Possible To Control Fleas and Ticks Naturally?

Throughout the years,countless natural remedies for parasite control have been touted as effective alternatives to insecticides.Some of these substances or devices are worn or applied externally; some are designed to be taken internally.Products such as brewer’s yeast, garlic, and B vitamins have all been implicated at one time or another as flea-control remedies. Unfortunately,controlled scientific studies indicate little to no benefit in flea control with these products. In addition,certain products containing abrasive-type ingredients (e.g., silica gel and diatomaceous earth) are available for external flea control. These non insecticidal products act by damaging the chitin exoskeleton of the flea, leading to desiccation (drying up) and death of the flea. Moderate success has been reported with these abrasive-type products. Drying and/or mild irritation of the pet’s skin may occur with these products. Frequent application (four to seven times weekly) is required if these are to be used.

Electronic flea collars have limited popularity, as well as limited benefits.Although manufacturers may stand by their efficacy, scientific studies have shown that their worth in controlling external parasites is minimal. The idea behind them is that the device emits a high-pitched sound that can’t be heard by humans or pets, yet it drives fleas away. Unfortunately, aside from their relative ineffectiveness, some models might indeed deliver an audible pitch that can be heard by — and might be quite discomforting to—the dog or cat wearing the collar.