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Natural
Flea & Tick Remedies
by Arden Moore
Pedro and
Michelle Rivera live on the rural outskirts of Madison, WI. Far
from the city lights, fast-food drive-through restaurants and
bumper-to-bumper rush hour traffic, they share 65 acres with three
spirited cats and four playful dogs. These critters bound in and
out the front and back doors frequently during the day, all year
long.
"None
of our pets have fleas. Not a single one," declares Michelle
Rivera, a licensed massage therapist and herbalist. "They
have been flea-free for years."
What's their
secret? A constant, all-out chemical warfare assault of flea dips,
bombs, sprays and topical medications? Far from it. The Riveras
attack fleas safely and naturally.
Some of their
natural flea-busting tactics include homemade meals, vitamin
and mineral supplements, specific herbs and itty-bitty
yard residents known as nematodes.
"We've
found that the No. 1 method to control fleas is proper
nutrition," says Dr. Pedro Rivera, DVM, a holistic
veterinarian. Fleas
are parasites that tend to live on unhealthy animals with
low immune systems. "If an animal is healthy, it has
a strong immune system and it won't harbor parasites."
Together,
the Riveras operate the Healing Oasis Wellness Center that teaches
alternative and natural therapies to practicing veterinarians.
They practice what they teach at the center every day on their
forever-expanding pack of pets.
Chow time
at the Riveras features homemade meals high in protein-packed
raw meats as well as vitamin C and fresh
garlic supplements. All pets don't eat the same foods
or take the same supplements because the Riveras recognize
that dogs and cats don't share the same nutritional needs
or physiological make-ups. For instance, dogs can easily devour
lots of garlic, but too much garlic can upset a cat's stomach.
"We urge
people to cook for their pets, but to consult their holistic veterinarian
first before doing so," says Michelle Rivera. "A store-bought
bag of food containing high quality protein and not containing
meat byproducts or chemicals is much better than an improperly
made homemade meal."
Fighting fleas
naturally and holistically provides peace of mind in knowing that
you and your pet are free from exposure to toxic chemicals. Like
the Riveras, Mary Wulff-Tilford and husband, Gregory Tilford,
both herbalists, rely on Mother Nature to prevent a flea infestation
at their three-pet home in mountainous Conner, MT.
They regularly
sprinkle borate powder into the crevices of their couches and
chairs. Two to three times a year, they stock their yard with
shipments of flea larvae-eating nematodes that are available by
mail order or directly from some pet or garden stores. They add
brewer's yeast and fresh garlic to their pets' food bowls as well
as essential fatty acids such as Omega-3 and Omega-6. They brew
tea made from freshly picked and chopped chrysanthemums and serve
it as a liquid treat or flea rinse. They spray their window screens
with a bottle of distilled water containing several drops of bitter
orange essential oil (fleas hate citrus scents).
"Treating
the entire environment, inside and outside, is critical,"
adds Mary Wulff-Tilford. "People think that fleas spend most
their time on animals, but they don't. They leap, feed, and leave
and spend most of their time in the carpets, couches, and floors."
Arden Moore was a contributing
writer for two books, DogSpeak (Rodale Press, 1999) and PetSpeak
(Rodale Press, 1999). She is a member of Dog Writers Association
of America and Cat Writers Association of America. She is currently
a writer and editor who shares her Seal Beach, California home
with three dog-like cats. A contributing editor to Dog Fancy magazine
and Pets: Part of the Family magazine, she also regularly contributes
to PETsMART.com, Cat Fancy magazine, and Veterinary Practice News.
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