Author Topic: Is Nature's Remedy effective as tick/flea preventative??  (Read 3193 times)

Offline Rufus 10536

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Is Nature's Remedy effective as tick/flea preventative??
« on: April 12, 2007, 02:31:26 am »
I'd LOVE to use something other than Frontline on Rufus since I have young children who can't stay away from him for the day or so after I've given him the once-monthly treatment, but wonder if anyone has had good results with Nature's Remedy or any other herbal tick/flea preventative?  The info with the product says it will actually kill fleas/ticks, but since I live in the NE and tick season is well underway (I pulled two off yesterday - poor Rufie), I want to make sure I'm being as vigilant as possible.  Thanks for any comments! 
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Offline Winslow 151

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Re: Is Nature's Remedy effective as tick/flea preventative??
« Reply #1 on: April 12, 2007, 05:44:29 am »
Hi,

I asked about this yesterday and the feed back sounds good.

http://www.bigpawsonly.com/index.php/topic,17060.msg207527.html#new
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Offline sc.trojans

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Re: Is Nature's Remedy effective as tick/flea preventative??
« Reply #2 on: April 13, 2007, 09:02:27 am »

Yes...natural essential oils are very effective at repelling fleas and ticks.  There are many products on the market to consider, but since I make my own I can't recommend any.

Citronella and lavender are key ingredients for fleas, and palmarosa or rose geranium are key ingredients for ticks.

Keep in mind that the best flea prevention is health - fleas only infest unhealthy animals so if a dog is unhealthy and has a weak immune system, fleas may still be able to set up shop.  Any dog however can get a flea or two and this is easy to manage with natural essential oils.

Ticks are opportunistic and will drop on anything it can - so the oils help to prevent them from attaching.  I have a dramatic difference in the number of ticks I pull off my dogs on days I don't spray them with my concoction, than on the days I do.
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Offline People Whisperer

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Re: Is Nature's Remedy effective as tick/flea preventative??
« Reply #3 on: April 13, 2007, 01:18:19 pm »

Yes...natural essential oils are very effective at repelling fleas and ticks.  There are many products on the market to consider, but since I make my own I can't recommend any.

Citronella and lavender are key ingredients for fleas, and palmarosa or rose geranium are key ingredients for ticks.

Keep in mind that the best flea prevention is health - fleas only infest unhealthy animals so if a dog is unhealthy and has a weak immune system, fleas may still be able to set up shop.  Any dog however can get a flea or two and this is easy to manage with natural essential oils.

Ticks are opportunistic and will drop on anything it can - so the oils help to prevent them from attaching.  I have a dramatic difference in the number of ticks I pull off my dogs on days I don't spray them with my concoction, than on the days I do.
I have been using these oils for a while and I have to tell you MY DOG HATES THE SMELL OF IT. Every time I pick the spray bottle I have to chase her for 10 min. Now I spray it on paper towel and wipe her with it (the minimum, so she doesn't go insane from smell).
Do you think it may be too strong? I mix it with water as well...
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Offline sc.trojans

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Re: Is Nature's Remedy effective as tick/flea preventative??
« Reply #4 on: April 16, 2007, 04:13:09 am »

Sure....many dogs are very scent sensitive and hate the smell of one oil scent or another.  I know a dog who buries his head over the scent of lavender, and one of my girls hates the citronella - very pungent.

Diluting effectively can help - I put 10 drops of each oil in several tablespoons of almond oil - and then put all of that in a large spray bottle filled with water - it is highly diluted but the fragrance is still apparent - this is key.

Also, I never spray on the upper half of the body to keep away from mucous membranes.  Ticks usually go for the neck and behind the ears so I dab a drop on the back of the neck. Fleas go for the rear - base of tail and butt where they are out of reach and this is where I generally spray.

If one scent is too horrible for her - you could try testing the scents and leaving one out - or reducing that one significantly and see if the potion still works. It just can't be the palmarosa or rose geranium that you elminate as that is key for ticks.

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