Natural Flea Rinse

DOES YOUR FLEA PREPARATION SAY - 'avoid contact with skin' or 'wear rubber gloves when applying'? If it is capable of poisoning a human being on contact, it is not suitable for your dog either.

If you care about your dog's health try this home made remedy:

NATURAL FLEA RINSE

 ESSENTIAL OILS FLEA CONTROL BLEND

You may use more of any of the first 3 oils if you cannot get them all, BUT NOT THE OTHERS.

1 teaspoon (5ml) eucalyptus oil

I teaspoon lavender oil

1 teaspoon citronella oil

1 teaspoon thyme / or tea-tree oil

40 drops (one & a half ml) garlic oil

40 drops of pennyroyal ( this is the main flea repellent in the recipe )

1 & a half tablespoons of vodka

Mix the oils together (shake up) in a 50 ml bottle.

Leave for 4 days.

 

TO MAKE A FLEA COLLAR

Use a cloth collar and soak it in the flea mix. Dry completely before using on your dog. Repeat every 3 to 4 weeks depending on severity of the flea problem.

DOG & CAT bedding can be protected by washing the bedding, then adding a teaspoon of the mix to the last rinse. Hanging bedding out in the sun whenever possible will also deter the fleas.

 

DOG BATHING

Add 1 drop (for a small dog) or 2 drops (for a large dog) to the shampoo. Use the same quantity in the final rinse water.

 

TO PROTECT YOUR DOG BETWEEN BATHING

Use 4 drops to 1 cup of water and mix well.

Moisten a sponge or face flannel with this mix and dampen the dog with a backwards movement through the coat. BE CAREFUL to avoid both genitals and eyes.

If the flea problem is severe you can repeat this daily.

4 drops of the mix can be blended with 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil and massaged into the coat behind the ears and the back of the neck. Massage it in where fleas love to congregate – at the base of the spine just above the tail.

 

HYDROBATH

Add 5 ml to the final rinse. AVOID THE FACE and EYES.

PENNYROYAL SHAMPOO is sometimes available from Health Shops, Pet Shops and Vets.

This article was contributed by Lyn McAlpine

It is based on Purchon, Nerys ‘AROMA THERAPY’

(ISBN 0 7336 0007 7 HB)

Printed in Australia by McPhersons Printing Group.

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