Living out here in the sand and with a little dog that is so low to the ground (a dachshund), fleas are a nightmare. It does not help when Little Dog decides to take a nap in smack dab in the middle of the sand. You think he would aim for the grass but oh no always has to be sand. No sooner do I get rid of them and guess what….itch, itch, itch….cycle starts all over again. All the chemicals scare me. I can not keep using them on him for fear they will harm his health and longevity. Therefore, I am looking for safer ways to control this situation. So, here we go. This is my new plan.
Eucalyptus, cedar, lavender, orange, or peppermint are known to deter or kill fleas. There are many ways to use essential oils that are completely safe for you dog and family.
Safe, nontoxic flea collar: You will need a bandana. In fact, several bandanas, as the collar will need to be refreshed every week. Your dog can have a snappy wardrobe now! If you sew, making bandanas out of cloth remnants is the least expensive way. Create a mixture of 4-5 drops oil, using one of the above mentioned oils, and dilute it in with 1-3 tablespoons water. This can depend upon how large your bandana needs to be. If you have a small dog, you do not want a soaking wet bandana on them. Put 5-10 drops of oil onto the bandana and rub the cloth together. Place around dogs neck.
- Bandana
- 4-5 drops of essential oil of choice
- 2-3 tablespoons water
Base of Dogs tail: Fleas love to congregate at the base of your dogs tail. The fur is thicker and a very warm cozy area. Simply mix 1-2 drops of essential oil diluting it with a tablespoon of olive oil. This can then be put at the base of the tail and fleas will hate it.
- 1-2 drops essential oil
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Topical Spray: Mix together the following ingredients – 1 cup white distilled vinegar/ 1 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 quart fresh water, 2-3 drops of essential oil. Put this in a spray bottle and keep it handy, Whenever the dog goes outside, spray him to deter fleas from hopping on. When the dog comes back inside, spray him again to repel any that might be lingering. Be sure to get behind the ears, neck and base of the tail. This can be used to spray on bedding and any areas that the dog sleeps or rests.
- 1 quart water
- 2-3 drops essential oil
- 1 cup of vinegar
Water Bowl: Add 1 teaspoon per 40 pounds of distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar to your dogs water. This creates another method to deter fleas. What the dog smells like and tastes like to a flea makes a difference. Fleas avoid nasty tasting food just as people do.
- 1 teaspoon per 40 pounds of vinegar
Bathing and Combing: Lemon juice is used for bathing. Please use freshly squeezed lemon for proper results. Mix together 1/2 cup lemon juice, 2 cups fresh water, 1/2 cup of pet shampoo (I use oatmeal shampoo for calming of any skin issues caused by flea bites). Shampoo as usual.
- 1/2 lemon juice
- 1/2 cup pet shampoo
- 2 cups fresh water
For combing, slice up a fresh lemon and boil and add to a boiling pot of water. Allow the lemons to steep overnight. The next day, or when mixture is sufficiently cooled, dip a pet comb into the mixture and comb through your dogs fur. Cover his entire body.
Note: Lemons contain the chemical limonene which is completely harmless to your dog but will kill the fleas.
Making your own dog biscuits can help create that deterrent environment to keep fleas away from him. I have included a recipe with garlic in it, as garlic is a great deterrent for humans and fleas. Also, it has peanut butter in it which most dogs adore.
PEANUT BUTTER-GARLIC DOG BISCUITS
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 cup white flour
- 1/2 cup cornmeal
- 1/2 cup powdered milk
- 1-1/2 tsp. honey – microwaved for 10 sec.
- 1/4 cup peanut butter – rounded
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- 1 egg slightly beaten egg
Preheat oven to 350°F.
In a large bowl, combine flours, cornmeal, powdered milk, and salt. With a fork, cut in peanut butter until mixture is crumbly.
Then add… (Add nuked honey to chicken stock and to that add beaten egg), then add all above ingredients to dry ingredients. Add beer, (your choice, the alcohol is going to cook off anyway, it’s just for the flavor), one tablespoon at a time until the dough forms a ball. Roll out on a floured surface, (I suggest using the wheat flour… personal preference), to 1/2-inch thick. Use a cookie cutter or knife to cut to desired size.
Place on an ungreased baking sheet, lined with parchment paper.
Bake for 30 – 35 minutes until golden. Shut oven off and do not open until oven is cold. This causes the biscuits to become nice and crunchy, the doggies LOVE IT!
The thing is to create an environment on your dog which is very flea unfriendly without harming him or your family. Always remember that constant vacuuming is extremely important. Vacuum the baseboards because they hide in the teeny cracks there. Vacuum between all the nooks and crannies of your stuffed furniture. Move to vacuum underneath large pieces of furniture. Vigilance is success. You may not think there is a flea there but trust me there is. The only good flea is a dead flea.
“Books are for nothing but to inspire”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
Keep reading and keep learning. If in the interim you find a other ways to do this let me know. I am always open to a new method. Must be chemical free though.