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Fleas: Does your best friend have hangers-on?

Monday, September 5th, 2011
Flea Prevention, Flea and tick treatment, fleas

Don't let fleas take over your dog!

It’s among the worst fear of every pet owner: a flea infestation. You know they cause major itchies and irritation, but there are other dangers that can cross the canine-human barrier.  Fleas can trigger problems like skin irritation, allergic reactions and anemia, and are just downright disgusting, since they can also infest your house and bite the human inhabitants living there!

This is all a prelude to say: you should know the signs of fleas and ticks so you can get any infestation under control before it gets, well, out of control.

 

          Flea facts:

  • Fleas are REALLY small: about the size of a pin head.
  • They are generally dark brown or black, and they move quickly and even jump.
  • If you notice your pet is scratching excessively, especially after time outdoors or with other animals, it’s time to search for fleas.
  • Check the head, neck, groin, back legs and base of the tail first, as fleas like to hang out in these areas best.
  • Fleas do not attach to the skin (like ticks), which means they can be transferred from your dog to anywhere in the house, and spread from there. (ick!!)

    Finding and Getting Rid of Fleas:

  • On short haired dogs, run your hand against the direction of fur growth and look for tiny fast-moving specks against the skin.
  • Use a flea comb (with very fine-toothed metal tines) to search for fleas in cats and short-haired dogs:  Run the comb against the direction of growth through the fur, slowly and in sections. Rubbing petroleum jelly on the comb will make any fleas you do find stick to the comb.
  • If you’ve actually found fleas on your fur-baby, sorry, you’ve got an infestation. Now is the time to also check for fleas on your dog’s bed, rugs, or on any  soft places that he spends a lot of time.
  • Bathe your dog: to ensure you’re fully rinsing out the fleas, place a white towel beneath your dog, since fleas often fall off during the rinsing process. You can use any of earthbath’s shampoos, or else your vet may prescribe a special “flea dip” treatment to kill the infestation. Eucalyptus and Peppermint earthbath shampoo is a favorite to soothe skin irritation from flea bites.
  • To get rid of fleas in your house, thoroughly clean and vacuum any area with which your pet has had extended contact (and empty the vacuum receptacle immediately).

    Flea dirt:

  • If you’ve found black/brown dust on your dog or cat’s fur or bedding, there is a good chance this is “flea dirt,” which is the excretions fleas leave behind after they’ve had a meal of blood (hope you’re not eating while reading this!)
  • To confirm it’s flea dirt and not just dirt, wet a white paper towel, press it to the dust and if it turns reddish brown then voila, it’s flea dirt for sure. The reason it turns reddish is because it’s basically digested blood.

    Preventing Fleas:

  • There are many ways to prevent your dog from getting fleas, from all-natural remedies (detailed in our blog post on this topic) including certain essential oils and nutritional additives to topically-applied solutions, and even prescription pills that prevent and also kill any parasitic activity. Check with your veterinarian for the preventative that makes the most sense for your pet.
  • But the best way to prevent fleas is to keep your pet healthy! Fleas and ticks are far more likely to attach to animals with poorly maintained coats and dirty, matted fur and also animals with weak immune systems.
  • 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
  • Ultimately: prevention is ideal, but if you notice an infestation, don’t worry: treating a problem (any problem) as soon as you notice it will help both you and your pet feel better quickly. If your pet is scratching more than usual, take note. Do an examination and if you still can’t detect anything, it’s time for a trip to the vet. As long as you follow proper prevention techniques, you can ensure there won’t be a relapse.

 

Posted in Canine Health, Cats, Dogs, earthbath, Fleas and Ticks, Grooming, Skin Care | No Comments »

Pet Tips for the Fourth of July

Tuesday, June 28th, 2011

The Fourth of July is one of the most dreaded holidays, striking fear and terror into little hearts everywhere… and sometimes sending the bravest of them all scurrying to hide under the bed or into a closet. We are, of course, talking about how this holiday affects your pets. Though you (and especially your kids) love the festivity of fireworks, their deafening noises can scare the daylights out of your dog or cat.

In addition, amidst all of the holiday hubbub, it can be very easy to lose track of your pet and before you even realize it, your (frantic or terrified) dog or cat may have gone missing. In fact, the Humane Society of the United States reports that animal shelters across the country are used to receiving “July 4th Dogs:” dogs who run off during fireworks celebrations and are rescued by animal control officers or helpful citizens who take them to the safety of a local shelter.

We’ve compiled this list of precautions to protect your pet this holiday weekend, so everyone in your family can enjoy a fun and safe Fourth of July!

  • Don’t take your pet along with you to watch your city’s fireworks display. If you’re considering this idea, consider that to your pet, it will seem like they are being tortured, for no understandable reason. Pets LOVE routine, and in addition to routine, a nice CALM routine. To take them so far out of their comfort zone as to a city fireworks celebration will  be nothing but pure terrifying torture to your pet.  In some municipalities, pets aren’t even allowed. Remember how sensitive an animal’s hearing is, as compared to a human’s and be considerate of your pet’s comfort.
  • Keep your pets indoors at home in a sheltered, quiet area while you party. Even neighborhood firecrackers, loud music, and block party celebrations can scare pets. In this case, it’s best to keep your pet confined to a quiet room in the house that he feels comfortable in, with his bed, a lot of chew toys, and some comforting white noise left on, like the TV or music, to mask foreign noises, and to keep him company while you’re out. Remember too that some animals can become destructive when frightened, involuntarily eliminating or defecating in fear, or displacing their anxiety by chewing, scratching, digging, and so on, so be sure that you’ve removed any items in the room you leave your pet in that your pet could destroy or that would be harmful to your pet if he chewed it.
  • If your pet behaves nervously by pacing, whining or crying, distract her by playing with her or doing something she enjoys. Don’t pay extra-special attention to her by petting, holding, cooing at or otherwise babying her. This may actually reinforce her nervousness or fright.
  • Ensure your pet is safely confined in a spot they will feel comfortable in. Some pets can become so upset or frantic by loud noises that they simply want to bolt. Dogs can be very ingenious, and can find very clever ways to get out of rooms, houses, or fenced yards, only to become lost or worse. One such tragic story reported by the Humane Society recounted what happened when a 2 year old dog, left at home alone while her family was out for only four hours to celebrate the Fourth of July, escaped from the house and fenced backyard. The family returned home to feces on the living room floor, an open sliding glass door, and a hole under their fence. Only days later did they find their dog, dead, on the side of a road where she was often walked. “From what we can tell, when she heard the fireworks she freaked out and pooped on the floor inside—for the first time ever—then she opened the sliding glass door with her paw, and dug a hole outside our fence…. She went searching for us.”
  • If you know that your pet is seriously distressed by loud noises like thunder, and there is no safe/quiet haven in your house, consult with your veterinarian before July 4th for alternative ways to help alleviate the fear and anxiety he or she will experience during fireworks displays.
  • Never leave your pets outside unattended, even in a fenced yard. In their fear by the unusual loud noises and lights of fireworks, pets who normally wouldn’t leave the yard may escape and become lost. See the tragic story recounted above.
  • Don’t let your pet help you with the Bar-B-Q! This is a no-brainer, but keep your pet away from grills, charcoal and lighter fluid. Sunscreen, insect repellent and citronella candles can also hurt your pet.
  • Even though you’re indulging, resist the urge to indulge your pet! Your pet will most likely happily eat up anything you give him, but remember that onions, salt, avocados and chocolate can all be fatally toxic to dogs and cats. In all of the festivities and crazy activity, it can be hard to keep track of what your pet has eaten, or what guests have “spoiled” him with, and too much “people food” can make your pet very sick.
  • If you suspect that your pet has ingested a toxic substance, or is displaying signs of overindulgence: Contact your vet or the 24-hour Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435.
  • Make sure your pets are wearing identification tags so that if they do become lost, they can be returned promptly. Animals found running loose without any identification should be taken to the local animal shelter, where they will have the best chance of being reunited with their owners.

Posted in Canine Health, Cats, Dogs, earthbath, Helpful Pet Hints, Holidays, Pet News, Pet Owners, Pet Safety, Travel | No Comments »

Top six (preventable!) pet health problems

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011

You already know preventative care is essential for maintaining your pet’s good health and well-being.

The importance of this is confirmed in the 2011 “State of Pet Health” Report, a 40 page comprehensive summary of research conducted by Banfield Pet Hospital, a nationwide network of veterinary hospitals. Compiled from medical data from more than 2.1 million dogs and 450,000 cats, the report lists the most common diagnoses in dogs and cats, and details six specific and preventable health conditions that are increasingly affecting our pets:

•  Diabetes—Since 2006, there has been a 32 percent increase in canine diabetes and a 16 percent increase in feline diabetes cases.

Prevention: Annual, or even better, twice-a-year examinations help veterinarians detect clinical signs of diabetes early.  The best thing that you can do, however, is to keep pets at a healthy weight through proper exercise and feeding a quality diet. Not only will careful nutrition and exercise management help prevent diabetes, but will also lessen the risk of developing many other serious diseases.

•  Heartworm Disease—This is one of the top three health risks for pets living in the Southern United States, though cases have been diagnosed in all 50 states, though incidence is extremely rare in the Western US, and lowest in the Pacific Northwest region. In 2010, this potentially fatal disease was detected in 6.7 percent of  dogs in Mississippi; 6.3 percent in Arkansas; nearly 5 percent in Louisiana; nearly 3 percent in Alabama; 2.6 percent in Texas; and slightly more than 2 percent in South Carolina. Heartworm disease affects dogs, cats, and ferrets, and can be fatal.  Heartworm is typically transmitted by mosquitoes, so both indoor and outdoor pets are at risk for heartworm disease. And although heartworm disease is more common during the warmer months, it is a year-round condition and has been diagnosed in every month and every state. Most frightening is that although there are treatment options for heartworm disease in dogs, it is neither simple nor risk-free, and there isn’t even an option for heartworm treatment in cats or ferrets. The most common symptoms of heartworm disease include cough, lethargy, difficulty breathing and sometimes coughing up blood. Sudden death occurs rarely in dogs, but occurs more commonly in cats, though prevention is as simple as visiting your vet annually.

Prevention: Annual heartworm tests for dogs and year-round preventitives in either a monthly medication in topical or pill form, or a twice-yearly injection. Cats in heartworm-heavy areas should receive either form of monthly medication, regardless of whether it’s an indoor or outdoor cat (though outdoor cats are much more at risk).

•  Dental Disease— The most common disease in dogs and cats is dental disease, affecting 68 percent of cats and 78 percent of dogs over the age of 3. Just as with humans, dental disease has been associated with changes in liver, kidney and cardiac functions. Interestingly, the top five breeds most likely to develop periodontal disease include: Toy Poodle, Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese, Pomeranian and Shetland Sheepdog.

Prevention: Regular dental examinations by a veterinarian and annual professional dental cleanings, especially for dogs and cats over the age of two. There are also things you can do:
• Brushing at least twice a week! See our post on how to brush your dog’s teeth for more detail!
•  Dental chews, water additives and specially formed dry pet food can be used to help prevent tartar build-up.

•  Ear Infection —The second most common disease affecting dogs and cats is ear infection.  This disease has seen a 9.4 percent increase in dogs and a 34 percent increase in cats since 2006, and can be triggered by many different causes. Underlying problems may include food allergies, ear mites, bacterial or yeast infections or irritation from foreign bodies such as parts of plants, shrubs or trees. There are certain purebred dog breeds that are predisposed to ear problems: Basset Hound, Beagle, Bulldog (American and English), Cocker Spaniel (American and English), Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Lhasa Apso, Poodle (all sizes), Pug, Shar-Pei and Springer Spaniel (English).

Prevention: Ear cleaning at least 1-2 times weekly using proper techniques, instructed by your veterinarian, is essential for maintaining
healthy ear canals in dogs that have been diagnosed with ear infections (or are at risk for  ear infections). Certain pets, such as dogs with allergies, may be predisposed to recurrent ear infections. Regular examinations and veterinary-recommended preventive care techniques can help reduce the frequency and severity of ear infections.

•  Fleas and ticks— Overall, the proportion of flea infestation has increased 16 percent in dogs and  12 percent in cats over the past five years. Flea allergy dermatits is one of the most common skin conditions in dogs and cats, resulting in discomfort, scratching, hair loss, and infections. In addition to the allergic irritation caused by the bite, fleas can also transmit tapeworms and spread certain infectious diseases.The prevalence of fleas increases through spring and summer before peaking in early fall and decreasing in winter. Ticks are found in most parts of the United States and can transmit diseases to all mammals (including dogs, cats, and humans) such as Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, which are potentially life-threatening. October is the peak month for fleas, while May and June are the peak months for ticks. In both dogs and cats, fleas are generally more common in the Southeast and along the West Coast. In 2010, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Florida and Alabama had the greatest prevalence of fleas and ticks in dogs, while Oregon, Washington, Oklahoma, Florida and Arkansas had the greatest prevalence of fleas in cats.

Prevention: Because fleas seek out dark, warm, humid places—usually carpets, bedding, under furniture or in garden debris, they are very much parasites that live among us. There are a number of topical and ingestible flea and tick preventatives, including shampoos, rinses, sprays, mists/fogs, chewable tablets and spot-on treatments. Prevention of tick infestation involves environmental management (such as building fences and cutting back underbrush, hedges, and grass to reduce access to tick habitat) and application of approved products to animals or the environment.  When returning from outdoor activities, a pet’s skin and coat should be inspected in order to identify and remove fleas and ticks. A flea comb can be used on cats and shorter-haired dogs to discover flea “dirt” and fleas – and if evidence of fleas are found, you can administer a “flea dip” in a bath solution designed to kill fleas. If you find a tick – on yourself or your pet – removing it with tweezers within 24 to 48 hours is thought to prevent transmission of most tick-carried diseases.

•  Internal Parasites—Roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms can be transmitted from animals to humans, making them very dangerous not just for your pets, but for you too. Unfortunately, all of these parasites have been on the rise since 2006.

Prevention: In addition to regular deworming of pets, administered by your vet, proper hygiene is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of parasites (and the potential spread of anything to you or your human family!) The recommended frequency of deworming varies depending on the
life stage and individual environment of the pet. Make sure to quickly clean up after pets to remove potentially infective eggs from the environment before they spread, and discourage children (and dogs) from playing in or near kitty litter areas.

Although all of these diseases have increased in occurrence, it is most encouraging to note that they are all preventable!

 

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Posted in Breeds, Canine Health, Cats, Dogs, earthbath, Fleas and Ticks, Helpful Pet Hints, Natural Remedies, Pet Safety | No Comments »

What makes a quality dog shampoo?

Tuesday, May 17th, 2011

We are passionate about animals: especially the dogs, cats, and horses who share our lives, our homes, and our beds (well, hopefully your horses aren’t sharing your bed!). Because our pets are family members too, we feel that they deserve nothing but the best. This is why we do what we do: simply, to create the best, most animal- and eco-friendly grooming formulas for our pets. (Not to mention, for you too: we won’t tell anyone if you steal your dog’s Mango Tango – and you probably will, once you get a whiff of the delicious fragrance!)

Over the years, we’ve gotten a lot of questions about what exactly makes earthbath a top-quality shampoo and what differentiates earthbath from the other brands on the market. When we started, we were asking these questions too, because we wanted to ensure we created the best product possible.

A high-quality pet shampoo and conditioner must always have a few vitally important components:

1) A pH value that is especially formulated for a dog’s delicate skin (between 6.5 to 7.5), since a dog’s skin pH is more neutral than a human’s. The pH of dog’s skin is about 7.5 where a human’s skin is about 5.5, on the standard pH scale from 0 to 14. The pH scale measures how acidic or basic a substance is. A pH of 7 is neutral (pure water has a pH of 7.0). A pH less than 7 is acidic, where each whole pH value below 7 is ten times more acidic than the next higher value. For example, pH 4 is ten times more acidic than pH 5 and 100 times (10 times 10) more acidic than pH 6. The same holds true for pH values above 7, each of which is ten times more alkaline than the next lower whole value.

A dog’s skin is very close to a neutral pH, and significantly more alkaline than human skin, so the kind of shampoo you use on your dog should be much more neutral in pH than the typical pH value of shampoo formulated for human hair (“pH balanced” shampoos for humans are around 4.5-5.5, making them much more acidic, and ultimately very irritating to a dog’s coat and skin). Over time, acidic shampoos also strip away the hair’s protective qualities, removing valuable oil from the coat and skin, resulting in dry, irritated skin and a dull coat. Never use human shampoo on your dog… even though it’s okay to use your dog’s shampoo (as long as it’s earthbath :-) ) on your hair – the alkalinic nature of earthbath shampoo will not hurt your hair, and in fact, is milder than the mildest baby shampoo! All of earthbath shampoos are formulated with a pH as close to 7.0 as possible.

2) Mild cleansing ingredients; ideally soap-free. Soap can dry skin, remove necessary skin oils, and leave irritating and drying residue. All earthbath products are soap-free; the cleansing agents used in earthbath shampoos are hypo-allergenic, renewable coconut-based cleansers, which are excellent at cleansing, without drying out the skin or coat.

3) Easy to rinse out so nothing is left behind on the fur or skin. earthbath worked with veterinarians & groomers to develop ultra-mild shampoos that wash out super easily, with ingredients that are 100% natural, non-toxic, paraben-free, phthalate-free, animal-byproduct-free, and phosphate-free. Even if a tiny bit is left behind, there is nothing harmful in earthbath products to irritate your dog’s skin or fur, and you don’t need to worry about upset tummies following any licking or grooming! Since there is nothing artificial or harmful (to either plants or animals) in our products you never have to worry about the effect giving your dog a bath has on the environment either!

4)  Moisturizing ingredients and conditioners to help the skin and coat maintain their healthy feel and shine. earthbath products contain all-natural ingredients like aloe vera and oatmeal, both recommended by veterinarians to effectively combat skin irritation, promote healing, and re-moisturize sensitive, dry skin. Almost all of our shampoos contain aloe vera for extra moisturizing, including our bestselling Clear Advantages, and our Hypo-Allergenic, just for those extra-sensitive or allergic dogs. Though all of earthbath shampoos are effective and mild, if you have a dog plagued by the itchies, you’ll definitely want to check out our Oatmeal and Aloe shampoo.

People-Tested & Pet Approved!™

Really…

We aren’t kidding when we say “People-Tested!”  Our CEO Paul personally tests every product on himself, and many people write to tell us how their whole family uses earthbath Puppy (“we LOVE the cherry scent!”)/Mango Tango (“it smells better than any other shampoo I’ve ever bought!”)/Green Tea Leaf (“hands down, my favorite!”)/or one of our other twelve shampoos! Try one today and tell us which one you love most!

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Posted in Canine Health, Cats, Dogs, earthbath, Grooming, Living Green, Pet News, Pet Owners, Shedding, Skin Care | No Comments »

Pet nametags save lives and make reunions with lost pets easier!

Monday, May 2nd, 2011

The community where I live has its own micro-blog, a 21st century version of town crier, I suppose, in which up-to-the-minute reports of traffic, crime, community events, new business openings, sales, and general chitter-chatter among the residents hold court. One of the largest (and frequented) sections on this blog is the Pets section, a place where people can post pictures and announcements about lost and found pets. Sadly, but perhaps unsurprisingly, the “Lost” pets greatly outweigh the “Found” pets in number. The good news for my community, however, is through this forum, a greater proportion of lost pets and and their anxiety-ridden owners are reunited than if there was no public forum like this for people to communicate immediately and quickly.

I am surprised at how many of the “Found” pets are noted as having no collar or microchip. Obviously, zero identifying markers makes their reunion with their owners much more difficult. If not for this (or a similar) community forum, the owners would have no other option but to go the old fashioned route: putting up “Lost Dog” flyers, and frequenting local animal shelters, armed only with hope that their lost animal family member will turn up, and that they get to the shelter first before their furbaby is adopted out to another family, or worse, euthanized!

The loss of a pet is one of the biggest fears of any pet owner, and yet is one of the most preventable calamities. Simply putting a simple, inexpensive name tag on your pet’s collar allows anyone that finds your pet to 1) recognize that it’s not a stray and is in fact a loved family member, and 2) get him back to you immediately. Most people are more likely to approach and take in an animal with a collar than one without (particularly if it’s a medium or large-breed dog).

Even though microchipping has become a very popular option for safeguarding your pet due to its permanence, microchips are invisible, and without a collar, the person finding your pet may not know it’s a family pet, and are more likely to simply alert animal control that there is a loose dog in the area. A microchip is a tiny device that your veterinarian quickly and safely injects just under your pet’s skin, that remains there for life, unnoticed by your pet. The microchips contain a unique ID number that is linked either to the veterinary office that inserted the chip, or directly to you, depending on what service you pay for.  It costs more to have the microchip linked directly to your phone number. Even with a microchip, you’re not completely safeguarded from losing your pet. Though these microchips are read by many veterinary clinics and animal shelters using electronic hand-held scanners, not all animal facilities have scanners, and the individual who is most likely to find your pet probably won’t have a scanner either. In addition, this service can also become essentially useless if you don’t update the microchip service and veterinary office it’s associated with, anytime you: 1) change addresses 2) move 3) switch vets and/or 4) change phone numbers.

All animal control centers and veterinary services should check for microchips, so paying for microchipping is still a great safeguard for your pet in case your pet gets out without his collar and subsequently turns up at one of these places, but if your pet is wearing a collar with name tag, you will probably be reunited with your lost pet much quicker. If a microchip is the only identifier for your pet, the time that can elapse between when your pet is found, taken into a shelter or veterinary office, scanned, located, and then reunited with you, often through the roundabout method of the microchip service contacting the linked veterinary office, who then has to locate the appropriate medical records and call the phone number associated with that record, can be nail-bitingly lengthy. With a nametag, the reunion can be more immediate since the person finding your pet can simply call you directly.

The best plan to safeguard your pet is to ensure that he wears his collar anytime he is outdoors or on a walk, and that his collar contains two tags: 1) his updated rabies vaccination license number and 2) his ID tag with his name, one or more updated contact phone numbers, and any other relevant information (e.g., “Reward!” / your address / “I take daily meds!” / “I love earthbath!” :) etc.). Ensure that the nametag is legible and contains current information, and replace it over time as needed.

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Posted in Breeds, Cats, Dogs, earthbath, Helpful Pet Hints, Pet News, Pet Owners, Pet Safety | No Comments »

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