Question:
I'm writing in response to your discussions about flea/tick preventives. I have been in the rescue business for 17 years, and we have had as many as 31 dogs in our home at one time. I decided years ago that I would stop using the chemical products of any kind for fleas and ticks. Instead, I use an all-natural product called Natural Defense by Sentry. Its ingredients are peppermint, cinnamon, lemongrass, clove and thyme oils -- no synthetic chemicals at all. We have never had any problems with fleas, and get only three or four ticks a season. This product has a pleasant smell and is safe for use on puppies and around children -- much safer than chemical products. We also keep our underbrush well trimmed and cleared. I hope that you find this information useful.
L.R., Springfield, Va Oct 04, 2010
Answer:
Any tips that help keep fleas and ticks away, and are pet-safe and environmentally friendly, are always welcome in this column. The natural product you describe can frighten some dogs because of the novel scent of the various essential oils, so I advise just a dab to begin with. However, this should not be used on cats, as they could become ill ingesting the oils when they groom themselves. Like malnourished plants that attract insect pests, dogs and cats fed manufactured "junk" pet foods seem to attract more fleas than those fed more wholesome diets and given nutritional supplements like brewer's yeast.
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