Fleas and Ticks Naturally

The Healthy Bark

Hard to think about fleas and ticks in the middle of winter, however this is when you should be putting together a game plan now so you can get a jump on these nasty pests naturally.
Since fleas and ticks live outside the first place you need to treat is the outdoors. Beneficial Nematodes are the first line of defense against unwanted bugs. They kill the "Bad" ones in your yard. It is safe for pets, people, your organic garden, and the environment. These little guys are amazing. I had a severe outbreak in my yard many years ago. I lived out near the woods in a small subdivision. Two of my neighbors moved about the same time that had pets, well I guess their yard and pets had many fleas and those fleas were now hungry. Within a few weeks of them moving my pets got fleas. Now at the time I had four cats and four dogs, so you can imagine the nightmare I was about to face.

Giving four dogs a bath is one thing, but four cats, I would have rather had a root canal than to bath a couple of my cats. Knowing I had to get it under control and fast I did some research. I ordered the Nematodes with overnight delivery, and started on the house and pets. The yard was so bad that if I went outside I had fleas on me! I had ordered Cedarcide oil for the inside and for the pets to get the inside under control as well. I also ordered the outside treatment, after talking with them, they assured me the oil would not hurt the nematodes.

Both products arrived at the same time, so here I was with Eight pets, a house and yard infested, and about in tears. Yes I could have reached for chemicals, but knew that was not the answer for any of us. I also had an organic garden I needed to think about as well. I spent the entire day doing the yard, house and pets. I washed bedding, sprayed under appliances, mopped floors, used Diatomaceous Earth food grade into the baseboards with a squeeze bottle, and vacuumed all the hardwoods. Moving the pets from upstairs to down as each area was treated and aired out.

Within 24-hours I could walk in the backyard and not have a flea on me. Inside the house I continued to vacuum daily and spray the pets with a combination of products I had received. By the two week mark I could not find a flea anywhere, not in the yard, in the house, or on the pets. From that point forward I followed a regimen and have not had a flea outbreak since.

What I noticed along the way is I did not have mosquitoes either in my backyard. There was a point when I would go outside to grill and I would come in with bites on my ankles. With a little more research I perfected my routine for all the bad pests I use to worry about.

Here is a list of the products I used and kept in rotation. I also made a spray with Apple Cider Vinegar, Lavender essential oil, and peppermint oil for the dogs.  For the cats I just used Apple Cider Vinegar in a spray bottle. Also the Cedarcide oil I put on my hand a lightly applied to them.

Nematodes need to go down at the beginning of spring and in the fall. Click here for Nematodes
They explain how to use them and what you will need. Get the three pack as it gets rid of all the bad bugs.

Cedarcide Oils for home, yard, pets, and yes people. You can purchase here Cedarcide

Pet Wellness Blends has an awesome oil for dogs and people. You can purchase here Natur-Repel Oil or Spray

Pet Wellness Blends also carries a product if your pet has been bitten by a tick. Info and product can be found here For tick season

I have not used chemicals on my pets in many years. They were fed a healthy raw diet, herbs to boost the immune, and natural products to keep the bugs away. I live in the south and we have bugs 10 months out of the year. There is a way to keep them pest free, it just takes a little more work. In the long run you will spend less money, have a healthier environment for your pets and your family, and not take a chance of poisoning your pets.