| An increasing number of people are turning away from | | | | essential oil added to it. Bath your dog using this |
| treating their dogs for fleas by the traditional methods | | | | solution on a regular basis using this solution. |
| of administering spot on treatments, sprays and | | | | When bathing your dog remember to pay attention to |
| powders, and looking towards more gentle and natural | | | | areas like the base of his tail, the back of his ears and |
| methods of treating fleas. | | | | between his paws. |
| In this article we are going to look at how you can use | | | | Take an old spray bottle filled with water and add 8 |
| essential oils as an effective method of both treating a | | | | drops of lavender essential oil and spray your dogs fur, |
| dog who has fleas and also using essential oils as a | | | | especially his back area, base of his tail and neck. |
| repellent for fleas. | | | | Remember to cover your dogs eyes when spraying |
| Let us look first at using essential oils as a repellent for | | | | his neck area. |
| dog fleas. The best time to begin this process is | | | | If you think your dog may already have fleas, check |
| around winter time, as the flea population is very low | | | | first to see if this is the case. Dogs scratch for all kinds |
| at this time of the year, although not completely non | | | | of reasons; stress, allergic reactions to certain food, or |
| existent, as many homes these days have central | | | | a badly conditioned coat for example. |
| heating, and the warm atmosphere can help maintain | | | | Carefully check your dogs fur, if you find small black |
| the flea breeding cycle throughout the year but, usually | | | | flakes on his skin or in his fur, especially around the |
| not to a degree to cause your dog too much of a | | | | base of his tail, his back or around his neck, this is flea |
| problem. | | | | excrement and you will need to be treated. |
| To keep fleas to a minimum you will need to treat both | | | | Treat your dog in the way described above, but on a |
| your dog, his or her basket and bedding, plus your | | | | more frequent basis, for example, give your dog a |
| house. Wash your pets bedding and basket regularly; | | | | lavender bath 2 times per week, and spray his coat |
| use 2 to 4 drops of eucalyptus essential oil in a very | | | | with lavender spray once per day. you can treat flea |
| hot wash, as you will eliminate both fleas and dust | | | | bites with undiluted lavender essential oil, or tea tree |
| mites in your pets bedding at the same time. | | | | essential oil, as both these oils are excellent antiseptics. |
| To treat your home, vacuum regularly, especially areas | | | | If you are using tea tree oil, don't use it neat, mix 2 to 3 |
| that are dark, warm and harbor dust, as these are | | | | drops in a cup of water, and clean the infected area |
| ideal breeding areas for fleas. Examples of such | | | | with cotton wool balls. |
| places are under furniture, beds and under carpets. | | | | Keep checking your dogs fur, until there are no further |
| Use lavender scented detergent mixed with 4 to 8 | | | | signs of fleas. To keep your dog free from fleas in the |
| drops of lavender essential oil to clean your floors. Pay | | | | future, keep his coat in good condition by bathing him |
| special attention to where the floors meet the walls, as | | | | regularly, and grooming his coat. When grooming your |
| these crevices are another place where fleas can | | | | dog check his coat for fleas. Keeping your dog fit and |
| exist undetected and breed successfully. | | | | healthy, through a good diet, exercise and regular |
| It's now time to use your essential oils as a flea | | | | grooming is the first defense to flea control, as fleas |
| repellent on your dog. You can do this in a number of | | | | are much more likely to infest unhealthy animals rather |
| ways, but a simple and effective programme will | | | | than healthy ones. |
| consist of the following; bath your dog using a natural | | | | Following these simple steps to natural flea treatment, |
| dog shampoo that has had 3 drops of lavender, 2 | | | | will ensure you dog remain free from fleas all year |
| drops of lemon grass and 3 drops of citronella | | | | round. |