Archive for April, 2010

Keeping Your Water-Loving Dog Smelling Fresh as a Daisy: How to Bathe Your Dog

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

If you’re looking forward to spending the summer at a lake or at the beach, your four-legged companion will undoubtedly join you happily. Most dogs love to swim, though others have no interest in messing up their fur with a jump in the lake! There are a few breeds that are known for being expert swimmers, and actually, need regular exercise in the water to keep them happy and well behaved.  A few of these breeds are among the most popular dog breeds in the U.S., including the Golden Retriever, Labrador, and Spaniels.  Though these dogs may relish any opportunity to jump in any body of water, you may not feel the same way (particularly about the after-effects!). Read on for some tips on the best ways to care for and groom your water-loving dogs, as well as a few interesting facts on some of the more popular breeds!

Doggy Bath Time:

One of the most common questions we’re asked is “How often should I bathe my dog?” Unfortunately, the answer is all-too-common: “it depends.” Specifically, the frequency of bathing depends a lot on your dog including its breed, its activity level, what it does when it plays and where it roams. Some dogs just get stinky faster than other dogs. For example, retrievers and other water dogs have naturally oily coats (to more easily repel water), so, while this “design element” (to borrow a term from the fashion industry…) is great for quick-drying coats between jumping in and out of the water, it’s not so great for keeping them clean and odor-free! As a result, they get a case of “doggy odor” faster than some other breeds.

In contrast, short-haired dogs and dogs that spend a lot of time inside also generally need fewer baths than long-haired breeds or dogs that love to go outside and roll around in disgusting things. In all honesty, your nose will tell you how often you need to bathe your dog. However, be aware that bathing a dog too often can be bad for his skin because it strips off the protective oils. This is where wipes, waterless grooming foams and spritzes come in handy. All or any of these products can be used between baths or trips to the groomers for an easy and deodorizing clean-up!

In fact, one of our earthbath fans writes:

  • My Golden Lab has his own kiddie pool that I put out everytime it’s warm. He goes nuts! and right after I dry off his easy drying fur and spray on Vanilla Almond spritz, give him a little brush, and in 1 minute he’s dry clean handsome and sooo good smelling. He makes the bedroom smell great at night.

Now that’s ingenious…  Thanks Elizabeth, for the tip! Now we can think about our dogs doing double duty as a room deodorizer (in addition to foot warmer and/or huggy-pillow)! We never thought of that before!

Now that it’s bath time, however, we’ll walk you through the steps guaranteed to ensure the experience is as painless (and maybe even fun!) as possible!

1) Gather Your Gear: First, get all of your bath supplies together in the bathroom before you get your dog.

You’ll need:

Make sure you are prepared with a high-quality shampoo made specifically for dogs. Dogs’ skin is a different pH than humans’ so it’s never a good idea to use human shampoo on a dog because human shampoo will dry out a dog’s skin very fast and cause a lot of undue problems. All of earthbath’s shampoos are made with all-natural ingredients including natural essential oils and other good stuff from nature. They never contain parabens, harsh soaps, artificial dyes or fragrances, phosphates, or toxins, so you don’t have to worry about what might be left behind on your pet or the environment.

2) Prep: (Brush) Before you wash your dog, brush him. Removing all the loose hair and mats makes the bath easier on everyone. You’re less likely to have matting and tangling if the dog has been thoroughly brushed out first. Water tends to exacerbate existing problems, turning small tangles into mats and small mats into big mats, all of which are very painful to remove. If your dog has twigs, straw, dirt clumps, or other detritus tangled up in his fur, remove it or clip it out if it doesn’t come out easily with a brush.

Once you have your dog in the bathroom, don’t make the mistake I made the first time I tried to wash my dog and leave the door open! Close the door so he doesn’t take the opportunity to leap out of the shower, sopping wet, spraying dog bathwater all over the house!!

3) Wash Cycle: Begin by thoroughly wetting down his fur. Generally it’s easiest to work in the shampoo if you water it down with some water in your hand first.  Make sure you are extra careful not to get soapy water in his ears, eyes, or nose. It’s actually better to do these areas with wipes that have pure, hypo-allergenic ingredients for these extra-sensitive areas. earthbath makes wipes specifically for the ears and eyes. The ear wipes contain witch hazel, a natural cleanser and astringent, to clean out wax and discharge which can cause infections and odor, and the eye wipes are hypo-allergenic and fragrance-free for the extra-sensitive eye area, containing only purified water, aloe vera, and sensitive cleansers boric acid and polysorbate to to keep the area around your pet’s eyes clean and free of tear stains, dirt, secretions and other general discharge with no irritation.

4) Rinse Cycle: When you are done soaping up, it’s time to rinse! Rinsing is extremely important and generally takes at least twice as long as the washing up part (which is why a hand sprayer is very helpful). You want to make sure that absolutely no soap residue is left because it can irritate your dog’s skin.  You can use a doggy conditioner to ensure extra moisturizing for both his coat and his skin. earthbath even offers a wonderful conditioner and creme rinse with colloidal oatmeal that detangles, enriches, and revives the appearance of your pet’s coat and is extra soothing on the skin.

5) Dry Cycle: Now be prepared for some shaking.  (You’ll likely want to resign yourself to the shower to come!) Now it’s time to dry Fido off with all of those towels you’ve collected (the more the better, particularly if he’s medium to large and/or very hairy!), If you’ve trained him from an early age to stand still and accept the noise of a blow dryer, you can also blow out his coat with a brush (curling irons and styling optional!). Keep Fido out of drafts until he’s completely dry, and then curl up with your new daisy-fresh dog!

These breeds are especially known for their innate desire to make a splash, and in fact, many of these breeds actually have webbed feet, a visible sign of their true “water” natures!  Do you have one of these breeds highlighted below? We’d love to hear your water stories and tips for keeping them clean and smelling fresh! If you haven’t yet, join us on Facebook and share your pics and stories with the earthbath community of pet lovers!

  • Portugese Water Dog: The adorable and highly intelligent Portugese Water Dog has catapulted to worldwide attention by the very public pet-selection process of the Obamas upon their arrival to the White House, when they chose Bo, a beautiful curly haired black Portugese Water Dog, to be “First Dog.” Prior to Bo’s arrival in the White House, the Portugese Water Dog was considered to be a rare breed that was originally bred to drive fish into fishermen’s nets, retrieve lost tackle and nets, and to carry messages from ship to ship, or from ship to the land! The Portugese Water Dog is considered hypoallergenic and doesn’t shed. This breed is a very active dog, both intellectually and physically, and must be kept mentally and physically occupied!
  • Labrador Retriever: Considered the most popular dog in the world today, the Labrador Retriever is known to be an excellent family companion. Unfortunately, due to over-breeding, there are many of these wonderful dogs in rescue shelters today. If you are seeking to purchase a puppy, make sure you do so from a reputable source. Labs have a long puppy hood and are often clumsy until they mature (around 3 years of age). These dogs were bred for hunting waterfowl, so be prepared for a dog that will eagerly go for a swim at any opportunity! Their thick coats are somewhat water-repellant.
  • Other Retrievers, including the Chesapeake Bay Retriever (who have webbed toes!) Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever,(a hunting dog whose unusual markings actually lures ducks to them – aka, “tolling”!) and Golden Retriever: Golden Retrievers are right up there with Labs on the list of popular family dogs! These large dogs were bred to retrieve waterfowl and have an instinctual draw to bodies of water – it’s difficult to keep them out of the water if there is a lake or stream in sight! As a result of their breeding to retrieve from the water, their coat is “dense, waxy, and waterproof.” These are exceptionally friendly dogs who are known for their outgoing demeanor though they are a very active, high-energy dog. Be prepared to go on lots of long walks, runs and swims with your Golden!
  • Spaniels, including the Cocker Spaniel, American Water Spaniel, and Irish Water Spaniel: Spaniels are gentle dogs that love their families, but are known to be shy with strangers. They are great companions for children and do well with other animals. The Irish Water Spaniels have a dense, curly coat that has a tendency to be very low in shedding, which makes them a good choice for those who suffer from allergies. They also have webbed feet to aid their swimming habits!
  • Standard Poodle: Poodles, often mistaken for “prissy” dogs due to the specific “poofy” way they are groomed, are actually great working dogs! Poodles were originally bred to be fantastic retrievers and gundogs. In fact, the show cuts you see on Poodles were originally created for a very functional purpose: the “poofs” were designed to protect the dog’s major joints when it was immersed in cold water. The Standard Poodle is highly intelligent and easy to train. The breed makes an excellent family pet and is considered to be hypoallergenic.
  • Setters, including the Irish Setter and English Setter: All setters need to have lots of activity and stimulation, including lots of great opportunities for swims! Because they were originally bred as hunting and pointing dogs, they have a propensity for running and highly active lifestyles, and always enjoy a good wade in a pond or stream.
  • Newfoundlands create a massive splash as the largest dog on this list and are renowned for their work in water rescue! These dogs were originally bred to pull in fishnets and other heavy equipment. “Newfys” are known for their sweet, mellow personalities and their slobbery jowls! These dogs usually weigh in between 100 and 150 lbs! Newfoundlands have a natural fondness for children. Their long coats need to be brushed on a regular basis.


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Posted in Breeds, Canine Health, Dogs, earthbath, Grooming, Helpful Pet Hints, Pet Owners, Staying Active | No Comments »

Happy Earth Day: 7 easy ways to ensure your pet is living an eco-friendly life!

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

An October, 2009 study published in the New Scientist that raised a lot of eyebrows (to put it mildly) as well as not a small amount of indignation among dog owners, suggested that owning a dog could actually be worse for the environment than driving an SUV. Say whaaaa? Two New Zealand architects who specialize in sustainable building tried to calculate the carbon cost involved in owning dog. They focused largely on the environmental cost of feeding a dog, given that dog food is predominantly meat-based. And as we’ve all learned, meat (specifically, the processing of meat) is very bad for the environment. They even translated the results of their study into an interesting book that explores the environmental impact of every decision we make, from what we eat and what we wear to how we travel and live our lives on a daily basis, including, yes, the animal companions that we keep. However, as attention-getting as the headlines are, calculating the carbon cost of a pet is not as cut and dried as: “Owning a dog is worse than owning an SUV”, and in fact, may be rather exaggerated (thank goodness).

Yet, for all of the innumerable benefits our pets bring to our lives, as we think about ways to green-up our own lives this Earth Day, it makes sense to educate ourselves a bit more about how to make our pets “greener” too – and not a la St. Patrick’s Day dye! After all, we’re responsible, earth-loving pet parents, right?

1. Choose eco-friendly dog supplies.
There are tons of green dog accessories and supplies to choose from that are just as cute, comfy, and functional as the “non-green” versions. What to look for: biodegradable materials, material that has been or can be recycled, material that wasn’t treated with flame retardants, and products that are free of plastics. When your dog’s tired of his toys, do as earth- and budget-conscious parents do, and swap with your dog-parent friends rather than throwing them out. (Or if they are just too ratty to give to a friend, try donating your old dog toys, beds, blankets, towels, and accessories to your local animal shelter).

2. Be a biodegradable, green pooper-scooper.
The ideal situation is to flush your dog’s poop after you pick it up in flushable, biodegradable poop bags. How difficult is it to bag the doo and simply carry it back to your toilet, instead of carrying it to a trash can? By flushing your dog’s (and cat’s) waste, it gets the same sewage treatment as your own. It’s really not a good option to fill up landfills with (non-biodegradable) plastic bags full of doggy doo. If you can’t stomach carrying a bag of your doggy’s business around with you, or if you’re on a marathon walk and can’t feasibly tote poop all those miles home, the next best option is to toss that biodegradable poop bag in the trash. Composting dog poop is tricky depending on how you use it, since its bacteria could make you sick if it’s spread on your edible vegetable garden. However, it is possible to compost and many environmentalists do so with success, in different ways. Here is one place we’ve found step-by-step instructions.

Whatever you do, always clean up after your dog. Not only does leaving your dog’s poo on the ground ensure bad karma (how would you like to step in a fresh pile o’ poo in your brand new Louboutins?), fecal matter in waterways (after it gets washed down storm drains) is a surefire guarantee for illness in both people and animals.

3. Use natural flea-repellants.
There are many options for fighting fleas naturally including a number of essential oils that repel fleas and other pests naturally. There are also ways to deter fleas from your yard and home through use of cedar chips and diatomaceous earth. You can also download a guide to fighting fleas without pesticides here. If you must use pesticides, go with a topical, spot-on treatment. If you have winters where the temperatures fall below freezing, talk to your vet about using the treatments only during the warmer flea season.

4. Buy locally-made, natural and organic pet food (or cook for your pets).
Forget that saying: “I wouldn’t feed this to my dog!” to describe less than quality human food and actually use that saying about most commercial dog foods. Your pets should eat the same quality foods you do. Just as important as keeping you and your family healthy, is the health of your animal family members. As much as possible, use organic veggies and antibiotic- and hormone-free meat and dairy in both your foods as well as your pets’. There are many natural, organic and holistic pet foods that use proteins that are raised in sustainable, humane ways, use natural vitamins, and do not contain hormones. Try also to buy locally made pet foods. By cutting out the long-distance transportation and packaging of commercial food, you’re cutting out the additional carbon emissions waste necessary to process and transport the food.

5. Use organic grooming and cleaning products.
Use safe and natural cleaning products that are biodegradable for the planet and safe for your children, your pets, and you. Of course, earthbath pet products use all-natural plant-based cleansers and never contain parabens, harsh soaps, phosphates, artificial dyes/fragrances, or toxins, so you don’t have to worry about what might be left behind on your pet or the environment. For environmentally-friendly ways to clean your house, use natural disinfectants, antibacterials, and cleansing abrasives like baking soda, vinegar, and lemons or brands that use biodegradable and environmentally-friendly ingredients like Seventh Generation or Mrs. Meyers.

6. Think before you toss.
This rule goes for both humans and pets: don’t flush or throw out old medications, or any kind of chemical. All can wind up in the water supply, polluting and potentially toxifying it. The best option is to bring all expired or unused medications to your local pharmacist to be disposed of properly, or for other questionable items (including batteries, printer cartridges, paint, chemicals, etc.), contact your local solid waste agency (1-800-CLEAN-UP).

7. Make sure you green your kitty too.
Most commercial “clumping” cat litter is made of clay and you might be surprised to learn that it’s obtained via extremely environmentally-damaging methods much like coal mining (strip mining), and then piles up in landfills without breaking down. However, there are many eco- (and cat-) friendly litters available made from wheat, corn, and recycled newspaper that are just as good at combating odor, are flushable, and some even clump (naturally). It’s also not a good idea to let cats do their business outside, especially if there is a danger they could go in your or your neighbor’s vegetable patch: their waste can pollute the water and soil with toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that can make pregnant women and the immunocompromised sick.

Happy Earth Day! Being mindful of these issues and taking small but measurable steps to greening your life (which includes your pet’s life too) will benefit your health, your dog’s and cat’s health and, ultimately the planet’s!

Image credit: Zazzle.com (where there are tons of eco-friendly “go green” dog tees and clothing available!)

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Posted in Canine Health, Cats, Diet, Dogs, earthbath, Fleas and Ticks, Grooming, Living Green, Pet News, Pet Owners | 7 Comments »

Easy ways to save water – including waterless grooming for pets!

Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

Do you ever stop to think about how much water you use in a day? Water is one of our most precious resources, and while we in the western world tend to take its constant clean presence for granted, nearly one billion people around the world still don’t have clean drinking water. The United Nations established World Water Day in 1992, celebrated annually on March 22, in order to focus attention on the world’s water crisis, as well as on solutions to address it.

The simple fact is that water is a resource that can be easily wasted, literally running down the drain, but just as easily conserved through many small and effective measures. As with many things that help to protect, preserve and conserve our planet’s resources, every small action adds up!

Recently, we received some great tips and comments from our fans about our waterless grooming foams on our Facebook page.  This got us to thinking about other ways we could cut down on unnecessary water use in our day to day lives, to honor the recently passed World Water Day, and in consideration and celebration of the 40th annual Earth Day which is right around the corner (April 22). Read on for some great, simple tips to save water and energy!

  • Turn off the tap! Did you know that up to 1 liter of water is wasted every 10 seconds that the water runs, e.g., when you’re brushing your teeth or shaving?
  • Water your plants with a watering can (not a sprinkler). By directly watering your plants around their base, by the soil, the amount of wasted water that usually ends up on the plants’ leaves is lowered.
  • Collect rainwater and use this to water your plants. Buckets, emptied juice bottles or empty bins or trashcans are all great receptacles to collect rainwater, and your plants will benefit from the lower amount of chemicals in the water.
  • Save the bathwater! (e.g., don’t throw out the doggy bathwater or the dishwater!) This “grey water” can also be used to water the lawn and the plants. The plants won’t mind a bit of doggy grime or suds; in fact, many plant pests are warded off by soapy suds, so you’ll get an extra benefit from using the grey water!
  • Give a waterless bath to Fido or Fluffy! That’s right! earthbath Totally Natural Grooming Foam will get your dog clean and shiny without water! Simply pump out a few hands full the grooming foam, rub it on and towel it off, and voila! Dander, slobber, dirt and grime are all gone! earthbath also makes waterless grooming foam for cats, legendary water-haters. Both the grooming foams for dogs and for cats contain all natural ingredients that are paraben free, phosphate free, biodegradable and pH-balanced for sensitive skin. Good stuff like shea butter, colloidal oatmeal, meadow foam seed oil and aloe vera condition and nourish both coats and skin.

From our awesome Facebook fans:

“My puppy is a lab, and labs are known for their oil in their fur, which is to keep off dirt. so they dont necessarily need many baths because this washes away their natural oils. Thats where foam comes in :)! don’t always need to bathe him when he’s stinky!”

“Our greyhound girls and Bart the Great Dane LOVE it!!! Of course they have very short hair, they have not had an actual real bath with water and shampoo since last summer, they honestly stay that clean. Of course they are totally house dogs. I love the ear wipes too, Bart especially loves to have his giant upright ears wiped, he feels so good after his treatments. I was a professional groomer/vet tech/dog show breeder exhibitor, etc. for years before retiring so this is coming from experience with lots of products, no bs:))”

“I gave my dog Shelly waterless bath with the “Earthbath Grooming Foam” earlier today (see pic*!). I didn’t feel like spending two hours giving her a real bath so I used the grooming foam that I use for my cats. It was easy, breezy, and we didn’t need any water. I love the fresh green tea smell, too.”

Unfortunately, we don’t recommend that we humans adopt the same tactics and go for months without bathing like the low-maintenance greyhounds and Bart the great dane, and to our knowledge, there’s no such thing as a waterless human soap (though of course, all earthbath products are human tested and approved… so if anyone wants to switch out their normal shampoo for the waterless grooming foam we’d love to hear the results!) so here are some more human water-saving tips!

  • Take 5-minute showers. By switching from baths to showers (short showers), you’ll save up to 230 liters of water, compared to only about 9 liters per minute in the shower. By taking quick showers instead of baths, you could make 1000 cups of tea with the saved water each week. Plus, shorter showers are better for your skin and hair – longer baths and showers are very drying!
  • Store your drinking water in the fridge (or use your fridge water dispenser). This saves you from running the tap (e.g., wasting 1 liter of water every 10 seconds!) as you wait for the water to run cold.
  • Use a water saver/low-flow toilet to save up to 3 liters of water every time you flush. Alternatively, place a brick or a bottle of water in your tank to decrease the amount of water needed to flush the toilet.
  • Run fully loaded: the dishwasher and washing machine, that is! And use the “Economy” setting if you have one – there’s never any need to use the “Pots and Pans” settings – why not spend a little extra time using your own elbow grease – you’ll get a decent arm workout and some extra “grey water” to save for your plants!
  • And finally, for some extra energy saving, turn off the “Dry” cycle on the dishwasher and air-dry those dishes after they’re done rinsing. Just open up the dishwasher door and you’ll save a massive amount of electricity that is otherwise wasted on drying dishes.
  • Likewise with clothes: line-dry your linens! Line-drying your clothes will lengthen the life of your clothes and save oodles of electricity. Did you know that dryers are one of the most electricity-sucking household appliances?

*Photo credit: Elisabeth, an earthbath fan, of her dog Shelly post-waterless grooming foam earthbath. Thanks Elisabeth!

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Posted in Cats, Dogs, earthbath, Fun Stuff, Grooming, Helpful Pet Hints, Living Green, Pet News, Pet Owners, Skin Care | No Comments »

Natural, safe remedies for flea prevention and control

Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

Fleas. Just the word alone induces a skin-crawling shiver. And turning the calendar page this past weekend to April reinforced the seasonal dread: with the onset of warmer temperatures and the accompanying outdoor pleasures, also comes the aggravation of flea and tick season. Battling these pests can be one of the most irritating (ahem) aspects of being a pet owner. Fleas are easily transmissible from other animals that your dog or cat may come into contact with, and then easily jump between the pets and even the humans in your household. Fleas will bite people as well as dogs and cats, and a flea manifestation can be difficult to completely eradicate. These pests are so hardy that they can go months without eating, and can lay hundreds of eggs a day, which can then lay dormant, surviving the frigid winter months.

Because of the increase in adverse effects reported by pet owners following administration of conventional flea spot-treatments, the EPA is taking a series of actions to increase restrictions on flea and tick control treatments.  However, the news  that many pets became quite ill after receiving conventional flea control treatments has many people seeking alternative natural flea control methods.

We recently asked our fans to share their favorite natural flea remedies with us on our Facebook page and as a result, we received so many great home remedies that we thought “let’s research them a bit more and share them in a blog post!” It’s great to know that there are many safe and effective natural options that will help prevent a flea infestation as well as rid your home of the unwelcome pests if they have already made themselves at home.

  • Essential Oils:
  1. Eucalyptus essential oil is a wonderful natural antibacterial and disinfecting agent. By adding eucalyptus essential oil to the final rinse cycle (of your bedding as well as your pet’s), as well as adding it to your natural cleaning solutions, you will create an inhospitable environment for fleas to live in, as well as 99% of the house dust mites which are responsible for causing or adding to most seasonal allergies!
  2. Peppermint essential oil is another well-recognized weapon in the natural oils arsenal against pests, warding off fleas and even ants. Daubing the essential oil on cotton balls and placing them around entry points of the house as well as behind the couch and in corners sends critters scurrying away. Fans of natural pest control suggest placing peppermint and bay leaves in couches, furniture, and pet bedding where fleas may gather.
  3. Citrus oils: From StopTheFleas.Com, this recipe was suggested by one of our fans:  Cut 6 lemons in half, soak in a quart of water for a few hours (or boil the lemons before steeping overnight for an intense lemon infusion) put in a spray bottle and spritz on your pet, especially behind the ears and generally around the head, and also at the base of the tail and the ‘armpits’ (avoiding the eyes, of course!). There are also Citronella sprays which contain essential oils of Citronella, Pennyroyal (a natural flea-repellant herb, which you can also plant in your garden!), Pine and Eucalyptus, and Cedarwood, all great flea-repellants (plus, these natural oils have the added bonus of making your pet smell great – to humans – if not to fleas!).
  4. “Aromatherapy”  oils (lavender and cedarwood): This delicious-smelling repellent can be made by adding cedarwood and lavender essential oils to pure almond oil as the base (or carrier oil). Shake it up, and give your dog an aromatherapy massage – and enjoy the scented results!
  • Natural flea collars: One of our earthbath fans suggested this ingenious and crafty solution: Make your own flea collar by placing various leaves known to ward off fleas (the pennyroyal herb, rosemary, peppermint leaves, bay leaf, and lavender) inside a bandanna, add velcro, and voila!: An easy-to-wear, deliciously-scented, flea-repelling, all-natural flea collar! The velcro makes the interior contents easy to replace: when the scents wear off, just remove the old leaves and refresh with the essential oils mentioned above as well as fresh leaves. If you’re not the DIY type, just rub essential oils of eucalyptus, tea tree , citronella or lavender on your dog’s collar or bandanna.
  • “Internal” flea repellants: Consult a veterinarian before changing or adding to your pet’s diet, but some people have obtained great results with a very small amount of fresh garlic, garlic powder or brewers’ yeast powder added to your pet’s food. Nutritional brewer’s yeast provides B complex vitamins to help keep your dog healthy and inhospitable to fleas (fleas often gravitate to unhealthy animals). Also, a tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar added to the dog’s water bowl in addition to the garlic and brewers yeast mentioned above, makes the animal smell and taste unpleasant to fleas. However, be aware that garlic (like onions) can be toxic to dogs, causing lethargy and even dangerous conditions such as anemia. Therefore, proceed with caution, and above all, make sure you talk to your vet before adding any supplements to your pet’s diet.
  • “External” flea repellants: Cedar chips around your yard, notably around all plantings, under fences and near entry points of your house and garage is a natural repellant to fleas and other insects. Some people use dessicants like diatomaceous earth, which is basically just crushed up seashells. Diatomaceous earth works to kill fleas by its microscopic, jagged edges that will create tiny cuts on the outside of insects that crawl over it. Though it’s largely safe for you and your pets, the fleas (and other insects) will be affected as the cuts to their exoskeleton will cause them to leak water, and they will gradually dehydrate and die. However, though this is considered a safe, environmentally friendly method to kill the fleas and other pests that are living in your backyard, note that there are different kinds of diatomaceous earth, and the pool-grade variety can be EXTREMELY dangerous to both pets and humans, which when inhaled, can cause internal bleeding. As a result, it’s VITAL to use only the “food grade” kind of diatomaceous earth, found at garden supply stores and some natural pet catalogs, and once again, consult your veterinarian before using any of these remedies.
  • Your veterinarian will be able to guide you to the best remedies for your pet, based on its size, your geographical location, risk (and level) of infestation, and other lifestyle considerations.
  • Grooming: Keeping your pets clean and healthy is the best way to prevent many problems, including flea and tick infestations. Use a fine-toothed comb (also called, helpfully enough, a flea comb) and use it to comb through your pet’s hair. If your pet has mats, you will need to make sure all the mats are trimmed or brushed out first.  If you put a bit of petroleum jelly on the comb, the fleas will stick to the comb (rather than jumping off, back onto your pet, into your furniture, or onto you!), and then you can easily wash them down the drain. Bathing your dog and cat regularly with a good, natural shampoo is also a first line of defense against fleas and ticks. earthbath’s Orange Peel Oil Shampoo is great for flea prevention due to its concentrated citrus oil. Orange Peel Oil is the natural oil rendered from oranges, and is also called d-Limonene. d-Limonene is registered with the Federal Environmental Protection Agency as an insecticide and is very effective at killing fleas. The earthbath shampoos and spritzes that contain eucalyptus and peppermint oils also naturally repel fleas without harsh chemicals or pesticides.

Do you have other tried and tested natural flea remedies? We’d love to hear about them – please comment below, or join us on Facebook!

Note: This article has not been written by a veterinarian or accredited animal authority and is meant for informational purposes only. Always consult a veterinarian prior to administering any flea control or prevention methods and certainly if you have any questions or concerns about the health of your pet.

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Posted in Canine Health, Cats, Dogs, earthbath, Fleas and Ticks, Grooming, Natural Remedies, Pet News, Pet Owners, Skin Care | 5 Comments »