Question:
I am writing in response to your discussions about flea/tick preventives. I have been in the rescue business for 17 years and have had as many as 31 dogs in our home at one time. Years ago, I decided to stop using chemical products for fleas and ticks on any of our dogs. Instead, I use an all-natural product called Natural Defense by Sentry. Its ingredients are peppermint oil, cinnamon oil, lemon-grass oil, olive oil and thyme oil -- no unnatural chemicals at all. We have never had problems with fleas and get only three to four ticks per season. This product has a pleasant smell and is safe for use on puppies and around children. We also keep our underbrush trimmed high.
L.R., Springfield, Va Aug 16, 2010
Answer:
There are no panaceas for flea infestations and tick surges, and no quick chemical fixes that are not without grave risk to dogs and especially cats. On my website and in my books ("Cat Body, Cat Mind
" and "Dog Body, Dog Mind
"), I give detailed, integrative approaches to tackling these bad bug problems. Because of health risks, in-home fumigants and oral or topical insecticides should not be used as routine or preventive measures but as a last measure where safer alternatives fail, which is rare. The product you use is on my "acceptable" list for dogs but not for cats, who could get sick licking the oils off their fur or from any dog they may be living with that they might groom after the dog has been treated.
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