Eco Flea and Tick Treatments for Dogs and Cats

Please read the safety instructions at the end. Important stuff, Cats are different from dogs and other mammals in that they metabolize and excrete certain substances in their bodies in a very special way. The key is the feline liver. Cats do not produce the necessary enzymes to break down certain substances and then flush them out of their bodies. Not all essential oils cause serious problems with cats. The two worst offenders are limonene and pinene. Sadly, these two essential oils are frequently found in natural flea and tick repellents, shampoos,

Dog Shampoo

This pet shampoo base is very easy to make, does not contain unsafe chemicals, and is an effective cleanser.

1 ) Take a bowl and add one full cup of an all natural liquid dish soap. Seventh Generation is a favorite among dog owners, but Ecover, Dove, Ivory, or Dial would also work well. A dog's skin is just as sensitive as a human's, and you want to avoid anything that could irritate it.

2 ) Add one full cup of water and mix well.. Feel free to add more water if you need to dilute the chemicals further for particularly sensitive skin.

3 ) Add one full cup of apple cider vinegar and mix. This acts like a deodorant in your homemade dog shampoo. It works to give your pet's coat a lustrous shine, and will also work to keep fleas away. It also ensures that there is no soap residue left in the fur once you rinse everything away. The best part about the vinegar is that it helps prevent the wet dog smell that most people find so terrible.

To this amount of pet shampoo base, you can add up to 20 drops of essential oils to create a variety of synergistic blends from the book Holistic Aromatherapy for Animals:

Itchy Skin and Allergies Blend:

2 drops Geranium

6 drops Rosewood

6 drops Lavender

1 drop Chamomile roman

2 drops Carrot Seed

1 tablespoon ground oatmeal