The climate’s getting hotter, and meaning extra fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes! Here are some pure, non-toxic methods to guard your canine or cat from these pests and the ailments they carry.
Fleas, ticks, and mosquitos are an enormous headache for canine and cat dad and mom. Not solely can their bites trigger lots of itching and discomfort, however these pests may unfold ailments corresponding to West Nile Virus and Lyme. Many of the preventatives for safeguarding companion animals from fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes are comprised of poisonous chemical substances that may trigger different well being issues. Let’s have a look at some pure, non-toxic methods to guard your cat or canine with out exposing her to harsh chemical substances or pesticides.
1. Minimize publicity to pests
Begin with these easy routines to reduce your canine or cat’s publicity to fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes:
- Regularly groom your companion: this goes a great distance in relation to killing and stopping fleas and ticks. Go over your canine or cat with a fine-toothed flea comb to reveal hidden culprits. If you discover any fleas or ticks, get rid of them by throwing them in scorching, soapy water. Be positive to detach ticks promptly and accurately by utilizing a tick removing instrument. You may bathe your animal in pure flea and tick shampoos, or make one your self utilizing the recipe at proper.
- Wash her bedding commonly in scorching, soapy water. When shopping for new bedding, make sure that it may be machine-washed and dried for deep cleansing.
- Vacuum surfaces the place your animal hangs out, corresponding to sofas, chairs, or rugs. If your canine or cat already has fleas, you might must vacuum day by day.
2. Ban bugs within the yard
Your yard could be a breeding floor for fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. You might help deter these pests with some easy practices:
- Regularly trim grass and bushes round your home. Keep leaves raked and particles eliminated.
- Eliminate free-standing water in pots, small swimming pools, or chicken baths. Dump and refill your chicken bathtub day by day.
- Use food-grade diatomaceous earth round bushes or close to wooded areas.
- Apply useful nematodes to gardens and grassy areas. These little worms eat fungi, microscopic creatures, and micro organism in sediment and soil — in addition they eat dangerous parasites.
3. Make pure DIY repellents
You can simply combine up your individual non-toxic pest repellents. These formulation use pure components, so that they gained’t hurt your animal.
Vinegar repellent: Mix 2 cups of apple cider vinegar with 1 cup of water. Shake and spray your animal’s coat.
Lavender important oil: This is a pure pest preventative. Dilute a number of drops of the oil in some water, and spray it in your animal’s coat and bedding to maintain fleas away. Be positive to make use of solely top quality, therapeutic grade oils — low cost oils are normally adulterated and comprised of inferior, probably dangerous components.
Chamomile tea: Make a pot of chamomile tea and permit it to steep. Then let it cool and add to a twig bottle. Spray round your animal’s bedding or on her coat. Chamomile is a pure repellent and has a soothing scent.
4. Feed your canine or cat a nutritious diet
A top quality, complete meals eating regimen helps increase your canine or cat’s immune system and total well being. This means he’ll be much less more likely to react badly or get sick if bitten by a flea, tick or mosquito. A wholesome animal with good pores and skin and coat situation can be much less more likely to entice pests within the first place. Here are another meals you would add to his eating regimen:
- Apple cider vinegar: Pour a teaspoon into your canine’s water to assist repel pests. Note: this may increasingly not work with cats, as a change of their water’s taste may deter them from ingesting it.
- Kefir: This is a fermented yogurt drink your canine or cat will love. It might help enhance pores and skin, coat, and gastrointestinal well being. Avoid sweetened kefir and purchase solely natural merchandise.
- Brewer’s yeast: This ingredient has excessive acidity, which makes it a terrific weapon in opposition to fleas and ticks. You can add it to your animal’s meals however watch out to not use an excessive amount of as it might trigger fuel.
5. Consider pest-repelling dietary supplements
Certain dietary supplements can increase your canine or cat’s immune system and repel bugs. Before including any complement to his eating regimen, nevertheless, it’s necessary to debate it with a holistic or integrative veterinarian.
A recent study achieved on the Department of Clinical Sciences, Université de Toulouse in France, discovered that cats fed a plant-based eating regimen, together with dietary supplements corresponding to rosemary, thyme, lemon balm, wormwood, fenugreek, and lemongrass extracts for flea management, had lowered flea populations. With steady use, the cats didn’t want some other pest management therapies. They additionally had no opposed reactions to the dietary supplements.
Another dietary supplements that repels pests is noni, a Hawaiian fruit wealthy in antioxidants. It relieves pores and skin irritations in addition to muscle ache.
Omega-3 fatty acids are additionally necessary. They have anti-inflammatory properties, which might help with allergy symptoms, and assist in protecting the pores and skin and coat wholesome.
Essential oils for repelling pests
A wide range of important oils will repel pests, however as talked about within the article, it’s crucial you employ solely the best high quality merchandise to be used on or round your animal companion.
Essential oils that assist forestall pests embody cedar, lavender, rosemary, and peppermint. Citronella and lemon important oils are additionally good repellents for fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes, however should be used with further warning round animals – particularly cats.
Never use important oils at full energy in your animal. Always dilute them with service oils corresponding to jojoba, coconut or olive oil.
DIY canine shampoo for fleas and ticks
- 1 quart heat (not scorching!) water
- 1 cup vinegar
- 1 cup child shampoo
Mix components and bathe your canine twice a month. Remember to rinse completely.
Fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes will at all times be with us. But that doesn’t imply they must make your canine or cat depressing or sick. The pure practices and repellents outlined on this article will assist preserve these pests at bay so your finest buddy can benefit from the spring climate in consolation!
Jennifer Hinders is a contract author, editor and canine lover who lives in Fairfax, Virginia.
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