Animal Well Being

Animal Well-Being
Frequently Asked Questions
by Marti Miller, M.A.

What are some alternative flea and mosquito prevention methods that I could use on my dogs and cats? JM, Houston, TX

I have learned a lot about what to do about fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes since moving to Texas. In Colorado, I didn’t have to worry about any of these pests. However, life in Texas is a different story. I have been told that the fleas here are not the kind found in other places; they will survive almost anything and are very persistent in their desire to take a ride and have lunch on our animals. I have been searching for ways to keep these little insects off my animals. I am pleased to say that I have discovered some very good ways with which everyone is happy, except the fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes.

In my experience, apple cider vinegar is a good repellent. It is inexpensive and highly effective in the war against fleas and ticks. There are several ways that you can use apple cider vinegar (ACV). One easy way is to wipe your animal’s coat with a saturated cloth or paper towel. You can also spray ACV, diluted 50% with water, directly on your companion.

Once, when the fleas were really bad, I did apply ACV twice daily for three days in a row. After this, the scratching stopped, and when I ran the fleacomb through, I found no fleas. Once the fleas decided that they didn’t want to stick around any longer, I cut back to once a day, and then every other day. Now I am finding that once a week treatment with ACV is sufficient for the cats. My dog requires more frequent applications because she swims in the creek every day.

Another method of flea and tick repellent is to add a teaspoon of ACV to your companion’s drinking water every day. I tried this, but my animals, especially the cats, wouldn’t drink the water.

There are many other uses for ACV other than flea repellent. Because of its antiseptic qualities, ACV can be applied topically for hot spots, skin infections, dull coats, cuts, and wounds. It is best to use it in diluted form in these situations.

Brewers or nutritional yeast and garlic are other effective flea repellents.There are chewable yeast and garlic tablets at almost any pet store. One disadvantage to these tablets is that some animals are allergic to yeast. I use and sell Flea Terminator, a natural product composed of yeast, garlic, green black walnut hulls, vitamins, and minerals. Flea Terminator is both a coat conditioner and a flea and tick repellent. I must say that it has made my animals’ coats very shiny in addition to helping repel pests.

Keep in mind when working with flea prevention that if the food you are feeding has corn in it, your companion’s blood becomes sweeter and more appealing. So it’s a good idea to avoid all foods that contain any form of corn or corn products.

Dr. Pitcairn recommends a homemade skin tonic that I have used as a flea repellent. It is made by thinly slicing a whole lemon, including the peel. Bring one pint of water to a near boil, add the lemon slices and let it steep overnight. The next morning, the cool solution can be sponged onto the animal’s coat. You can also use a crock pot to steep the lemons overnight.

The lemon solution has healing ingredients and acts as an antiseptic. Dr.Pitcairn says that this tonic can also be used in the treatment of mange.

There are essential oils that can be used to assist your companion with insect pests. I use a few drops of eucalyptus, citronella, and tea tree oil, diluted in a carrier oil such as sweet almond, olive, or vegetable oil, to concoct my own insect repellent. You can apply this oil mixture to their collars. In The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care by CJ Puotinen, there is a list of essential oils that can be used as repellents. She suggests essential oils of French basil, cedar, cinnamon, citronella, clove, lemon, lavender, pennyroyal, rose geranium, palmarosa, or opopanax. This formula cannot be used for pregnant animals, who should avoid essential oils of pennyroyal, basil, cedar, and citronella. She also recommends adding a small amount of eucalyptus oil to a liquid soap or pet shampoo. Allow this shampoo mixture to stay on your companion for five minutes before rinsing. Use a flea comb or brush to dislodge eggs, larvae, and adult fleas. (I generally use essential oils only as mosquito repellent. This is purely my preference because mixing essential oils are more labor intensive, and I would rather keep things simple.)

I have to admit that here in Texas there are some pretty nasty bugs. I had not even heard of fire ants until I came here two years ago. One day, when I was pulling weeds, I learned to appreciate the magnitude at which fire ants will attack! Since then, I also have learned that fire ants are useful in the battle with fleas. They eat fleas and their larvae. Now we have a decision to make: fire ants or fleas? I think I would rather deal with fleas. They don’t sting as much!

These are a few things that I have found to help protect our companions from fleas, ticks, and mosquitos. It may not always be possible to go the natural route with insect pests, but it is worth a try. Please let me know if you have found any other effective natural methods. Good luck with the battle!