Although spot-on flea and tick treatments are a vast improvement to the harsh chemicals that have been used for years on dogs, you still may be skeptical of a pesticide that is put directly on your pet's skin. In fact, any product that comes with a warning regarding the handling of it can cause unease. Not only is your dog's health at risk, but also the safety of the rest your family. Fortunately, you can use natural defenses and common sense as an alternative to spot-on flea and tick treatments.
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Flea Collars
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Flea collars are an alternative to spot-on flea and tick treatments. However, over-the-counter flea collars which use harsh chemicals will be on your dog, emitting toxic vapors, whether your dog is being exposed to fleas or not. Constant exposure to pesticides can result in any number of health hazards--especially for dogs and children. Instead, you can make your own natural flea collar by rubbing essential oils on a cloth collar or on a bandanna to be put around your dog's neck. Use tea tree oil, lemon oil, rosemary oil, eucalyptus oil, lavender oil or geranium oil on your dog's collar once a week to prevent fleas.
Skin and Hair Treatments
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Bathing and grooming your dog are alternatives to spot-on flea and tick treatments. Avoid shampoos with chemicals and pesticides that are touted as flea and tick shampoos. A regular bath using a mild shampoo will suffice. Use enough shampoo to create a good coat of suds and rinse well. Make a rinse using apple cider vinegar and water or by boiling lemons in water. Put the rinse in a spray bottle and wet your dog thoroughly. A flea comb is also an efficient tool for removing fleas and for locating ticks when you are grooming your dog. Use tweezers to pull out a tick by the head. Position the tweezers as close to your dog's skin as possible. Food grade Diatomaceous Earth--a safe flea and tick repellent--can be put on your dog's bedding as well as directly on your dog.
Diet Supplements
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What you feed your dog also can be an alternative to spot-on flea and tick treatments. Parasites are more attracted to unhealthy animals than to healthy ones. Unfortunately, many dog foods are not the best food for your pet. Dog foods often use fillers like corn and wheat while not using nearly enough protein to keep your pet healthy. A dog's diet should consist of 25 percent protein, 25 percent vegetables and 50 percent whole grains. The best way to supply this is through a raw diet or a homemade diet. At least check the ingredients of your kibble to ensure it is not dependent on fillers and preservatives. Additionally, daily doses of raw garlic and B vitamins may deter fleas as well as adding apple cider vinegar to your dog's water.
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