Edie MacKenzie

Edie MacKenzie is a published author, traveler, dog lover, and tortoise enthusiast. Passionate about what she does, her books provide peopel a firm grounding in the dog breed and their unique characteristics with a nice touch of humor.

Five Dog Fleas Natural Remedies

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If there is anything in the world that you can’t think of any positive attributes to describe, it will be pests. Pests are damaging. They can risk the health of humans and animals. Fleas are considered as pests. The favorite prey of fleas are dogs and cats. Then again, they can infest people as well. Fortunately, there are so many things that you can do to get rid of these parasites. You can choose to use commercial anti fleas products or home regimens. They are equally effective. Although commercial products may be slightly costly. Cited below are some of the most effective anti fleas regimens that you can try at home.

Liquid Soaps
Liquid soaps are chiefly used in the kitchen as it can remove hard to wash grease and soils. But did you know that liquid soaps are also very effective in killing fleas? Truly, liquid soaps like Dawn Lemon Scented Liquid Soap is a great flea repellent. To use as flea killer, mix the soap in a basin of warm water. Bathe your canine friend. Ensure that you wear clean gloves before you wash your pet to guard yourself from fleas.

Flea Free Diet
Prevention is very important. One way to prevent fleas infestation is to sprinkle garlic to your dog’s every meal. Adding Sulphur to their diet at least once a week can significantly help as well. Black Walnut Hulls are also good for pets since it help repel fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. You can buy Black Walnut Hulls in capsule form. They are on hand in various health food stores and even online.

Herbal Shampoos
There are herbs that are very strong in combating fleas. Rosemary, lavender, pine cedar, eucalypus and geranium are very prevalent herbs that are useful in getting rid of fleas. Find a commercial shampoo that contain these herbs in your local grocery or explore online.

Always wear clean gloves when washing your dog. Pour a smal amount of shampoo unto your hands and create a lather. This is important to note. As soon as the shampoo gets in contact with the dog’s fur, inevitably fleas will try to breakout. The lathered up border will trap and kill the fleas that are trying to get out. So after creating a soapy lather, proceed to washing your pet. Pay special attention to the neck and head region. To achieve its maximum effect, be sure that you leave the shampoo for at least fifteen minutes prior to rinsing. Rinse your dog carefully and dry well especially when it is chilly and cold to prevent draft.

Vinegar
Vinegar is a general kitchen ingredient. Add vinegar to your pet’s bathtub and you’ll see that the flea count is greatly reduced.

Use Avon’s Skin So Soft
According to researchers at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Avon’s Skin So Soft is a marvelous flea repellant. Avon’s Skin So Soft is available in the premier groceries and online stores. Make a wash solution. Carefully mix 1 ½ ounces of Avon’s Skin So Soft bath oil to a gallon of water. Soak your dog in this special bath. Based on the study, a considerable 40 percent drop in the flea count was observed after using this remedy in just one day.

As a dog owner, you ought to be responsible in looking after your pet’s health. Certainly, fleas are difficult to eliminate. Still, don’t belittle them because they are damaging. Try the home remedies above and see which one works for your dog. Cheers.

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Canine Ticks – Simple Ways To Remove Ticks

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Ticks can cause serious health problems for dogs, including humans. When it comes to transmitting communicable diseases, they rank second to mosquitoes. To identify if your dog is infested by ticks, following are the signs and symptoms to lookout for: irritation, inflammation, local infection, hypersensitivity, fever, lameness, loss of appetite, sharp pain in legs or body, arthritis, malaise or lethargy, cough, babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis.

Since ticks are hard to detect if the dog’s fur is long, most pet owners would maintain their pet’s hair short for easy tick detection. In searching for the presence of ticks, it is advisable to don gloves. Rub your hands against the dog’s hair and feel for bumps. Visually check if it is a tick.

Removing Ticks – Common Practice

To get rid of ticks, spray alcohol or pour one to two drops of mineral oil at the tick. It will immobilize the tick in seconds. It also helps loosen its clasp to the dog’s skin. Carefully, grip the head of the tick, as close to its mouth as possible. Carefully apply pressure. Carefully, remove the tick away from your pet’s skin. Avoid gripping the tick at its head as not to twist the tick. Twisting can leave tick debris or other parts behind. Be conscientious not to crush the tick. Crushing the tick can spread more microorganism, or worse, it can cause the blood of the tick to access the dog’s stab. If the head or any part of it remains in the dog’s skin, remove them cautiously. Although the immune system of the dog can usually banish these remainders, an infection or swelling might occur, so it is best to contact your veterinarian if uncertain.

After removing the tick, drop the parasite to a mineral oil or alcohol, ensure that it is dead before disposing it to a nearby garbage bin. To avoid transfer of infection, wipe the mineral oil in the dog’s fur and then disinfect the area with alcohol.

Efficient Tools For Tick Removal

It is not expedient to directly takeout the tick with your bare hands. Doing so can transfer bacteria from the tick to your nails. Although removing dog’s tick might not be as easy as you think, there are other strategies to readily remove ticks by using different tools such as curved hemostats, tick spoon, tick slider, tick nipper, tick noose, and tick pincers. Curved thermostats are traditionally used by physicians or veterinarians. Tick spoon on the other hand, is an impressively well-crafted little plastic spoon with a notch at the end. Tick spoon is used by sliding the notch under the tick before levering it off. The tick slider is very similar to the tick spoon. Simply, slide the instrument under the tick before lifting it off. Tick nipper is a little plastic instrument with a curved jaw, which enables you to grasp the tick by its head before lifting it off. Tick forceps is just like an instrument used by ophthalmologists. It can readily grasp the head of the tick because of its fine tipped end. Never use sharp objects when removing ticks as not to poke holes in your pet’s skin.

Although ticks might be removed easily using various instruments, prevention is still far better than cure. Regular bathing and other preventive tick medications are still the most excellent ways in keeping the ticks off your pet.

Manage fleas with Frontline for dogs. Frontline for Dogs treats all types of fleas and ticks and kills them quickly.

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