Search Results for: blog natural insect repellant for dogs and people

Chasing House Flies

On the surface I had a lovely afternoon yesterday. I returned from a good time volunteering with friends at a local museum and spent a productive afternoon finishing a lot of work. That’s just the surface story. In reality as the hours of the afternoon waned I was driven crazier and crazier, as a headache crept further and further into my skull. And it’s all my pets’ fault. Well, just Chihiro and Cole. What did they do that made me insane? They chased house flies. I don’t know how so many flies got into my house, but there must have … Continue reading →

Pet Insurance

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about pet insurance. Maybe because of all the money we’ve had to fork out for Murphy’s paw surgery. Except, I’m not sure if pet insurance would have covered it. I’m not that well versed in the various pet insurance policies out there. But I keep seeing them advertised, so I thought I’d check into it a bit more. Besides, it makes a great article for the Pets Blog! Types of Pet Insurance Policies Who has them and where can you get them? Below is a list of some of the pet insurance providers I … Continue reading →

Lemon Balm

Shortly after I graduated college, I got a summer job at a 1800s historical park. One of the houses boasted a lovely little herb garden, and my favorite plant in the garden was lemon balm. It smelled like a combination of lemon and mint; I was always cutting bunches and hanging them to dry in the restored cottages. Lemon balm has been around for at least two thousand years. Greek and Roman scholars took note of the plant and used it for a variety of remedies, including dog and scorpion bites. Arabs used the plant to treat heart disorders and … Continue reading →

Flea and Tick Prevention Options

There are lots of choices when it comes to flea and tick prevention. Here’s a look at five popular choices that you may find at your veterinarian’s office or local pet store. Frontline — available as Frontline Top Spot and Frontline Plus for both dogs and cats. Both versions contain fipronil to kill fleas and ticks. Frontline Plus also contains an insect growth regulator that takes care of fleas and ticks from egg to larvae to adult. Liquid is applied monthly between the shoulders; controls ticks for one month and fleas for up to three months. Water resistant. Safe for … Continue reading →

Home Remedies For Bug Bites

Posted on by

I managed to hold out until May to get my first mosquito bites. Unfortunately, the little pests managed to chomp me in the armpit — a somewhat embarrassing place to try to scratch! Mild reactions to insect bites can be quickly and easily treated at home. Deal with the bite itself as soon as possible: If a stinger (like from a bee or wasp) remains in the bite site, try to pull it out as soon as possible! Use a flat knife or other flat edge to scrape out the stinger; venom may remain in the stinger and can be … Continue reading →

How To Remove A Tick

Posted on by

Though we refer to them as “tick bites,” ticks don’t exactly bite. They burrow into the skin head first and get stuck there if you don’t remove them correctly. Why are ticks dangerous? Several different types of tick can cause Lyme disease — so they need to be removed quickly and they need to be removed correctly. Try not to touch the tick with your bare hands; wear gloves if you have them available. Grasp the tick with tweezers as close to the skin as you can get them. Pull gently, using constant pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick; … Continue reading →

Who Are Those Dogs in … The K9 Advantix/Advantage Commercials?

One of my favorite TV commercials using animals is the K9 Advantix commercials with the little singing puppy. There’s one where he’s written to thank his parents for the package with the K9 Advantix in it. (Which stopped all the biting, because those “fleas, ticks, mosquitoes really bother.”) In fact, the commercial is titled “Camp” and you can watch it on the K9 Advantix site.) They have a new commercial with the little pup singing another song: There ain’t no bugs on me There ain’t no bugs on me. There may be bugs on some of you mugs, But there … Continue reading →

Spring Proofing Your Pet: Allergies

Spring brings a lot with it, like warmer weather, blooming flowers, and spring cleaning. But just as people suffer from springtime allergies, so do pets. Below are the most common irritants pets suffer from at this time of year, along with tips for reducing their discomfort. Pollen The attack of itchy eyes and runny noses plague humans allergic to pollen. Pets get the itchies too –in the form of itchy skin that is. There are lots of ways to treat the itchies, such as: • With supplements to ease them (e.g. fatty acids or vitamin A and E oils). • … Continue reading →

Natural Flea Management

If your pets are like my pets, they want to spend more time outside during the summer. Moose likes to spend the days in the yard, alternately sprawled out in the sunshine and curled up in a shallow hole underneath the bushes. I do keep Moose and Lally on a monthly flea and tick preventative, but sometimes they need a little extra help. There are lots of herbs that are naturally good at repelling fleas from pets and people. If you’re planning a camping trip or a nature walk… or just don’t want to subject your pets to the harsh … Continue reading →