Preventing fleas is another task that will be required since these small pests can cause big problems for your dog and your home.
Fleas crawl across your dog, biting and irritating the skin and coat. Your dog may begin scratching excessively in an attempt to rid their body of these unsightly pests, but the scratching will only irritate the skin and coat further. In adding, the use of prescription ointments may cause your dog to have allergic reactions. To protect your dog's skin, coat, and underlying health from fleas consider using one of these non-toxic solutions:
DIY Flea Collar
There are many flea colors available in discount stores and pet shops, but these products may contain toxic chemicals that are ineffective and irritating. Using essential oils, you can create a DIY flea collar that is safe and effective.
In a bowl or bucket, add ½ cup of water and 10-15 drops of lavender essential oil. Place a bandana that fits your dog's neck into the bucket and allow it to soak for a few hours.
Wring out the excess liquid and allow it to sit and dry for a few hours. Then, tie the bandana around your dog's current collar to ear.
The strong aroma of lavender repels most types of insects, including mosquitoes and fleas. Your dog will not have to worry about fleas affecting their health while wearing this collar. Be sure to soak a new bandana in the lavender solution every few weeks to ensure the collar is effective.
Rosemary Bath
From its overall beauty and pleasant aroma to its flavor that makes many recipes flavorful, the benefits of rosemary are wonderful. While surprising for most people to learn, rosemary is also an effective option for deterring insects, such as fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes.
Creating a bath infused with fresh rosemary can not only repel fleas and ticks, but it can also rid your dog's coat of these problematic pests.
Be sure to consult your veterinarian before using anything new on your dog's coat, especially if they have allergies.
On your stovetop, place 2 cups of fresh, chopped rosemary in a pot of water and bring to a boil. Once it is boiling rapidly, remove from the stovetop and strain to remove the rosemary pieces.
Add a gallon of warm water to the boiled, strained water and then allow it to cool to room temperature. With your dog in a bathtub, pour the infused, room temperature water over their body. Make sure it soaks their coat, but avoid getting the water into your dog's ears and eyes.
Preventing and controlling fleas does not have to involve toxic chemicals and irritating ointments. Using one of these holistic solutions, you can control fleas in a safe, natural manner.
Contact a vet office like Kenmore Veterinary Hospital for more information and assistance.
