Category: Flea Treatments

When you think of citronella oil often times you imagine a candle burning on a humid summer’s evening keeping mosquitoes at bay. But it does come at a price as you must endure the overpowering scent of citronella. While citronella does ward off insects it might also ward off your friends too!

Citronella comes from the lemongrass family which is why it smell so bright, but it’s actually that same smell that wards off the insects. The distinctive scent makes it difficult for insects to locate you.

Citronella has been found very effective on a species of mosquito, called Aedes Aegypti whose bite causes the dreaded Yellow Fever. However, it’s also effective on fleas, ticks and all types of mosquitoes.

Dirty & Hairy OUTDOOR has managed to create products that contain citronella so they ward off insects, but to the human nose they have a lovely fresh smelling green tea and lime smell. Spray it on your legs or on your dog and up goes that anti-insect force field

The best part? According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) citronella oil has little or no toxicity when used as a topical insect repellent.

Advantages of Citronella oil over Insecticides
Insecticides like Permethrin can be used to repel insects. Permethrin is highly effective against ticks and mites, but at the same time may have harmful side effects for humans and animals. Likewise, the biggest disadvantage of DEET is that it is toxic. DEET goes into the bloodstream through skin and hampers the body’s nervous system.. On the other hand citronella oil has no side effects, and is considered very safe. Also citronella uses water as a carrier, as compared to alcohol which is used in DEET. The natural insect repellents are safe to use for all ages and pets.

Citronella Oil and Dogs
Outdoor insects are more prevalent in the summer which is the same time that dogs are the most itchy—hmmm… not a coincidence! Flea Allergy Dermatits (FAD) is the most common inflammatory skin disorder in dogs. Although all dogs can become infested with fleas not all dogs will develop FAD. This condition only arises in certain dogs that have an allergy to the flea’s saliva. When fleas bite your dog, they inject their saliva into his skin. In dogs that are prone to FAD, this sets off an allergic reaction, causing the dog to irritate the wound even more than expected. Dermatitis results and the damage to the skin allows for bacterial invasion. Now the problem snowballs even more due to this secondary bacterial infection of the wound. What is a dog owner to do?

Remove the live fleas and prevent new fleas from jumping on board. There are countless over the counter products like Advantix to help kill live fleas on your dog. They are relatively safe but not for every animal. If yours is older, or battling an acute disease, don’t use it. We recommend trying natural products that contain citronella first like Dirty & Harry OUTDOOR spray.

Other Ways to Manage Flea Allergy Dermatitis

• Feed a healthy diet. Dogs are less likely to be flea magnets and they will be more resistant to the flea bite.
• Wash your dog with a colloidal oatmeal-based shampoo to break the cycle of itching and use topical sprays
• Treat your environment Remember too that the flea’s life cycle involves some time spent away from the dog’s body. So don’t forget to take the necessary precautions to treat his environment in the home as well
• Fish Oil has been shown to help with itching and also has anti inflammatory qualities.
• Cover it up! If your dog is scratching the same spot over and over, cover it up with a doggie Tshirt or doggie booties or lick strip. By placing a barrier between your dog’s claws and the abrasion you allow the irritation to heal.
• CHILLAX! Your dog may be working himself into a frenzy and the scratching becomes a nervous habit. Sleepytime Tonic won’t cure the itchy skin, but it WILL relax and calm
• Spot On! If your dog has a particular part of his body he’s really scratching or chewing at, consider using Itchin’ For Relief . This is a convenient, easy to use spray with a unique nozzle to direct the spray to where it’s really needed.

As a last resort…

• Allergy Shots. A vet gives your dog very small doses of that allergen, and gradually increase the dose over time. That way his immune system gets used to the allergen, and is less likely to react to it. Relatively good success rate however it’s expensive and it isn’t a quick fix (1 month to 1 year)
• Antihistamines. Effective in about 30% of dogs, most are the same as those used in humans (Benadryl)

by Nicola Parry, DVM

Ticks are parasites that need to feed on animals to survive. They attach to the dog (or you!) by inserting their sharp mouthparts into the skin, and begin feeding on your dog’s blood. Only when feeding is complete (after hours or days) will they leave the dog. Typically when they attach they are small, and may go unnoticed, especially if your dog has a long coat, or if they attach in a difficult-to-see region of the body. After feeding, however, they are larger because their body expands as they engorge on their blood meal.

The risk of tick infestation varies in relation to the time of year, with the summer months being a particular problem. Geographical location is important too, and some regions (like the northeastern United States where I live) can present more of a problem than others. Although ticks are typically associated with disease transmission, not all ticks actually carry diseases; however, because they can transmit conditions like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever (also transmissible to people), the threat of disease should be taken seriously.

8 Signs Associated With Tick Infestation

• Skin irritation and redness – This is probably the most common. The others, although possible, are less commonly experienced.
• Lethargy
• Fever
• Weakness
• Anemia
• Joint swelling
• Lameness
• Paralysis

Tick Prevention Techniques

1. Reduce The Risk Of Initial Attachment

• Avoid grassy areas when out walking
• Use insecticides:
  • Pharmaceutical products range from over the counter products like tick collars, to prescription-only compounds available from your veterinarian.
  • Natural products like Flea The Scene. This safe, gentle and effective spray can be applied in combination with pharmaceutical products to help combat ticks.

1. Reduce Their Attachment Time

• Check his coat for ticks after a walk
  • If you find a tick – remove it immediately!

Tick Removal

Many methods are described for tick removal, including the use of commercially made tools, but the simplest technique involves using regular tweezers.

• Wear gloves
• Using the tweezers, gently and firmly grasp the tick as close as possible to its attachment to the skin
• Gently, but firmly (and without twisting or squeezing), pull to remove the tick

If At First You Don’t Succeed

Don’t panic! If some of the tick’s mouthparts remain accidentally attached to your dog after your removal attempt, this is not an urgent problem. Your veterinarian may be able to remove the remaining portions and treat any inflammatory reaction that may arise at the site. You too can help to reduce any irritation that your dog may feel, simply by using his favorite grooming products. Comfy Dog Oatmeal Shampoo and Fur Butter conditioning treatment will help to reduce the itchiness. Then follow up with a spray of “Itchin’ For Relief”. It also never hurts to be using “Healthy Skin Shiny Coat” – these easy-to-administer drops are given by mouth, and help to improve skin and coat quality in general, as well as having the added benefit of helping to reduce itchiness over time.

So there are certainly ways for you to help reduce the chances of ticks causing problems for your dog. And remember that some diseases that ticks transmit to dogs, can be transmitted to you too. So controlling your dog’s exposure to these annoying parasites and their associated problems can be beneficial to your health too.

Nicola Parry is a veterinarian at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is ACVP board-certified and her career has taken her along various paths, including general practice and academia. She enjoys teaching veterinary pathology, as well as writing for the veterinary, medical and scientific worlds. She currently lives in Massachusetts with her oddball cat, Tiddles

by Dr Nicola Parry, DVM

Start From Scratch!

Fleas are no longer just a problem in the warmer months – our central heating now means that “flea season” lasts all year round. Thankfully though, you can take action and get ahead in this battle.

2 Simple Ways To Recognize That Your Dog Has Fleas:

A couple of things, however, that might alert you to a current problem:

• Scratching

This might sound obvious, but frequent scratching tends to indicate a flea infestation, whether or not you see fleas.

• Flea Dirt

Adult fleas may be hard to find, but you can usually find other evidence of their work! “Flea dirt” is actually the flea’s fecal material – digested blood deposited after feasting on your pet! Just brush back the hair to investigate, and look for the classic pinpoint dark specks on the skin. I always enjoy confirming my suspicions by transferring these to a white tissue, adding a drop of water and watching it turn red-brown!

Breaking The Cycle

Knowing the life cycle of the flea will help you understand how to attack the problem. Fleas love warm, moist environments, and will live on the dog and feed on its blood. The females lay eggs on the dog’s skin, and these can fall off onto the carpet, bed, your clothes, the floorboards, and anywhere else that the dog goes. Later, eggs develop through larval and pupal stages into a new generation of adult fleas.

So now you begin to see that it is not just your dog that needs to be treated, since most of the flea’s life cycle can be spent away from the dog.

Your 2-Sided Attack

Your plan of attack needs to be aimed not only at your dog, but also his environment. Here are some tips to help you prepare your battle plan:

4 Ways To Treat Your Dog

A hair cut if necessary!

• Overlong hair is a great place for fleas and their eggs to hide.

Bathing

• Try Dirty and Hairy OUTDOOR shampoo and conditioner to gently cleanse and condition the coat and skin.

Flea control products

• Numerous flea control products are available over the counter or from your veterinarian. In addition, you can use Flea The Scene. This safe, 3-in-1 spray nicely complements other anti-flea products.

Daily brushing

• This keeps the coat healthy and helps to brush away fleas and eggs.

4 Ways To Treat The Environment

Vacuuming daily

• Carpets, floorboards, furniture, your bed, your dog’s bed.

Then get rid of the vacuum bag to prevent flea reemergence!

• Washing
• Pet bedding
• Your bedding
• Removable furniture covers
• Clothing that your dog might sit on
• Flea control products
• Separate products are available to treat your home
• Pay particular attention to carpets, furniture and bedding.

Treat other pets

If your dog has buddies at home, make sure they too are treated. And not just dogs either – cats, rabbits, and hedgehogs for instance, can also be infested and may contribute to the cycle.

In reality, all dogs will have fleas, so it’s always wise to follow these steps regardless. Flea control should never be considered a onetime deal – it requires constant vigilance. But although we will never be flea-free, the good news is that we can definitely take steps to break this vicious cycle. These efforts will go a long way toward improving your dog’s health as well as your sanity!

Nicola Parry is a veterinarian at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is ACVP board-certified and her career has taken her along various paths, including general practice and academia. She enjoys teaching veterinary pathology, as well as writing for the veterinary, medical and scientific worlds. She currently lives in Massachusetts with her oddball cat, Tiddles

Many pharmaceutical pesticides are available to protect our dogs from fleas and ticks, including over the counter products as well as those from your veterinarian. These options, however, aren’t for everyone.

Would you prefer to take a more natural approach to pest control? Then read on for some tips on how to do this without the use of pharmaceuticals!

The 2-Pronged Attack

Since much of the life cycle of the flea is spent away from the animal, it’s not enough to just treat your dog – you have to treat his environment at home too. And don’t forget to treat any other pets you might have – like cats or rabbits.

4 Ways To Treat Your Dog Naturally

• Comb regularly to remove fleas, and carefully pull off any ticks
• Bath your dog

• • Dirty and Hairy’s OUTDOOR shampoo and spray
    • These will gently detangle and moisturize the skin
  • Apple cider vinegar
    • Just add a few drops to your dogs bath water

Spray products

• • “Flea The Scene” is a 3-in-1 spray that is safe and gentle, yet effective, and ideal for use on your dog when outdoors
  • Apple cider vinegar
    • Dilute 50/50 with water and use as a spray repellent
    • Alternatively just add a spoonful to your dog’s drinking water
  • Lemon
    • Cut up a lemon, immerse in boiling water and leave overnight. Use as a repellent spray on your dog’s skin.

Some essential oils are helpful – add a couple of drops to the neck and tail base

• • Lavender
  • Cedar wood oil extract
  • Peppermint

4 Ways To Treat Your Home Naturally

1. Vacuum regularly

Carpets, furniture and bedding

2.Washing

Dog bedding, your bedding, and any removable furniture covers

3. Borate crystals

Sprinkle this powder on carpets, floors and upholstery

4. Cedar wood chips

Place these around your pet’s bed to help deter fleas and ticks. They have the added bonus of smelling good too!

Natural alternatives for flea and tick control are chosen by many dog owners who wish to avoid the conventional medications. Regardless though, remember that no single method is effective on its own – multiple products should be implemented together. Using the combination of “Dirty and Hairy, Protect” shampoo and conditioner, along with “Flea The Scene” spray, for instance, can be very effective when fighting the war against these pests. And don’t forget to treat your home too!