The Green Pet: Alternatives to Conventional Pesticides
Sylvie Farrell with reporting by Aisha Ikramuddin
The Green Guide #24
Last Updated: Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Non-toxic ways to win the war against fleas and other pet pests.
I have used the following flea-prevention regimen with total success for years, even when I lived in California and my dogs lived outdoors during summers of epidemic fleas.
Pet diet and skin care. Feed your pets fresh, whole foods—try to avoid meat by-products, preservatives and artificial colorings. Add either brewer’s or nutritional yeast, fresh garlic or flaxseed oil (found at health food stores) to pet food for skin health and flea repellent. My dogs, Sophie and Hamlet, love the taste.
This recipe is great for your dog’s skin and kills fleas: Slice up two lemons and pour nearly boiling water over them, then soak overnight. The next day, strain the liquid and pour into a spray bottle. The dogs get spritzed liberally and then the solution is massaged into their coats. Citrus oil kills and repels fleas and the pooches smell great, too.
Spray their bedding, as well.
Cats hate to be sprayed, and find citrus offensive, so for felines, make a solution of one ounce pennyroyal oil (also found at health food stores) with 18 ounces of water. Sponge this solution onto kitty and massage it into the coat. You can also spray dogs with this solution—they don’t mind.
WARNING: Be sure to dilute pennyroyal—it can be toxic to pets if used alone. Pregnant women should NOT use pennyroyal. Skin that is irritated from scratching and flea bites can be soothed by applying aloe vera, nature’s miracle healer.
Pet baths. Bathe pets with gentle herbal shampoos. Pesticide shampoos are overkill, since simple soap and water will kill fleas if the soap is left on for about 5-8 minutes.
Flea combs. Use a fine-toothed flea comb to catch fleas, dipping comb into a bowl of soapy water after each sweep through your pet’s fur.
Treatment for your house and yard. Most flea eggs are laid on bedding, not the living host. So vacuuming rugs, floor cracks and furniture frequently, every two to three days, during the peak flea seasons—summer and fall—especially if there is an abundance of rain. Flea eggs can still hatch in the vacuum bag, so invest in extra bags and change them after each use. In severe cases, rugs should be steam-cleaned. Give your pets the gift of cedar-filled beds, which repel fleas, with removable covers that you can launder often. You can also place sticky paper flea traps and a small light bulb in a darkened room to attract fleas. For the yard, Washington Toxics Coalition (WTC) recommends beneficial nematodes—tiny worms that infect and kill flea larvae. They can eliminate over 90 percent of larvae in 24 hours following the first application.Anti-flea sachets. Fleas detest the scent of lavender, mint, rosemary, sweet woodruff and cedar; use sachets of these fragrances between couch cushions.
Low-toxicity pesticides. In cases of overwhelming infestation, try low-toxicity pesticides derived from natural sources. Pyrethrum, or pyrethrins (crushed chrysanthemum blossoms), is toxic to humans, pets and beneficial insects. However, WTC recommends Pet and Premise, an insecticidal soap made by Safer, Inc., which contains small amounts of pyrethrums that do not pose great risks. It is available in retail stores.
Diatomaceous earth (DE) kills fleas by drying them out. DE, a nontoxic, chalky powder made of fossilized algae, can be sprinkled on carpets and lawns. It can be found in garden supply stores. CAUTION: DE is a lung irritant if inhaled, and pyrethrins can trigger allergies and asthma.
As an alternative to the "poison necklace," herb-based flea collars have as their active ingredients different combinations of eucalyptus, citronella, pennyroyal, rue, cedar, sesame, and natural fragrances. While the herbs don’t actually kill fleas, they can repel them.
Approached systematically, the all-natural approach to nontoxic pet care is easy, truly effective and the only way to go if you care about the health of your pets, your family and the planet (not to mention yourself).
For more Information:
Managing Fleas Without Poisons (PDF), Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides
BioIntegral Resource Center (BIRC) in Berkeley, CA (510-524-2567). Call to order booklet on less-toxic flea control available for $6.50.
Washington Toxics Coalition (WTC) "Managing Fleas in Your Home"
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