Fleas
Top 7 ways to make fleas flee
by
Ann Brightman
 |
They might be tiny, but they’re tough, hardy, and persistent.
If you share your life with a dog or cat, fleas are often a fact
of life during the warm weather months. In worst case scenarios,
they can make your furry friend wretched, causing everything
from intense itching and inflammation to anemia and lowered
immunity. But as resilient as fleas are, you don’t have to
put up with them, or resort to fumigating your animal and
home with chemicals. Implementing a holistically-designed
prevention and control program is the best way to go; the
following seven suggestions can help your buddy get through
the summer flea free.
Start with prevention
Don’t wait till fleas make their appearance
before doing something about
them. Taking preventative steps before
the season starts will help your dog
or cat repel any fleas he does happen
to pick up, and greatly minimize the
chances of an infestation. The two keys
to prevention are a healthy immune
system and good hygiene.
1. Diet
The healthier and stronger your companion
is, the less he’ll be affected by
fleas. One of the primary ways to keep
him in peak condition is to feed him a
high  quality diet made with whole, natural ingredients free of hormones and pesticides.
Stay away from those cheap
commercial diets containing artificial
preservatives, coloring and other additives;
these toxins are secreted through the
hair follicles and can exacerbate skin
problems, including flea bite dermatitis.
Instead, try a raw frozen or premium
canned food. A good diet will not only
improve your companion’s wellness
all round, but will also go a long way
towards keeping fleas at bay.
2. Supplements
 The great thing about flearepelling
supplements
is that they’re also
good for overall
health. Salmon
or flaxseed oils
are full of
essential fatty
acids that promote
healthy hair
and skin, while adding
a clove of fresh grated
garlic to your dog’s food each day will
help build up his immunity and generate
an odor fleas find unattractive. Many
vets don’t recommend feeding garlic to
cats because it can sometimes damage
the red blood cells and cause anemia.
Try brewer’s yeast instead: it’s a good
source of vitamin B1 and also acts
as a flea repellent. When introducing
any supplement to your animal’s
diet, it’s a good idea to talk to
a holistic vet first.
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Published in
the April/May 2007 issue of Animal
Wellness |
