In one day, a single flea can bite your dog more than 400 times. During that same day, the flea can consume more than its body weight of your pet’s blood. And before it’s through, a female flea can lay hundreds of eggs on your pet, ensuring that its work will be carried on by generations to come
CITRUS REPELLENT
Cut a lemon into quarters and place in a pint jug. Cover the lemon with boiling water and let it steep overnight. Next day you have a flea repellent that you can use in a spray bottle. Spray all over your dog remembering especially behind the ears and around the head generally (careful of eyes), around the base of the tail (once again keep away from delicate bits) and under your dog’s ‘armpits’.
Aromatherapy repellent: Using 10 ml. of sweet almond oil as your base, add 10 drops of lavender and 5 drops of cedarwood. Shake well and use 1 or 2 drops spread over the skin at least twice a week to keep the fleas away.
A flea collar can be made by rubbing a few drops of one of the following into an ordinary webbing or rope collar or even a doggy bandanna: eucalyptus oil, Tea Tree Oil, citronella, lavender or geranium. Don’t forget to do this weekly.
HOMEMADE TOPICAL TREATMENT
For the dogs (use it when you go out once a day or if in the woods, more often).
Use a glycerine base and to it add, lemongrass oil, grapeseed oil, eucalyptus oil, citronella oil, and a capsule or two of Vitamin E for preservation. All the ingredients can be obtained at the Health Food Store locally. Works on fleas, ticks,
TICKS & FLEA NATURAL REPELLENTS
Tick Spritzer Blend:
* 2 drops of Lavender, Basil, Lemon, Opponax, Eucalyptus
* 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
* 1 teaspoon vodka
* 1 cup of dried marjoram, eucalyptus, rosemary
* 1 – 2 cups of water
Flea Spritzer Blend:
* 2 drops of cedarwood, lemongrass, rose geranium
* 1 teaspoon AVC (apple cider vinegar)
* 1 teaspoon vodka
* 1 cup of dried peppermint, eucalyptus, bay leaf herbs
* 1 – 2 cups of water
Add the essential oils and vodka in a bottle, tighten the lid and shake well. Once the mixture blended (should turn white), add apple cider vinegar. If you have some herbs mentioned above you can make an herbal tea to use in your spritzer.
Boil 2-4 cups of water and remove from heat. Add your dried herbs in the water and let is simmer for 30 minutes. Once cool, drain and use instead of plain water in your spritzer. If you are using an herbal tea, this mixture must be kept in the refrigerator as the herbal teas have the tendency to go bad faster.
Once you have your spritzer you can use this by gently spraying it in to your dogs coat, legs, tummy and back. Rub it in well and apply it as necessary. Do not use any of the essential oils on your dogs face or around nose, ears and eyes. Respect the sensitive nose he/she has and go easy when using aromatic substances such as essential oils.
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