| Excerpted from Only Angels: How to Raise and Train | | | | ago. It kills pests like fleas, worms or any hard-shelled |
| the Perfect Sighthound | | | | insects because its sharp silica edges puncture their |
| The more pesticides you use, the more fleas you | | | | soft covering. Therefore, insects cannot become |
| get. There are four universal truths with regard to | | | | immune to it. It is inexpensive and considered safe |
| insects: | | | | for humans and animals. It is even added to some |
| 1. Bugs will eat. | | | | animal food to kill intestinal parasites and worms. It is |
| 2. You cannot eradicate every single insect. | | | | also used on stored animal feed to deter pests. |
| 3. Pesticides will ALWAYS eventually backfire | | | | Animals such as birds that eat the bugs that are killed |
| because the insects adapt. | | | | by diatomaceous earth particles will not be harmed. |
| 4. Pesticides may be harmful to your dog, your | | | | There is one word of caution when dealing with |
| children, and you. | | | | diatomaceous earth-there are two grades. One is the |
| Pesticides will sooner or later backfire on the user. | | | | kind used for swimming pool filters and spreading |
| They are effective when initially used, but over time | | | | around the garden, the other is food-grade and this is |
| their effectiveness dissipates and eventually the bugs | | | | the only kind to use on your dogs or in your home. |
| will develop stronger generations which are immune | | | | Why? Because it won't damage lungs or eyes. It is |
| to them. This is because insects reproduce rapidly | | | | difficult to find the food-grade kind, and my suppliers |
| and have many offspring that have mutations | | | | change constantly. When diatomaceous earth is not |
| resisting the insecticide. As this process occurs, the | | | | available, a good alternative range of shampoos and |
| living insects will pass down their new genetic traits | | | | sprays is made from Erigeron (Canadian fleabane) a |
| to the offspring and most of the new generation will | | | | rare herb whose oils dissolve the shells of fleas and |
| be immune to the insecticides. We then have to | | | | other insects without harming you or your pet. |
| keep coming up with newer, and stronger | | | | Erigeron is preferred over citrus-based natural |
| alternatives. | | | | flea-killers that can trigger allergies in some dogs or |
| Pesticides have a major drawback-they are all | | | | burn sensitive skin. |
| dangerous. | | | | There are many other options including a wide |
| Pesticides are also expensive. Ask anyone who uses | | | | variety of natural sprays, shampoos and treatments |
| the monthly spot-on products. Whenever you use | | | | but I have found the easiest and purest and most |
| pesticides on your dog you are also using them on | | | | foolproof way to get rid of fleas - steam. Of all the |
| yourself. Whether you use a few drops of a product, | | | | natural flea control methods I have used, this one |
| or a spray or a powder, every inhabitant of the | | | | works the best: |
| house will be exposed. Even professionally applied | | | | STEAM YOUR FLEAS AWAY! |
| pesticides evaporate somewhat and affect the | | | | I purchased a small hand-held pressurized steamer |
| people living in the house. It has been shown over | | | | unit (not the mop kind), which is relatively inexpensive |
| and over that pesticides have very negative effects | | | | when compared with the ongoing cost of pesticides. |
| on pregnant or nursing women, infants, and small | | | | The steamer unit has a nozzle that allows the steam |
| children as well as cats, dogs and birds. I have never | | | | to be released as a pressurized stream at 212 |
| been a fan of toxic insecticides but when I learned | | | | degrees F. I treat my carpets, upholstery and dog |
| that the anti-flea products applied monthly on the | | | | bedding every month and voila - zero fleas! It also |
| back are nerve gas derivatives, I knew I would | | | | kills dust mites, and is great for sanitizing. It is easy. It |
| never use them. | | | | is nontoxic. It is environmentally friendly. It works! I |
| So what is the alternative? The natural approach. | | | | first used it weekly, but found that over time I could |
| Why? Because it's effective, inexpensive and it | | | | use it less and less and still be flea-free. |
| doesn't damage you, your dog or the environment. | | | | You can also use the unit to clean and sanitize other |
| There are many methods used in natural flea control. | | | | areas of your home. Steam kills E.coli and salmonella |
| Hand picking is very effective. Every time your dog | | | | and it's great for cleaning burned food off your oven |
| comes in from outdoors, quickly run a narrow | | | | or burner grates. Since I've been using it, I have |
| toothed flea comb over him and wash the critters | | | | noticed a real improvement in my dust mite allergies |
| down the drain. This can be time consuming if you | | | | so I guess it must be killing the mites along with the |
| live in a multidog household, but fortunately there are | | | | fleas. There are probably other brands which work as |
| other methods. Fleas live on plants in the outdoors. | | | | well. This just happens to be the one I use. If you |
| Adding kelp to the soil helps plants develop their own | | | | choose to purchase a steamer unit, make sure it has |
| arsenal against pests. Kelp is an important and | | | | a pressure nozzle which will allow the steam to come |
| undervalued defensive weapon. When composted in | | | | out in a strong stream. Gentle steamer units for |
| the soil it adds many nutrients and plant enzymes | | | | steaming clothing will not work to kill fleas unless they |
| which act as preventative against insect pests. | | | | also come with a pressure nozzle. |
| Two of my favorite natural-based weapons against | | | | WARNING: DO NOT USE THE STEAMER DIRECTLY |
| fleas are diatomaceous earth (sometimes called | | | | ON YOUR DOGS AS THE STEAM COULD SCALD |
| diatom dust) and steam cleaning of carpets and dog | | | | THEM. It hardly seems necessary to say that, but |
| bedding. Diatomaceous earth is a mined mineral | | | | better safe than sorry. |
| product that consists of remains from fossilized | | | | Copyrighted, Cherie Feherman 1998 and 2010. All |
| one-celled diatoms that lived nearly thirty million years | | | | rights reserved. |