[CorkyMax]

Just found this on the 'net'---Some natural flea preventatives---so you can maybe stop using commercial stuff which is hard on the dog! 'Tis not the season' but fleas are still out there. And even if you are not concerned about fleas at this time but might be this coming summer--I suggest you make a copy of this if interested as will be hard to find this thread later. (Don't know what happened recently but it appears that some of my threads are missing) Here is the info:
Natural Flea Shampoo for Dog Recipe
Contributor
By Krista Sheehan
While a variety of flea shampoos and topical flea solutions are available to treat fleas in dogs, they often use chemicals that can be harsh on your dog's skin. Your dog's skin is sensitive and should be treated with natural ingredients instead. If your dog has fleas, consider using one of the following natural flea shampoo recipes to not only rid the dog of fleas, but also prevent future occurrences.

Baby Shampoo Base
To make a homemade flea shampoo for your dog, you will need the following ingredients: 20 fresh sprigs of mint (including the stalk), 1 cup of water, 2 tps of vanilla extract and 1/2 cup of Johnson's Baby Shampoo. It is important to use the Baby version of the shampoo, since the dog's skin is sensitive. The vanilla will help to soothe the sting of the mint against the dog's skin. To begin, pour the water and mint into a saucepan and bring it to a rolling boil. Then stir the vanilla in thoroughly. Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool. Once it is cool, add the Johnson's Baby Shampoo and stir until bubbles begin to form. Strain this mixture into a bowl and discard the remains of the mint. This mixture will then be used to shampoo your dog. For proper effectiveness, the flea shampoo should remain on your dog for at least five minutes. After five minutes has elapsed, rinse with warm water and pat dry.
Dishwashing Soap Base
Dishwashing soap is a common ingredient used to fight fleas, and you can easily make a flea shampoo with this as a base. For this gentle homemade flea shampoo, you will need the following ingredients: 1 cup of Lemon Liquid Joy dishwashing soap, 1 cup of white vinegar and 1 quart of water. Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl or bottle. Using a large shampoo bottle will probably be the easiest way to apply the shampoo; if you use this method, shake the solution thoroughly before using it. Once the solution is ready, simply apply it as you would a regular dog shampoo. Once applied, allow the mixture to sit on the dog's skin for at least five minutes before rinsing.
Essential Oil Shampoo
Adding essential oils to a dog's fur is an effective flea solution, since fleas are repelled by the scents. To make an essential oil flea shampoo, begin by making an unscented shampoo base. To do this you will need: 4.5 ounces of hot distilled water, 3.2 ounces of Decylc Polyglucose (can be found in a pet store), 1/2 tsp of zanthan gum powder (can be found in a health food store), 1/2 tsp of cider vinegar and 1 ml of grapefruit seed extract. Use a blender to combine all the ingredients except the zanthan gum. Once combined, add the zanthan gum powder while the mixture is still warm. Blend until combined thoroughly. Once the mixture has cooled, add your essential oils to the base. To repel fleas, add the following essential oils to 8 ounces of your shampoo base: two drops each of geranium, rosewood, myrrh and opoponax essential oils; three drops of lavender essential oil; and one drop of bay leaf essential oil.

[gracieownsme]

Interesting! During the Summer months Gracie has more of of problem with ticks than fleas. As a matter of fact, I can't remember ever seeing fleas on her, but ticks are a real issue. Is there a danger in using frontline? I find it to be very effective in keeping her tick-free in those months.

[CorkyMax]

Searching the 'net' Didn't find too much but as far as I am concerned all the commercial stuff is poison or they wouldn't work! How bad they may be depends on your individual dog and whether allergic to the 'stuff!' And who knows how much (build-up over time) before it can cause problems 'down the road' and for one thing mess up the immune system--which could open up the dog to other problems-diseases, liver problems, kidney problems. I have decided I am no longer going to use any of the poisons---going to be natural or nothing!! How can we keep giving more and more poisons ---flea/tick preventatives; vaccinations; commercial dogfood; poisonous meds----How taxing can all this be--How long before the dog is sick and in poor shape--No wonder the dog dies before it's time!!! Sorry, I am getting on a tangent again--nothing personal here. I just feel so sorry for the dogs and how they depend on us to take good care of them!
So many people believe the 'crap' that the greedy pharmeceutical, dog food companies, etc tell them.

Will leave you with this link:
Toxic medicine, flea and tick products are poisoning our pets

Am going to look up the ingredient that is in Frontline--Be right back!

Frontline Plus contains fipronil, a broad-spectrum insecticide and slow-acting poison that disrupts the central nervous system of fleas and ticks and S-Methoprene, an insect growth regulator that kills flea eggs and larvae. The active ingredients are stored in the sebaceous glands and are wicked out of the hair follicles and continuously re-applied to the coat for long-lasting, waterproof protection.

Cautions:
Your pet may experience some temporary irritation at the site of application. If signs persist or become more severe within a few days of application, consult your veterinarian immediately.Of course these cautions are 'told' by the pharmeceutical company! I would suggest looking up the ingredients on the net--and not done by the pharm. co. or vet or a place selling the 'stuff!'------The generic words-Fipronil and S-methoprene.

More Information:
Brand Name
Frontline Plus (Merial)

Generic Name
Fipronil, S-methoprene

[gracieownsme]

Wow, lots of information. Thanks. Now do you think if I would use one of those 'flea recipes' it would help with ticks also? The reason I ask is this: Gracie was about 1 1/2 whenever I noticed one day she had a tick behind her ear. It was huge. I got it out, but then found another one... then another. I put her in a bath of warm water with baby shampoo in at that time, and there were probably about a dozen ticks that started squirming through her thick coat and I was able to pluck them out and dispose of them. It was so horrible. The next day I started the frontline and I haven't had a problem since. I'm someone who likes to use medications as last resort for me or my family including my Gracie... so if there was another way to rid her of ticks in the summer... a safer way, I'd certainly try it. But I'm concerned about infection or the discomfort from ticks also...

[CorkyMax]

Here is one link I just found--Of course it is a site that is selling but you can get ideas from it:Natural Flea and Tick Control For Dogs And Cats

There are many more sites that I haven't got time to search right now. Just put these words in your browser and you will see what to check on: natural tick control/dogs

[Lara's mom]

When it comes to flea, tick and heartworm protection, I trust my vet. My girls are both on Revolution and have never had any problems. My new little one is too young now but in the spring, I will put him on it too.

[CorkyMax]

There is advertising in this too but I put this article here for the 'natural' ingredient that is a treament and for the comment about a healthy immune system--Which is of upmost importance! And yes-this is from a newsletter I get 'done by' Brigitte Smith.

NATURAL Worming (including Heartworm) and Flea Treatment (all in one)!

Having a very strong immune system helps your dog, and I've been telling you about that in the last couple of issues.

A strong healthy dog will throw off parasites with assistance from natural remedies. So at the start, it's a good idea to give your dog those natural general remedies for a period of time in order to strengthen their immune system. Then the wonderful treatment effects will kick in!

With that said ...

Organic farmers have apparently been using natural remedies to eliminate a whole host of internal and external parasites from their pets and livestock for years. The good news is that now you can do the same for your dog.

How does a natural powdered product sound which is mined from millions and millions of years old glacial deposit of fossilized diatoms? (Diatoms were one celled microscopic algae whose walls consist of two parts, and then contain the mineral silica).

Here's how diatoms work on the worms: Under a microscope, diatoms have very sharp edges that when the parasite ingests the diatom, it will cut the insides of the parasite and it will die. Then your pet will pass the dead worm through and out its digestive system via the faeces.

Intriguing, isn't it?

Get the full story on a great product based on this principle here - Natural Worm Treatment

Oh yes, you thought I'd forgotten to mention heartworm, didn't you? Well, I haven't!

This remedy forces the worm to detach itself from the tissues upon which it has locked itself. The healthy body can then flush even heartworm from the system.

Natural Worm Treatment

And to get rid of fleas or fur mites without using dangerous chemicals, you can sprinkle the same type of diatomaceous earth powder on your dog's fur. There's no risk of damage to your dog's liver, as there may be with conventional flea and mite treatment.

See here - Natural Flea Treatment - Dog Health Report - Dog Care - Dog Health Problems Solved!

So there you go - two natural parasite treatments for two completely different types of parasites - internal worms and external fleas - and they're both based on the same substance.

If you have any comments or questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

And if you know anyone who has a dog who's interested in enhancing their dog's health, happiness and longevity, do them (and me) a favor, by passing a complete copy of this email on to them. Thanks!

If you're someone who has received this email forwarded from a friend or colleague, you can subscribe for your own editions of the Healthy Happy Dog ezine, and receive your special free 3-part report into the bargain! Just go here and submit your name and email address:
Dog Health Report - Dog Care - Dog Health Problems Solved! - Dog Health Report - Dog Care - Dog Health Problems Solved!


Regards,
Brigitte Smith,
Dog Health Report - Dog Care - Dog Health Problems Solved! - Dog Health Report - Dog Care - Dog Health Problems Solved!

My email contact: Brigitte@HealthyHappyDogs.com







Disclaimer: The information contained in this newsletter is provided for general
information purposes. Any information provided is not veterinary advice and should not be substituted for a regular consultation with a veterinary professional. If you have any concerns about your dog's health, please contact your veterinarian's office immediately.

[Mr. Vega]

Revolution (selamectin) is a good product Lara's. It does fantastic against sarcoptic mange (if your dog gets it). I would personally be willing to try some more natural remedies for intestinal parasites, but, for heartworms? Not a chance. That "Natural worming" stuff sounds dangerous, very dangerous as far as heartworms go.

The goal (in the world of heartworms) is to prevent them from developing past the larval stage (which is what those preventatives like Revolution do). Once worms are allowed to become adults, they are not really affected by the preventatives. They will harbor in the right side of the heart and reproduce.

So why does that make me think it's dangerous? There's a condition associated with rapidly detaching and killing heartworms. HARD - Heartworm assocated respiratory disease. It was first defined in cats, but, can happen in dogs. If a bunch of adult heartworms are sudden forced to detach , they're going to go the flow of blood (there's nowhere else to go). So, what's the next stop? Right heart ----> Pulmonary capillary beds. Yes, the lungs. Thats where HARD steps in. The detached worms can't pass through the thin pulmonary capillaries and act as pulmonary embolisms = bad, bad, bad, bad, bad.

So, for my boy? Better to just prevent them from developing in the first place. But to each his own I guess.

[Lara's mom]

Thank you once again for a well thought out and professional answer. I don't know if it is accurate but, it is my understanding that in the U.S.A. a truly shocking number of deaths in dogs is attributable to Heartworm Disease. I understand that even if it is caught and treated, dogs can have lifelong problems as a result of exposure to this parasite.

Once again I will categorically state that I did my homework, found an excellent veterinarian and I trust his advice. That doesn't mean I don't do my own research and call him if I have concerns about a particular medication (He has become accustomed to answering questions from me) but I would not risk my dogs becoming infected with Heartworm for anything!

Strangely enough, Heartworm is a relatively new thing in Canada. Just for the sake of curiosity, is it possible that Canadians who vacationed in the U.S. with their dogs unknowingly brought it back to Canada? I recall reading somewhere that it is most prevalent in warm climates which the U.S. has many of and we have none. Most Canadians who travel to your country do so to find warm weather when it is beyond frigid here. Just curious...

[Birdie_M]

If we are discussing preventatives, then I'll chime in here. I use garlic and apple cider vinegar. Both work to make the dog "taste bad" to fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. I place small amounts of garlic in their food every other day in the summer, and put a small amount of apple cider vinegar in their water. Last summer the only issue we had was when they discovered a long dead rabbit carcass. Then a few fleas appeared on the head of my cattle dog. Out came the DE (which is the diatom substance corky/max mentioned). I used the powder on my dog's skin and sprinkled it on their bedding just in case the fleas had bounced there. The fleas disappeared, and my dogs went back to their healthy, non-medicated lives. You can also use DE (diatomaceous earth) as a de-wormer.

[CorkyMax]

Toxic Pet Medication? Ingredients to Avoid | Care2 Healthy & Green Living

[Mr. Vega]

Originally Posted by Corky/Max

Toxic Pet Medication? Ingredients to Avoid | Care2 Healthy & Green Living

Good article. It's listing most of the ingredients in the old school frea/tick preventatives that are all OTC - which really does show that it's not worth it to try and save like 10 bucks. A lot of people have known those particular chemicals were harmful, which, is why they came out with the likes of fipronil (frontline), lufenuron+milbemycin(sentinel), imdacloprid (advantix), etc...

[CorkyMax]

Do vacuum and wash pet areas regularly, and lemony-fresh-to-death those fleas. Place a thinly sliced lemon in a pint of boiling water and steep overnight. Strain and sponge on pet. Apply daily, if necessary.

[Mr. Vega]

LOL - I can just see my dogs running in fear as I come at them with a vacuum. I applaud any owner that has pets that are obedient enough to let them take a vacuum to their coat. Haha, they'd pee in my shoes out of spite if I did that.

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by Mr. Vega

LOL - I can just see my dogs running in fear as I come at them with a vacuum. I applaud any owner that has pets that are obedient enough to let them take a vacuum to their coat. Haha, they'd pee in my shoes out of spite if I did that.

Mr. Vega, you might be surprised that some dogs like to be vacuumed! They may not like the noise but mine actually like the 'massage!' Try it!

[Todd]

I get daily updates and news from a vet because I signed up for his emailing list and he just sent me an article discussing deaths associated with flea control;

Hello Todd,

Re: Pet deaths prompt warnings on flea products


///////////////////////////////////////////////////

Hello to you and your pets this Wednesday.

This is a serious health risk that has been
downplayed by the Pharmaceutical Companies.


---------------------------------------------
Pet deaths prompt warnings on flea products
---------------------------------------------

WASHINGTON - Products intended to treat cats and dogs for fleas
and ticks kill hundreds of pets each year and injure tens of
thousands, the Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday
as it outlined plans to make the products safer.

The EPA said it will develop stricter testing and evaluation
requirements for flea and tick treatments that are applied to
a pet's skin. The agency also will begin reviewing labels to
determine which ones need to say more clearly how to use the
products.

The EPA's effort follows increasing complaints from pet owners
that the "spot-on" products have triggered reactions in dogs
and cats, ranging from skin irritation to neurological problems
to deaths. Cats and small dogs appear particularly vulnerable,
the EPA said, especially when given products intended for
larger animals.

"These are poisons," Owens said. "These are products
designed to kill fleas and ticks -- and they do their jobs."

The EPA said it received 44,263 reports of harmful reactions
associated with topical flea and tick products in 2008, up
from 28,895 in 2007. Reactions ranged from skin irritations
to vomiting to seizures to, in about 600 cases, death of an
animal.

An EPA spokesman said he did not have a breakdown of how many
deaths were dogs and how many cats.

Dog and cat owners say their pets have suffered burns and
welts on their skin; started to drool excessively; begun to
shake uncontrollably; lost control of their legs or experienced
other neurological problems after using the flea and tick
treatments.

-----------------------------------------
So WHAT do you do?
-----------------------------------------

The majority of the reactions are from improper dosing-
especially with small dogs and cats. BUT, reactions have
happened at supposed 'SAFE' doses.

Meaning - use with caution.

Only use if you need to.

Consider alternate options of Flea Control

You can get ALL of my Alternate Options here:

Pet Health And Pet Care With Dr. Andrew Jones: The Online Vet

//////////////////////////////////////////////////

P.S. You can get ALL of the Alternate Flea Remedies
for a LOW Trial of $5.97 now. It's at:

Pet Health And Pet Care With Dr. Andrew Jones: The Online Vet

Heal Your Pet At Home!

Best Wishes,

Dr Andrew Jones, DVM

[CorkyMax]

I have had some of his newsletters before too. Don't get anymore--Think I deleted it--too much promoting products and sent too many 'updates.' Not saying I didn't like some of what he said but seemed like there was just enough info to try and get you to buy! As far as the flea and tick 'story'--- I have seen articles recently on this very thing about how dangerous these poisons are and that they build up in a dog's system over time. I decided that I am through using them and use some natural methods and take my chances. I will be getting a heartworm test every year--It takes more time than this for heartworms to get a 'good hold' so it isn't as hard to treat if caught early. With the heart problems and the age of my 2 dogs I am not putting any more stress than I have to on them!! If I lived in an area where their chances of getting heartworm were high I still don't think I would use the stuff.---Damned if you do and damned if you don't!! It is bad enough that I am very worried about Max getting his 5th rabies shot in 6 days and what it might cause to make his heart get worse and I did read it wasn't advisable and vet was willing to waive the shot---but as I have stated in here before--this da*n little berg won't okay it even though the state would! I have seen where if you give garlic (and I do anyway at times--Don't want to overdo as this is a member of the no-no onion family) and it stays in the blood that mosquitoes don't like this taste and will not bother. Everyone has to decide what they are going to do--and that's where I am on it all! My back yard neighbor has 2 Afghans and 1 of them gets sick as soon as the heartguard is given and keeps getting sicker with each dose and they are done with giving it anymore too. Max couldn't take the crap you put on the back and I had to get the pill form which I have read is even harder on their system than the 'stuff' you put on the back--But he was allergic and went 'nuts' when I would put it on his back. Just my take --people--To each his own!

[Todd]

I am done with commercial flea treatments too. It's almost spring so the warm whether is coming so here are some home prepared, all natural/herbal remedies you can prepare yourself. Be careful and research ever ingredient in the commercial, natural/herbal flea and tick remedies because they still may include ingredients that may harm your dog. Remember, natural is all but a label. Someone I know says she uses a lemon mixture to spray on her dogs. She's a breeder. She says it works pretty well;

The addition of Garlic to every one of our dog's meals will help to keep them free of fleas, as will the addition of Sulphur to their diet on a once a week basis. You can also try giving your pet Black Walnut Hulls that come in a capsule form at many health food stores which will repel not only fleas but also, ticks and mosquitoes.

Now let's get down to bathing your flea infested friend. Use an herbal shampoo that contains a combination of any of pine cedar, bergamot, rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus, citronella, juniper or geranium.

Ameythest for fleas. Yea, it really works. Buy a stone from any new age shop for about $1 and put in dog's water dish. That's it. You never need to buy a new one.

Also bathe/apply tea tree oils to the coat. These are toxic to cats but not dogs.

ON DOGS:
Feed 2 large teaspoons powdered yeast daily for large dogs.

Put DRIED bracken ferns under the dog's blanket.

Add 1 tablespoon of salt to the water in which the dog is washed to kill fleas.

TO DETER:
Take a 'tea' of lemon peels and water, by steeping overnight, then sponge it over the dog's coat.

Rub dog over with tansy, fennel, basil or mint, pennyroyal or other strong smelling herb. Grow any of these herbs, or wormwood, pyrethrum, rue and marigolds around kennel areas.

Dust some derris powder (from garden suppliers) through the animal's coat, leave for half an hour, then comb or brush it out over some newspaper. Do not allow the pet to swim in creeks or ponds, as derris is deadly to fish, but it breaks down in sunlight after a few days.

HOME MADE FLEA COLLAR FOR DOGS:
2 tablespoons peppermint essential oil
1/2 cup rosemary essential oil
2 tablespoons white cedar essential oil
1/4 cup citronella essential oil
2 tablespoons eucalyptus essential oil

Soak a natural fibre rope in mixture and let dry for several hours. Tie around pet's neck. DO NOT use on cats.

FROM CARPETS:
Vacuum regularly, remembering to do areas like under beds, around skirting boards and window sills.

Wet pieces of newspaper with oil of cedar, scatter these over the floor, under beds or on rugs, and leave overnight. Fleas will gather on the newspaper, and you can put them, newspaper and all, into plastic bags and dispose of them in the garbage bin.

FROM MATTRESSES:
Place some sprigs of mint under mattresses.

Dissolve 3 blocks of camphor in 2 cups methylated spirits, and rub onto the mattress and nearby furniture.

Plant the herb, ' Pennyroyal ', around your home or kennel, it repels fleas. You may also wish to grow and keep the herb inside your home or apartment.

If you have fleas coming inside, or notice them just outside your door, sprinkle a little ' Twenty Mule Team Borax Soap ', on the grass and lawn in this area.

75% apple cider vinegar and 25% water. i bought a dollar spray bottle from the local dollar general and a bottle of this size will last once a week. Spray dog and house.

Use ¼ tsp of Wintergreen Oil in a 8-10 ounce spray pumper bottle. Fill with water. Put the pumper on a fine mist. Spray your house with the fine mist. Spray the carpet, furniture, etc. Basically do the same as above, but on this oil you do this recipe ONCE every 3 months. The easiest time to remember is the first of the month. This oil kills the eggs. Before they become hatched and become adults and lay more eggs.

*Seems like essentials oils are a very popular choice for all natural home flea and tick control remedies.

Here are some home remedies for heartworm;

Give your dog a capsule of clove, wormwood, and hawthorne berry each day right before meals. Also, give your dog two drops of black walnut tincture and the suggested dose of yucca daily. You should calculate the actual dosage for your dog based on your dog’s weight. If you order a parasite cleanse kit, it will come with a dosage guide recommended for an adult. Divide the dosage based on your dog's weight.

1. A healthy diet is the best medicine!

Holistic vets agree that processed commercial pet foods are one of the factors undermining pet health. A diet consisting mostly of raw food and fresh water is one of the best things you can give your pet to protect him against all sorts of infection, including heartworm. Dogs will thrive on raw meat, raw bones and chopped raw vegetables. Many dogs will also eat fruit willingly (especially if they see you eating it too!). Cats are largely carnivorous so need a diet of mainly raw meat. Include soft raw bones like chicken neck and add chicken giblets whenever possible. A little bone meal can be added to the food as well as small amounts of grated or chopped vegetables. For cats and dogs, avoid milk and food containing sugar, as well as artificial flavors, colors and preservatives. We recommend HealthyPetNet Life’s Abundance.

2. A healthy immune system will protect animals against parasites like heartworm

An animal with a healthy immune system will be less likely to become infected with internal parasites, including heartworm. Mosquitoes are less likely to bite healthy animals. In addition, the healthy animal’s own defense system is able to kill off the larvae of any heartworm that may enter the bloodstream, thus preventing them from reaching maturity and causing harm. Factors that will weaken your pet’s immune system include frequent vaccination, commercial pet foods, incorrect diet, stress and even conventional heartworm and other synthetic medication. Discuss this with your vet before making changes in any of these areas.

A healthy liver is one of the foundations of a healthy body and helps to prevent the animal against illness and remove waste and toxins from the system. The liver performs many important metabolic functions and also stores glucose, vitamins and minerals. Regular use of Immunity and Liver Support will help to ensure healthy liver and strong immune system function for both dogs and cats, protecting against heartworm and a host of other diseases.

3. Protect and strengthen the heart and circulation system

The adult heartworm lodges in the heart of the animal and a healthy heart and circulatory system is another measure that you can take to protect your pet. Healthy circulation ensures that red blood cells carry sufficient supplies of oxygen throughout the body to provide vitality, while white blood cells are able to fight infection. Diet and exercise play an important role in maintaining a healthy heart and circulatory system.

There are also many herbal/natural commercial heart worm remedies but I prefer to still use heartguard monthly because heartworm is something that is too much to risk because it can be deadly. It is also good to get a heartwarm test at your dogs yearly appt. if they've got one.

[CorkyMax]

Fleas. | Henriette's Herbal Homepage

From the 'net'-->
Repel Fleas With Pennyroyal
Several years ago I was studying Native American herbalism when I learned about Pennyroyal. As a member of the mint family, Pennyroyal got a bad rap because it has a history of being used to terminate pregnancies, and often had harsh side effects. It has even been known to kill when taken in large doses. But my herbalism teacher told me that Pennyroyal would repel fleas.

So I looked it up. The Latin name for American Pennyroyal is “Hedeoma pulegioides”. Pulegioides looked a lot like the Spanish word for flea – “pulga”. Upon further research I found that first century herbalists wrote of Pennyroyal’s action to repel fleas. They probably knew a little something about how plants worked, so I decided to give it a shot.

Due to its toxicity, I had a difficult time finding pennyroyal for sale. But I was lucky enough to find a patch of pennyroyal growing in a field behind my house (in San Francisco) so I helped myself to a nice-sized cutting.

At the time, I kept my two dogs in a fenced dog run in the back yard while I was at work. So I transplanted my newly discovered Pennyroyal along the edge of the dog’s fence. Within a month, the dogs didn’t seem to need a their regular dose of the chemical flea treatment, so I skipped it. I went another two years without having to give doses of the flea-killing compound.

When I moved to Atlanta, I brought my pennyroyal with me (as well as my echinacea and a few other prized plants). But I was sorely disappointed when I moved into a new house and my fresh pennyroyal plantings didn’t seem to keep away the fleas. I had to start using the chemical stuff again as the dogs were getting attacked. Apparently the plants have to be established and it takes time to drive the fleas away (it doesn’t actually kill the fleas, it just makes them want to leave.)

I made several cuttings last fall that over-wintered well and really took off this spring. Now I have several batches of pennyroyal growing in the yard, most notably in an area where my dogs like to hang out in the shade. There have been no signs of fleas. And I haven’t given my dogs chemical flea treatment in months and my house and yard remain flea-free.

Actually found this while trying to find info about pennyroyal being poisonous to dogs--Haven't found what I was looking for. Still think it might not be that good if the dog decided to eat it! Sounds like it works pretty good for fleas but I would make sure my dog couldn't 'reach' it!

Some people mistakenly believe that because herbs are "natural", as such they are "safe". The bad news is, that is not true. Like any other therapeutical substances, certain herbs can cause side effects. Others can even be toxic or even lethal to some animals when used inappropriately.

Sometimes an herb can cause side effects by itself; other times the use of an herb might interfere with the actions of a conventional drug or increase the chance of side effects when used in conjunction with certain drugs.

However, having said that, herbs are generally less likely to cause the type of nasty side effects caused by conventional medications.

The bottom line is, when you are unsure whether a certain herb is safe for your pet, consult a holistic vet first - especially if your pet is on conventional medications, or is already weakened by certain ailment(s).

Did just find this on safety:

Unsafe Herbs for Pets
The following herbs are potentially dangerous for use in animals and care should be exercised when using them:



Pennyroyal

While this herb (and its essential oil) is an effective insecticide, it is very toxic to dogs and cats. Do not use pennyroyal to treat any animals.

Tea Tree oil

Undiluted tea tree essential oil is VERY toxic to cats and small dogs. Always dilute the oil (at least 50:50) in a carrier oil (e.g. olive or almond oil). Test a small patch of skin prior to use as some pets may be sensitive to the oil.

Comfrey

Comfrey contains small quantities of alkaloids that can cause liver damage or cancer if taken in large quantities.

White Willow Bark

White willow bark contains salicylates which may be toxic to cats.

Ma Huang (Ephedra)

This Chinese herb is most commonly prescribed for pets with asthma or respiratory problems. However, it can cause heart arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat) and high blood pressure in animals, and some reports also state that it may cause idiosyncratic reactions in cats. Use with great caution in all pets.

Wormwood

Wormwood is a traditional deworming herb. It is however too strong on pets. There are other safer natural remedies for deworming and wormwood should only be used with extreme caution under strict holistic veterinarian advice.

Garlic

Garlic in large amounts can cause Heinz body anemia in dogs and cats. It is not advisable therefore to use garlic in pets with anemia. However, if fed in small amount, garlic is good for many uses, including the treatment of parasites such as fleas and worms, microbial infections, and in the treatment of cancer. One clove of garlic per 10 pounds of body weight for dogs (and 1/2 clove per cat) can usually be fed safely each day. This sounds like a lot to me and doubt a person would have to use that much anyhow to still be effective!)

continued-------------------->


Possible Side-Effects of Herbs on Pets
Different animals may react differently to the same herb. For example, certain herbs may cause slight allergic reaction in some pets, while other pets are unaffected. Some possible side-effects are:

runny eyes and nose
sneezing
itching
swelling
diarrhea or vomiting


Interference with Conventional Medicines
Certain herbs may interfere with conventional medicines and therefore, as a general rule, consult a holistic vet before using herbal treatments if your pet is on the following medications:

Steroids
Aspirin
Antibiotics
Cardiac drugs
Hormones (e.g. thyroxine)
Diuretics (e.g. Furosemide, Diazide)
Diabetic/hypoglycemic drugs (e.g. Insulin)
Central Nervous System drugs (e.g. phenobarbital)
Anti-inflammatories (e.g. Rimadyl)
Chemotherapy agents

[CorkyMax]

You may have heard of the health benefits of garlic for pets, but are not exactly sure whether it is really safe to give garlic to your dog because there is a lot of information and misinformation available on the internet about the use of garlic in food and supplements for dogs and cats.

In this page, you will find well-researched information on garlic for dogs which I hope will help clear up some of the confusion you may have about garlic.

In particular, this page looks at the following topics:
Is garlic safe for dogs?
How much garlic should we feed to our dogs?
What are the health benefits of garlic for dogs?
Which form of garlic should be used?

Garlic for Dogs - Is Garlic Safe for Dogs


Garlic has long been used as a safe medicinal plant in holistic medicine for people and pets as well. However, recently, the safety of garlic on dogs (and cats) has come under close scrutiny due to its properties as a member of the Allium genus, a branch of the lily family, along with onions and shallots.

A compound found in onions (and in lesser amount in garlic) called n-propyldisulfide can, in large doses, cause oxidative damage to red blood cells, creating Heinz bodies and triggering the body to reject these cells from the bloodstream. If large doses of this compound are ingested on a regular basis, the process can lead to Heinz-body anemia and even death.

Does that mean garlic is unsafe for dogs? Not quite. The key to safe use of garlic on dogs is the dosage level and frequency of use. For a dog to develop Heinz-body anemia, he would have to eat over 0.5% of his body weight in onions to even begin the oxidative process. It means a healthy 60-pound dog would have to eat a whole 5-oz onion, or several cloves of garlic, to start the Heinz-body process. Since red blood cells are constantly regenerated from the bone marrow, a dog would likely need to ingest this much amount of onion or garlic on a repeated basis to cause permanent harm.

However, garlic should NOT be fed to pets with a pre-existing anemic condition or to those scheduled for surgery. Also, young puppies before six to eight weeks of age should NOT be given garlic because they do not begin reproducing new blood cells until after 6-8 weeks.

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Garlic for Dogs - How Much and How Often?
According to Gregory Tilford, (author of All You Ever Wanted to Know About Herbs for Pets), dogs can quite safely consume 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder per pound of food 3 to 4 times a week.

Dr. Martin Goldstein (author of The Nature of Animal Healing) recommends adding garlic to home-made pet food and he himself feeds garlic to his own cats and dogs on a regular basis.

Dr. Pitcairn (author of The Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats) recommends the following amount of fresh garlic for dogs, according to their size:

10 to 15 pounds - half a clove
20 to 40 pounds - 1 clove
45 to 70 pounds - 2 cloves
75 to 90 pounds - 2 and a half cloves
100 pounds and over - 3 cloves

Dr. Messonnier (author of The Natural Vet's Guide to Preventing and Treating Cancer in Dogs) recommends one clove of fresh garlic per 10 to 30 pounds of weight a day to boost the immune system and cancer prevention.

As with most herbs, at least one to two days off per week or a periodic week off from garlic is a good idea.

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Garlic for Dogs - Health Benefits


Garlic has been used for thousands of years in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. It contains at least 30 compounds that have been found to be useful for a variety of conditions from skin disorders to cancer. In fact, holistic veterinarians have been recommending garlic for many years for its multiple health benefits.

Below are the main health benefits of garlic for dogs:
Boosting the Immune System

Garlic stimulates immune functions in the bloodstream by increasing the activities of killer cells (cells that seek out and destroy invading microbes and cancer cells). It is therefore beneficial for dogs with suppressed immune systems and dogs fighting cancer. Moderate garlic supplementation in the diets of even healthy dogs can boost their immunity and prevent cancer.

Fighting Bacterial/Viral/Fungal Infections

Garlic is a powerful antimicrobial and antibiotic and is effective in fighting various forms of internal or external bacterial, viral, or fungal infection, including parasites (e.g. tapeworms) and protozoan organisms (e.g. giardia).

Fresh garlic fed as part of a dog's diet can fight infections of the mouth, throat, respiratory tract, stomach, or intestines. Crushed garlic diluted in olive oil can be used as a topical antiseptic for minor injuries, ear infections, or ear mites.

Enhancing Liver Function

Garlic has detoxifying effects. At least six compounds contained in garlic can enhance liver function by helping the liver to eliminate toxins from the body, thereby preventing toxic accumulation that may lead to cancerous growths.

Lowering Blood Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels

Uncooked garlic mixed in with food helps to lower blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels in dogs, making it useful for certain breeds (e.g. miniature schnauzers, beagles) that are predisposed to hyperlipidemia, a condition in which the amount of fats (lipids) in the blood are elevated.

Cardiovascular Tonic

A compound in garlic is effective at preventing blood clot formation in the vascular system. It can also reduce cholesterol levels and fat buildup in the arteries (atheorsclerosis). Therefore, it is an excellent cardiovascular tonic for older dogs.

Tick/Flea Repellent

The exact reason and extent of garlic's effect on tick and flea prevention is not clear. It may be due to the odor released through the dog's skin as the compounds in garlic are metabolized. Whatever the reason, there are a lot of anecdotal reports on the effectiveness of garlic (especially in combination with brewer's yeast) as a tick/flea repellent.

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Garlic for Dogs - Which Form?
Not all forms of garlic are the same - garlic that has been cooked under high heat (boiled, roasted, sauteed, etc.) is likely to lose its medicinal properties and a high percentage of its nutrients.

Allicin, the compound in garlic that gives it the strong odor, is very unstable and dissipates quickly when exposed to air, moisture, or heat. However, it is also allicin that gives garlic its powerful antibiotic properties. Therefore, if you want to use garlic as an antibiotic, the best form is raw garlic or raw garlic juice (to be used within 3 hours of chopping or pressing).

If you want to use garlic as a cancer preventive agent, immune-system enhancer, cardiovascular tonic, or nutritional supplement, other form of garlic (e.g. powder) should also give you the desired results.