Natural pest control

In the fight against fleas, ticks and mosquitoes, there are a lot of natural, safe things you can do to prevent them from affecting your dog. Here is a list I put together of tips for natural pest control.

• Feed them an optimum diet, which will help to boost their immune system. Sick or older dogs are more susceptible to pests, so keeping them as healthy as possible is the first big step you can take. Superfoods like VegeYeast, wheat grass, spirulina, blue green algae, blackstrap molasses, salba, wheat germ and parsley are all wonderful to give them. Green Mush supplement, which is available from Vegan Essentials, is a great superfood supplement to give. Other supplements you can give are nutritional yeast (or VegeYeast). Give 1 tsp. of yeast per 30 lbs. of body weight daily. B complex vitamins are also good. Give small dogs 50 mg. a day, larger dogs 50 mg. twice a day. Omega 3 & 6 fatty acid supplements, a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in their water bowl, 1 tsp. safflower oil, 1 tsp. powdered kelp (or other seaweed) are also good supplements to give.
• Keep them well groomed and clean. Brush them on a daily basis with a regular brush and a flea comb. Check them over for ticks, especially behind the ears, in the armpits, their tail and around their head.
• During baths, rinse their coat with apple cider vinegar. Fleas do not like the smell or taste of it.
• Keep a clean house. Vacuum on a regular basis and don't let the grass in your yard get too long.
• There are a lot of shampoos and coat sprays out there containing essential oils that help to repel pests. Look for ones containing lavendar, peppermint, geranium, lemongrass, citronella, lemon, cedar, eucalyptus, myrhh, neem or rosewood.
• Drain freestanding water around your house. Mosquitoes lay eggs in it. Likewise, if you have a water bowl for them outside, change the water and clean the bowl on a daily basis.
• Dress in light colored clothes, long sleeves and pants when you can. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors and bare skin. If they're not coming near you, then they're less likely to come near your dog.
• Put up a bat house. They will greatly reduce the amount of mosquitoes around your house.
• Mosquitoes are most active at dusk, dawn and early evening, so try to stay inside during those times.
• Stay out of tall grass. Ticks thrive in those environments.
• Keep the stress at bay for your dog. Stressful conditions weaken immunity. A harmonious home = a happy dog!
• Other natural products you can try are the Tic Clip, Shoo!Tag, herbal flea collars and oil blends.