| Fleas
Fighting fleas
by
Ann Brightman
Summertime,
and the livin’ is easy… at
least until flea season starts.
These tiny blood-sucking parasites can
make your companion’s life miserable,
especially if he’s prone to skin
problems like fleabite dermatitis. This
increasingly common affliction among dogs
and cats can trigger painful, itchy rashes,
flaking skin and hair loss, and it doesn’t
stop there. Fleas can also cause anemia
and weaken your animal’s immune
system, leaving him susceptible to infection
and attacks from other parasites.
The best way to win the battle against
fleas is to take a holistic approach.
This means taking into consideration a
wide range of factors, from diet to coat
care to environment. By covering all the
bases, you can strengthen your companion’s
defenses against this hardy and persistent
pest and maintain his health and comfort
through even the worst of the flea season.
Diet
and supplements
One of the first steps to successful flea
control is to feed your companion a healthy
diet. A well-balanced home-prepared or
high-quality packaged/canned food made
from natural ingredients will help keep
your companion’s immune system strong
and will also improve the health of his
skin and reduce the risk of flea allergies.
Avoid foods that contain artificial additives,
preservatives and colorings: these chemicals
can cause serious skin problems because
they are secreted through the hair follicles.
A variety of supplements will also aid
in the fight against fleas. Flaxseed oil
and evening primrose oil contain essential
fatty acids that promote healthy skin,
while Vitamin C and B-complex are good
for the coat. Supplements that actually
help repel fleas include garlic and Vitamin
B1 (found in brewer’s yeast). NaturVet
is just one company that offers a brewer’s
yeast and garlic supplement in powder
or tablet form for dogs and cats. “It
was actually one of the first products
we put out,” says marketer Les Litten.
Although the product is sold as a nutritional
supplement rather than as a repellent,
the strong odor of garlic acts as a deterrent
to fleas, while the brewer’s yeast
makes the animal less tasty to the parasites.
“We aren’t allowed to actually
state that garlic repels fleas, but we
all know it does,” says Les. “It
certainly works on my dogs.”
Shampoos
and dips
 Regular
bathing is another important line of defense
in the fight against fleas, but think
twice before you reach for a commercial
shampoo. These products often contain
harsh chemicals that can dry out your
animal’s hair and skin and aggravate
irritation and itching. For gentle cleansing,
look for a natural product containing
aloe and oatmeal. Shampoos containing
natural oils such as rosemary, mint, lavender
or cedar not only make your animal smell
nice but also act as repellents because
the fleas detest the strong, pungent odors
of these herbs.
The very act of bathing your companion
will drown many existing fleas, but in
stubborn cases you may need to use a shampoo
specifically designed for flea control.
Many products formulated to kill fleas
include pyrethrins as their active ingredient.
Pyrethrins are derived from the dried
flower heads of the chrysanthemum family
and act as an insecticide that attacks
the flea’s nervous system without
harming your companion.
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