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Start | Flea & Tick | Skin Irritation

FLEA & TICK PREVENTION
In the Beginning - A Good Diet
A well-balance diet is very important to keep your pet healthy. I am not recommending that you start loading them with all sorts of supplements, but we are talking selecting a premium food brand or home cooked meals and top it off with some vegetable and fruits help your pet get the natural source of vitamins. If you are a BARFER like most of us here in Smoochie Poochie, this wonderful diet had helped improve the health of our pets tremendously.

Sugar of any form should be avoided, because these pests like the taste of blood with lots of sugar in it, be sure to check the labels of those treats you have been giving. Grains such as rice behave the same way in the body as sugar, so avoiding them too is a good idea.

What To Do Next?
Add Some Spice

Spices and seasonings that not only doing wonders to the taste of your food but to the prevention of nasty pests. Garlic, is a little medicine chest hidden in the kitchen known for all its medicinal and antibacterial values. Depending on your dog’s weight, and how well your dog can ingest garlic. Normally 1/3 – 1/2 clove for a dog weighing 5Kg – 8Kg. Some dogs’ digestive system simply can’t accept garlic and may vomit when given, though it is rare and harmless but do look out for this symptom and start slowly. Garlic naturally has its holistic medicinal and antibacterial values; it helps repel those blood sucking pests of all kinds. I wouldn't give garlic everyday but maybe once a week for maintenance and up the dose prior to some planned outing 3-5 times a week. Caution: don't give garlic to your animal if he or she is anemic or very young - it can thin the blood.

A Little Dash of Fruity Goodness
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV). A teaspoon of ACV in the water or in the daily meal can do wonders. It is also one of those that help keep the ticks and fleas away. You should only get the organic unfiltered ACV.

Natural Alternative
Flea & Tick Hop A’way concentrate using the pure essential oils, which can be concocted into a dip or spray.

How to use a tick and flea dip? The purpose of this is to remove and repel the fleas and ticks that are attached to your pet after an outing or when u find ticks and fleas on your dog. After diluting the dip in a basin of lukewarm water (ratio based on amount of water needed, 1 ml to each litre of water) immerse your dog in the basin. Water level should at least cover up to their chest.

Using a scoop or sponge, repeatedly rinse the water over your pet. While dipping, look out for tick or flea that is attached to your pet. These pests should gradually disengage itself from your pet when the repelling effect takes place. For medium to big dogs, we do not recommend dipping but you should sponge your dog thoroughly with the same dilution as the dip. After dipping or sponging your dogs, do not rinse off because the essential oil continues to protect your pet from fleas and ticks.

When using the concentrate as a protective spray, dilute 10ml of concentrate to 100ml of water. An amber glass spray bottle is preferred over a plastic spray bottle as storage in the amber glass spray bottle can last longer. If you mix the concentrate in a plastic spray bottle, try to finish the spray within a week. The spray can be mist sparingly over yr dog’s coat to protect them when you bring them out for a walk. Click here to read more about this holistic product.

How to remove a tick using tweezers: Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible by trying to grip its head. Steadily pull upward until he releases his grip. Do not twist or jerk the tick because that action may break off the head or mouth parts, and you do not want to leave the tick head embedded in your pet’s skin. Also, do not squeeze to the point of crushing the tick or disease-spreading secretions may be released. Spray the bitten area with the Hop Away Spray to disinfect sooth and calm the bite. Wash your hands with soap and water. You can help ease the irritation of the sting further by applying The Cream.

B a Happy Dog

Vitamin B Complex - Fleas and ticks hate the taste of B1, or thiamine, in the blood. Vitamin B Complex is found in many dietary sources and one of which is brewers yeast. However, we do not recommend the usage of brewer yeast. You may want to supplement with B complex (supplementing with only one B can lead to deficiencies in other B's). B vitamins are water-soluble, which means it is less possible to overdose on them. 5 mg daily will be more than enough. For BARFERS that feeds offal, you are already getting the complete source from those raw livers and there is no need to supplement this.

Housekeeping
The spray or the dip (diluting it) you have can be use all around your house, on your dog and your beddings. Curtains, sofa, the odd corners where ticks and fleas can hide. If you have a bad case of tick and fleas infestation at home. You may need more help than these. Do drop us an email if you have any questions.

Grow Some Plants If you live in a house with a garden, grow some herbs such as fennel, peppermint, lemon balm are helpful too in repelling fleas. Place some lemongrass wrapped in cloth in hard to reach area and change them time to time.
	A Few Good Ants Good news for you, these are probably feasting on flea eggs and larva. As long as there are certain bearable and harmless amounts of ants in your garden, let’s do well with them.

Beauty and Health
Remember that a good grooming habit is crucial not only to the look of your dog but their health too. You should brush them daily and while doing so check and observe if you find any tick or flea on them. Always check for any foreign objects that may trap between their paw pads, on their leg furnishing, in their muzzle etc. Check their eyes, ears and nose, look into their mouth and check those teeth and gums to see any object being caught and stuck there. A routine grooming and checking like this helps you discover any problem before it gets bigger and worst.

Note that all these methods work at REPELLING fleas and ticks, not at killing them.

WARNING - Essential oils can be very detrimental to bird and cats. Never use essential oils around a bird and that includes diffusing them.

A daily check for flea and tick are very important.

**Disclaimer** The advice and information provided in this article is not to take the place of your veterinarian's advice. Please consult a veterinarian if your pet is suffering from any illness. Any product or information obtained and used from this website is done under the decision of you and your veterinarian’s advice.