Ticks – Yikes! Gross! What to do….

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by Diane Burket

I don't use chemicals on my pets.  Period.  Frontline, Advantix or other topicals—They are neurotoxins and can kill your pets.  Flea and tick collars = deadly neurotoxins.  Shampoos and sprays—NO!  I love my pets and will not knowingly put them in harm's way.

So….what's a loving pet owner to do??

Shampoo your pets with Dr. Bronner's Eucalyptus Oil Soap.  Great for your pets and great for your own body, too.   Smells great and fleas and ticks hate it.

 
See a tick??  Immediately remove it very easily with a Tick Key—A low-tech, inexpensive tool to always have on hand.
I keep one on the leash, on my keychain and give many as gifts.  
Be sure to use the alcohol swabs to clean the bite area.   
Ticks can cause Lyme Disease and in some cases, will kill your pet.

If you notice your pet has any of these symptoms after removing a tick—get him/her to the vet immediately!  Take the dead tick with you to the doctor for testing.

  • ​Loss of appetite
  • Joint pain
  • Lethargy
  • Fever

Treat the area around your home with Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth. It is totally organic and safe—and inexpensive! The reason it's "Food Grade" is that some farmers add Diatomaceous Earth to the animals' feed to kill parasites.   So the Food Grade is safe for your pets and your kids!
Purchase an inexpensive flea comb.

If you see your pet itch….grab your flea comb and use right away and see if there's a flea or tick there.
The flea comb is able to remove fleas easily.  Just be sure to kill them immediately 'cuz those little guys can jump very far.   Maybe even on YOU!
My pets love to be combed with a flea comb.  😉
                                      

Feel free to leave any comments, below.  I'd love to hear from you!
 
 

 

Dry Skin in Cats and Dogs

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by Diane Burket

If your pet has dry hair & skin, try adding up to one tablespoon of corn oil, safflower oil or olive oil, per day, to his/her food. You can also use fish oils. During the winter, skin and hair is often more dry, due to the heat being on in the house. You’ll find your pets tend to itch more in the winter.  Give them a break—feed them oil. 
Regular grooming is important for all pets with hair…even for short-haired pets.  Brushing will stimulate the scalp and bring out the natural oils.  

The “Zoom Groom Brush” is a rubber brush that works well for shampooing and grooming. You can use it on cats and dogs.  I’ve found the Zoom Groom Brush works especially well on very short-haired dogs—like Greyhounds, Boxers, Dobermans, etc.  A regular brush might hurt the skin of short-haired dogs…but the Zoom Groom stimulates their scalp and removes loose hair without hurting the dog.
 

Zoom Groom Brush

I tried the Zoom Groom on a Greyhound I was boarding.  He absolutely LOVED it!  With the help of the Zoom Groom and oil in his food, he no longer has itchy, dry skin.
 
Another solution for dry, itchy skin is to run a humidifier at home. The air from your heater is super dry and I have found the humidifier works for cats, dogs & myself.

My brother’s Black Lab mix, Ebie, had chronic flakey skin.  I told him about bathing her with Dr. Bronner’s Eucalyptus Oil Soap.  Besides being great for dry skin, it’s also fantastic for fleas and ticks.  The Eucalyptus Oil Soap worked immediately on Ebie’s dry skin and my brother has not used any toxic flea or tick medicines on his dogs in years. (Fleas hate the smell of eucalyptus). 

BTW…the humans in our house bathe with Dr. Bronner’s Eucalyptus Oil Soap, too.  It smells great and leaves our skin soft!