book excerpt: make your own herbal flea powder!
The folks at Chronicle Books were kind enough to let us post this ‘lil excerpt from the book Eco Dog: Healthy Living for Your Pet. It’s written by Corbett Marshall and Jim Deskevich, the talents behind Variegated textiles, and must-visit store in Catskill, NY.
There are many flea products on the market that are made from chemicals intended to kill the pests in your pet’s coat. This may seem like an easy and effective option, but remember that chemicals toxic enough to kill fleas are not going to be healthy for your pet. Putting these chemicals directly on your dog’s coat — the easiest place for him to ingest them — just doesn’t make sense. We offer an alternative, in the form of powdered herbs meant to repel the fleas, while being harmless to your dog.
Ingredients
Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Lavender, Fennel, Yellow Dock, Pennyroyal
How To
One: Combine as many of the powdered herbs you can find.
Two: Mix together equal parts of each herb in a shaker-top jar.
Three: Brush your pet’s coat backward with your hand or a comb while sprinkling the powder onto the base of the hairs. Apply sparingly, paying special attention to the neck, back, and belly.
Four: Put your pet outside for a little while afterward, so his pets escape into your yard, not our carpet.
For more great eco-friendly pet tips, pick up a copy of Eco Dog. You’ll even find a few craft ideas (like tote bags) in their for you, too.!
photo by Aimee Herring
June 11th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Okay, who’s tried this? I lived through a flea infestation in the mid-90s that I’d rather not think about. I did every kind of natural (and a couple unnatural) things i could think of, until finally I boarded the cats at the vet for treatment, vacated the place, and brought in the big guns (an exterminator). I discovered horrible things:
- fleas can live in hardwood floors (I had no rugs at the time)
- fleas can make your cats anemic if not treated
- fleas will WAKE YOU UP in the morning if they’re trapped under the sheet of your bed and jumping, trying to find a way out
- fleas like light colors, like your clothing
As you can see, I was traumatized! I’m all for all-natural, but really curious about how this works. : )
June 11th, 2008 at 10:07 am
That is exactly what I was thinking: does this work? I would think that it would be a preventative measure, before there was a problem. After infestation, one must use chemicals. But how good is it at prevention, in this hot, steamy, sure-to-be-flea-ridden summer? I want testimonials!
June 11th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Next time I see those Variegated fellows in Catskill, I’ll ask them!
June 11th, 2008 at 11:02 am
According to our holistic vet and a multitude of sources, pennyroyal is toxic to pets even in low doses.
June 11th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Thanks for your comments. To clear up any mis-conceptions, the natural flea powders and recipes in the book are not meant to treat a major infestation, and this is clearly stated within the pages of the book. If you are experiencing a bad outbreak, it is important to consult your Vet to determine the best, and safest, course of action for you and your pets. We also state within the book, that you should always consult your Vet, preferably one that is knowledgeable about holistic care as well as conventional methods, before starting any health program.
Regarding Penny Royal. According to holistic vets we have consulted in the past, as well as several months of research, all have said that Penny Royal OIL is toxic for pets if used undiluted, so it should always be well diluted if you plan to use it in shampoos or conditioners for your dog’s grooming routine. Our recipe is for powder not oil. The powder is safe to use, especially when mixed with other herbs and used in small amounts. If you do some searching, most natural flea powders or alternatives include Penny Royal Powder or diluted solution as part of their ingredients list. If you feel concerned, however, you may simply omit it from the recipe.
Our testimonial, we used this recipe on our dogs, growing up in the hot steamy summers of NC, and they never had an adverse reaction, and it helped maintain their flea free status. Luckily, we only experienced a few outbreaks over the course of many years, which meant a visit to the Vet. The point of any natural treatment is that it needs to be used in a consistent and frequent manner, this is not a once a month treatment.
We hope this helps clear up any concerns! Have a fun and hopefully flea-free-summer!
Thanks for reading.
Jim + Corbett
June 11th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
I would think this is wishful thinking. And sending the pet outside so that the fleas can jump into the grass will not solve your problems, after all, that’s where they got them in the first place. Might make your pet smell better, but I would bet this does nothing for fleas…
June 11th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Sorry to be a downer, Angela!! Just realized that’s how it might have come off — great, I’m trolling my own site! Not intentional. Just scarred from the Great Flea DIsaster of 1998. : )
June 11th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
No sweat, Mary. It’s a good point! I honestly don’t know — having an indoor cat that has never met a flea in his life. I can ask the authors when I see them next. They must have tried this on their dog, I’m sure. Also, the pennyroyal comment is a good one. It’s important to share concerns!
June 11th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
I also lived through a terrible infestation and the only thing that really worked was using a flea comb twice a day, washing all bedding daily, and washing floors daily. For the yard (if you think your pet is picking up fleas from your own yard - very likely if you have a flea problem) diatomaceous earth will kill the fleas by slicing up their exoskeletons.
I would consult an herbalist who works with animals before starting herb-based therapies. Pennyroyal can be very toxic to the liver in humans and animals.
Also notable: while most essential oils are fine for dogs, they can be deadly to cats.
Along with lots of vigilant cleaning and combing, pyrethrin shampoo was what helped us turn the corner.
Good luck to all who will battle fleas this summer!
June 12th, 2008 at 8:24 am
I second folks questioning the effectiveness of this. We tried every natural remedy we could when we had a bad outbreak for our four (!!!) cats a few summers ago. Nothing worked. We had to have them all flea shampooed by a prefessional and then sprayed the whole house, vacuuming constantly. Then we washed all the fabric in the house.
I hate saying this, because I LOVE nontoxic solutions but fleas are WAY beyond these remedies.
June 12th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Hey, all — looks like the writer of the book weighed in — be sure to check out his post above.
June 12th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Thanks for weighing in, Jim. Your book is gorgeous and full of great advice and ideas.
June 12th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
I will definitely mix a batch and give it to my Yorkies. We also tried an all natural tick (and I think flea) liquid that you put on their back and so far it has worked great. I like the idea of the powder as it won’t leave that greasy look on their coat. Since the pennyroyal is powdered and not oil is should be okay.
Will definitely check out their shop next time I go Pine Hill/Margaretville area.
Hugs!!
June 14th, 2008 at 9:04 am
I am a veterinarian and just thought I would weigh in. Not all natural remedies are safe and effective for pets. Pennyroyal can be toxic because it is a nonspecific toxin. Flea products are created to kill fleas specifically and have very little side effects for our mammals. Products sold by vets have been shown to be safe when dosed at large overdoses (20x recommended) even when ingested. If you are worried about chemicals on the pet’s coat use an oral medication like program. These products also help reduce environmental contamination with flea eggs and larvae thus producing a flea-free home and yard. The flea products out there now are amazing and have really helped reduce the number of pets and humans that are literally sick of fleas. Living in Seattle I used to see flea-anemic kittens and animals tearing up their skin because of fleas all the time. Since the new flea products this is a rare occurrence. While I am not against alternative medicine, natural does not always mean good. Hey fleas are “natural”.
June 16th, 2008 at 5:15 am
[...] 1. Killing fleas, whether done so with herbs or medicines, is no laughing matter. Brandi, a veterinarian from Seattle wrote in and said: “If you are worried about chemicals on the pet’s coat use an oral medication like program. These products also help reduce environmental contamination with flea eggs and larvae thus producing a flea-free home and yard. The flea products out there now are amazing and have really helped reduce the number of pets and humans that are literally sick of fleas.” See our post from the book Eco Dog on making your own natural flea powder here. [...]
June 16th, 2008 at 9:49 am
I use frontline or advantage on my kids. It works! I also found I can use advantage on my hairless dog! I totally agree with Brandi! I like natural for my pets too… My Briard will scratch herself silly though for weeks after one flea bite. Florida is full of fleas! My vote is keep them comfortable! Does anyone however know of a “natural” yard spray or powder of some sort for fleas that would be safe to use around horses pasture? Thanks!
June 19th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Is this workable for cats, too?
June 25th, 2008 at 10:16 am
I had no idea about the size and reproductive capabilities until my cat got a dose last year. Tried washing her in a special soap that did no good. We finally went to the vet where she applied a chemical on the upper-mid back. I guess the oil moves around the cat or maybe the fleas always pass that area (?). Either way - it worked. 1 year without fleas.