As many of you know, I am not a huge advocate of chemical pest preventatives as the only way to protect your pet or your home and yard from fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. Many of these chemicals, while very effective, come with some pretty serious side effects. And to date there is no chemical treatment that is without potential side effects. Did you know that in 2008 there were 44,000 reported reactions to flea and tick preventatives with 600 of those resulting in deaths?

      The first thing to know is that fleas and ticks are parasites that usually invade unhealthy animals first. I recommend getting them as healthy as possible to make your pets unattractive to bugs in the first place. Feed a high-quality species-appropriate diet. Consider using diatomaceous earth on your pet and their bedding. One word of warning: never put it on your dogs face where it could come in contact with their eyes. To learn more about diatomaceous earth you can visit www.WholisticPetOrganics.com. We feed fresh garlic from early spring until late fall to help repel fleas and ticks from the inside out. Consult with a holistic veterinarian on quantity for your pet based on size and weight. When traveling or hiking in an area where you know there will be ticks consider using Dr. Mercola’s Natural Flea and Tick Defense. It is our featured product this month.

      Mosquito Barrier is a wonderful way to repel fleas, ticks and mosquitoes from your yard versus using chemicals which can be harmful to both you and your pet. To learn more about this super concentrated garlic you can visit www.MosquitoBarrier.com. Things to keep in mind during flea and tick season that you might forget to do include more frequent vacuuming and washing of your pets bedding. Do flea and tick checks after every trip to an area that may be infested. Regular grooming, including daily tick checks and flea combings can remove parasites before they even have a chance of becoming a problem. If you find a tick make sure you remove it completely. I’ve had success with straight dish soap on a cotton ball. I don’t know why but it dislodges the head usually after a minute of contact with the tick.

      If you absolutely need to use chemicals on your pet I would recommend discussing with your holistic veterinarian adding milk thistle to their supplements to help support and detox the liver. SAMe is also a wonderful detox agent to consider, as is the super green food chlorella. Your holistic veterinarian can help you with dosing and when to give and for how long.

      Every spring here at Natural Healing & Whole Dog Wellness we talk for hours on end about ticks and tick prevention.  We call it tick talk and it makes me itchy and a little jumpy because I am sure just like you the idea of ticks is just gross.  I hope that you are not itching to much from reading about fleas, ticks and mosquitoes!  As always I hope you find the information useful and something to think about when caring for your pet.  If you have any questions, we hope that you will stop in or give us a call.                                                        ~ Lee

      We have found a safe non-toxic, non-sticky, stain-free, natural flea and tick product that is effective and safe: Dr. Mercola Natural Flea and Tick Defense.

      This product is created from a special formula of 'pet-friendly' Brazilian natural oils ... a formula based on centuries of successful use in one of the most hostile, pest-ridden environments imaginable. If it works in the Amazon rainforest, it certainly should provide your pet with an excellent safe, natural deterrent for fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes.

      Ingredients that help repel fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and other pests include: lemongrass oil, cinnamon oil, sesame oil, and castor oil. All of these ingredients are expertly blended and balanced with pure water - this is what distinguishes a naturally effective product from just a natural ingredient. If there is too much of any one ingredient, or if the formula is not blended properly, and your pet's skin could become irritated.

      You can trust that Dr. Mercola Natural Flea & Tick Defense is formulated to be safe and effective. It comes in an 8 oz. spray bottle that should last an entire season. It’s $26.95.