I see many sick cats and dogs (mostly dogs) coming through the door at MPN, with owners at a loss as to what to do next. Whilst we see so much disease and every pet is different, there are some set things I always recommend to everyone, that are imperative to your pet’s health. This is to detox their life and GET RID OF THE CHEMICALS. I have heard several sad stories about reactions and disease caused by treatments, mostly neurological damage and death from flea treatments and worming stories where the dog went into fits and endured life long seizures. If we aren’t personally meant to handle these chemicals, then they shouldn’t be going on or in our pet’s bodies.
Conventional chemical flea and tick treatments from your vet or over the counter, are highly toxic pesticides that accumulate in the blood, skin and tissue.
When you give your dog these chemical treatments, they work systemically (throughout the body). They are absorbed into his/her blood so when a flea or tick feeds on your dog’s blood, they also eat the chemical Isoxazolines, and become paralysed, eventually dying.
Both fleas and ticks have to bite and latch on, to suck your dogs blood, before becoming paralysed and dying from the pesticides. It can take hours upon hours before the fleas and ticks die. This allows sufficient time for the fleas to become bothersome and the ticks to spread disease. The problem with these chemicals is to kill the parasites, they have to poison your cat or dog first.
These awful chemical treatments can also cause neurological issues and permanent damage in cats and dogs. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) put out a warning on Isoxazoline flea and tick products in September 2018, warning on the potential neurological adverse reactions.
The side effects range from, diarrhoea, vomiting, lethargy, seizures, convulsions, skin disorders, ataxia and death.
Although this warning has been given, sadly the FDA still states that they work with manufacturers and deem it safe with side effects now listed to make this a known danger? Apparently to note dangers within the labelling and making statements on potential dangers, now makes this a non safety issue. I’m still scratching my head.
Any safety data on these products are only tested a few months, so we don’t even know about the long term implications.
Those treatments containing Isoxazoline:
- Bravecto (fluralaner) tablets for dogs
- Bravecto (fluralaner) topical solution for cats and dogs
- Credelio (lotilaner) tablets for dogs
- Nexgard (afoxalaner) tablets for dogs
- Simparica (sarolaner) tablets for dogs
- Revolution Plus (selamectin and sarolaner topical solution) for cats and used in the prevention of heartworms
Natural Solutions
Using a natural preventative is far safer and effective than conventional means. In using chemical treatments, these are designed to kill the parasite once on the host, whereas the natural prevention aims to repel fleas and ticks, so your cat or dog doesn’t even become a host. This is a more effective approach at preventing disease if done appropriately.
To protect against fleas, ticks and worms, there are several natural and effective options you can consider so please read on.
Flea, tick and worming products
Flea products and tick products are incredibly toxic and overload the body when the immune system is already under challenge. Fleas aren’t a great concern although very bothersome and cause discomfort and allergies in your pet, but ticks are a problem. Make sure after every walk you check your dog thoroughly and invest in a tick removal kit if you are in a zone for ticks (there’s a tick key listed down below). They can be dangerous to your dog as they carry disease. There are lots of natural products out there. Rotating them is important as fleas and ticks are adaptable and you need to make sure your pets are not a desirable host.
Homemade Itchy Dog Spray of apple cider vinegar mixed spritz potion can be an effective flea and tick deterrent;
1. 250mls of organic Apple cidar vinegar and preferably from the mother (this means Apple cider vinegar that is simply unrefined, unpasteurised. unfiltered and from the mother).
Organic AC Vinegar
2. 250mls of distilled water, filtered water, bottled water but definitely not tap water.
3. Fresh chamomile (organic preferably) or a teabag steeped in boiling water for 30 minutes (to be added as part of the 250mls water).
4. 10 drops of Organic lavender aromatherapy oil and/or a few drops of essential oils such as lemon eucalyptus, tea tree, sandalwood, clary sage and patchouli. If you decide to use this on the cat too (avoid the aromatherapy oils due to the phenolics: this can be toxic to cats).
5. Water spray bottle. I prefer brown glass but we don’t have to go fancy here. Just make sure its stored in a cool dry place and if plastic, doesn’t sweat as PCB’s could leak into your lovely potion.
Alternatively, you can go for a spray already made up from Greens for healthy pets called
Don’t Bug Me!
Don’t Bug Me
Hedge row hounds offers a wonderful herbal mix called natures bounty, that is easily and safely added to food.
Natures Bounty
Diatomaceous earth is a good effective option although if your dog has sensitivities, allergies or any breathing problems, tread with caution. Food grade diatomaceous earth is made from teeny, tiny sea creatures, often found in places like the white cliffs of Dover. It dehydrates and suffocates the parasites and their eggs, thus killing them. Please ensure this is a good quality, food grade product as it can have high levels of toxicity. It can be used to sprinkle around the home and dusted through your dog’s coat.
Care should be taken not to breath in the powder (caution with your dog too).
Diatomaceous Earth
Another lovely spray with beautiful essentials, sprayed before you go on a walk and perhaps afterwards, can be helpful in warding off critters.
Biospotix do natural spot ons and collars.
Biospotix Flea Spray
A natural flea collar or
amber collar can be a great deterrents and non-toxic.
Natural Flea Collar
Amber collars work by creating a magnetic charge over the dogs coat keeping the fleas and ticks away! 100% natural, long lasting solution to the problem that is completely safe for use in the home environment. Amber collar has a dual action in treating ticks and fleas. Extremely popular in Europe, this sturdy, 100% authentic Baltic amber collar can be safely worn by dogs and cats. This is not a stand alone product but used in conjunction with other sprays or herbal feed.
Amber Collar
If you do spy a tick on your dog, this tick removal key is something that can easily and safely remove the head of the tick from your dog’s body.
Tick Key
Natural Worming options
Ground pumpkin seeds can help to prevent worms or help to expel them. Pumpkin seeds are from the GOURD family and contain an amino acid call cucurbitin and a carboxypyrrolidinparalys. This can be given in food as a natural preventive, I do like the little research we have and would suggest it used in conjunction with an amber collar for example.
Raw and organic are best and if not already ground, this can be done in a small and efficient blender or coffee roaster. Suggested amount would be 1/2 a teaspoon per 10kg of weight, once a day as a preventative. To rid the body of worms, up the serve to at least double for several days.
VermX herbal biscuits or liquid can also be used as a preventative measure for worms also.
VermX
If you wish to avoid worming due to toxicity, you can buy
worm egg count kits. Advised to do every 6 months.
Worm Egg Count
Lungworm Kit
I hope this has helped in some way, removing these toxic chemicals is so important for your pet’s health. As an owner, one should research all products and be due diligent. To find out more about consultations, check us out.
Consultations
Ali x
