Summertime is the season for dog owners and their four-legged friends to spend quality time playing in the park, hiking through the woods or just playing fetch in the backyard. It is indeed the perfect season for bonding with your best canine friend.

Unfortunately summertime is also the season for flea infestations. Fleas are an almost unavoidable problem for most dogs, and during the warmer months it is almost certain you will do battle with these bothersome pests. Your pet need not stay outside for long periods of time to come in contact with fleas. As a matter of fact, your pet can pick up fleas from visiting another dog owner’s home.

It really makes no difference where your pet picks up these little critters, what matters is getting rid of them to keep your dog healthy. Some pet owners like to use powders, while others will prefer dips or sprays in an attempt to repel fleas. These methods invariably leave the pets covered in one type of toxic chemical or another. These chemicals which can be quite harsh or even harmful to the pet or the people who are exposed to them are the exact reason that some individuals have opted to go another in another direction in the war on fleas. This direction is the natural path to flea control.

Natural flea control not only works against fleas, it also works with the environment by not adding any toxins to our already toxic laden world. By using natural elements already found in the world around us, you can effectively control fleas without adding to the environmental damage being done, as well as not expose your beloved pet to harmful chemicals and fumes.

One of the first things that you should do is to actually give your pet a good flea inspection on a regular basis. Start by rubbing the fur back using either a flea comb, or you can use your hands. The tell tale signs of fleas will be evident by the actual sighting of the fleas, or by the discovery of small black specks, which are flea droppings. By doing visual flea inspections, you can determine when an infestation is evident, and to what extent it has occurred.

You can create an all natural flea spray to use on your dog which is quite effective by combining a few drops of lemon essential oil and eucalyptus essential oil with a cup of water in a spray bottle. When you spray your dog, be certain that you get some of the frequently missed areas such as the arm pits, the base of the dog’s tail and behind the dog’s ears.

For flea prevention around your dog’s outside pen or kennel, you can use cedar shaving mulch around the perimeter. You can also use the cedar mulch around your yard in order to reduce and repel the number of fleas in your yard.

Commercial dog collars have pesticide in them which releases slowly into the dog’s skin. These collars also tend to release toxic fumes which can actually make your pet sick. To keep the added protection that a dog collar can give while not adding toxins to your pet, you can make your very own natural flea collars. Natural flea collars will not make your dog sick, and are easy to make.

To make your own natural flea collar, start by choosing the material you’d like to use as the collar. You can use a bandana, a cloth collar or even a length of rope will do. Just be certain that the material you use is something made of natural fibers so it will hold the natural flea repellants.

Now that you have your collar, sprinkle it with one or a combination of the following: tea tree essential oil, citronella essential oil, eucalyptus essential oil, geranium essential oil or lavender essential oil. Please take note that you must use essential oils, and not scented oils as there is a difference. You should apply the essential oils to the collar once every week for maximum benefit.

You can also use your dog’s diet to combat fleas. One such way is to purchase brewer’s yeast tablets from your veterinarian or local pet store and add it to your dog’s daily diet regimen. Brewer’s yeast and baker’s yeast are not interchangeable, so be certain you get the correct yeast.

Did you know that you can fight fleas from your pet’s drinking bowl by adding a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to his water? You certainly can! The vinegar is acidic and is excreted through the skin, which fleas do not like. Your dog will not notice the slight addition of the apple cider vinegar if you don’t over do it.

If you have never considered using natural flea control for your dog, you may want to give it a try. It is an easy to do practice which is not only good for your dog’s health, but it’s good for you and the environment as well.

***CAUTION: Certain essential oils are hazardous to cats ***

by Cristy & David Giacomini - Holistic Dog (www.holisticdog.com)
For your dog’s mind, body & soul.

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