Get a death grip on flies where they love to breed and feed — horse barns and kennels — with the help of natural insects that eat them called Fly Predators. These tiny insects are harmless to animal life and feed on the fly’s pupa (cocoon) stage of development. They do not attack the adult pest flies. Thus, the adult flies currently existing must either be removed by supplemental methods or tolerated until they live out their short life span of about 21 days.

During fly season, you must repopulate fly infested areas every 30 days with a new supply of recruits that will be mailed directly to you from Spalding Fly Predators. From the website, read all recommendations carefully on how to handle your fresh supply of these little exterminators. You want them to be alive and hungry when you release them!

The author has successfully used and recommends Spalding Laboratories for their excellent customer support.

Photo: AkitaRescue.org

Lucy’s ears are hairless and missing the ends from fly strike. We thank AkitaRescue.org for use of their photo.

Got flies or other biting insects like mosquitoes on your dog or ponies? You can buy effective non-chemical products made from essential oils or make your own concoction. Once again, Mother Nature’s garden comes to our aid — the cedar tree and various plants and herbs contain natural oils that repeal buzzing, flying pests. No need for toxic chemical warfare!

Here is a recipe to keep flies from nesting on your dog’s ears, causing the ear margins to scab and bleed — referred to as “fly strike.”

Mix citronella oil with Bag Balm— this ointment is an all purpose remedy good to keep on hand for skin irritations and abrasions. You may need to soften the ointment to evenly mix in the oil. You can also add these essential oils*: cedar and neem oil. Use 2 to 4 parts oil to 8 parts ointment. Experiment and see what works best for whatever is bugging your dog. Generously coat the ears. Vaseline can be used as a substitute for Bag Balm (available at feed stores or on-line retailers).

OR purchase a cedar-oil based gel (made for horses but safe for dogs). A popular product made in Germany — “Fliegenschutz” (meaning fly protection) is sold here under the name Pharmaka Deo Gel Fly Repellent — same famous CLAC formula containing: citronella oil, clove oil, thyme oil, cedar oil, geranium oil. You can find several online retailers with the help of Google. Another cedar based product — made for horses but safe for dogs — is POCO fly gel. Commonly found in feed stores.

If the ears are severely affected, apply liquid bandage (available at drug stores), to the affected edges and tip of the ear flap beforehand, and then one of the above remedies.

*To find top quality essential oils online, I recommend the NOW products available at iherb.com. [use code Ter129 for first time discount]. You can’t beat their selection of name brands at discount prices. Free shipping available when you spend only $60 and Californians get their orders in just 2 days! Might apply for other states as well — let me know.

To make your own general all purpose insect repellent spray for body use — here is an inexpensive brew used by a thrifty rancher friend of mine who grew up in Germany.  I think he may own stock in the Dollar Store.

Newer and more potent bug repellent products are using Geraniol, a powerful ingredient extracted from geranium oil through a unique refining process. Another reason to plant geraniums — beautiful flowers that emit an anti-insect scent!

Geraniol is proving to be a natural and extremely effective insect repellent.

Used in these products:

Bug Band has a product line for people and pets: http://www.bugband.net/.

Defy the Fly makes collars for dogs and horses that can be worn for around the clock protection: http://www.defythefly.com/.

If you aren’t the do-it-yourself type, try this safe and effective herbal spray online at Only Natural Pet Store. You will also find a good selection of pet supplements, top quality pet foods, and pet supplies. Nurture nature!

You can keep flies, gnats and mosquitoes off your dog (and you!) without resorting to an arsenal of chemicals. Keep your pet and the planet safe, too.

Boric acid is nature’s "secret ingredient," used in many commercial treatments for insect control. This magical white powder is mined from the Mojave Desert in California and has a proven track record in eliminating cockroaches, palmetto bugs, water bugs, ants, silverfish, and termites. Boric acid (100%) powder is odorless and non-staining. Also used in a popular powdered cleaner: good old fashioned Borax!

Biocontrol Network offers natural alternatives to "conventional" chemical pesticides.

As for termites, boric acid when mixed with propylene glycol (non-toxic version of anti-freeze) has proven to be very effective against many types of termites. The glycol helps the solution to penetrate into the wood and become a part of the wood fiber. This solution is a terrific treatment for dry rot in wood.

One of the best qualities of boric acid is that the insects don’t develop a resistance to it, unlike with chemical pesticides. And it’s not harmful to pets or children unless ingested. You can find many helpful recipes and user tips about this natural bug killer on Google’s extensive database. Type: boric acid insect killer.

If you find yourself in need of a professional extermination company, you can avoid the toxic tent by using D-limonene — the chemical name for Orange Oil. It is a renewable resource and is a by-product of orange juice manufacturing. More information on a non-toxic method to destroy dry termites here.

Even fleas can be controlled without chemical help. See my blog entry on flea control here.

Simply put, you can avoid the use of toxic pesticides to rid your home of common household pests. Using chemical pesticides that pollute the water, soil and air we breathe is irresponsible and comes with a deadly price tag. So, if you have not fired your “bug man” yet — you’ve got a phone call to make!

Recommended reading: Home Safe Home — Creating a Healthy Home Environment by Reducing Exposure to Toxic Household Products by Debra Lynn Dadd.

Animal shelters and boarding kennels are infamous breeding grounds for two common pathogens: bacteria (bordetella) and viruses (parainfluenza) that can team up to cause an outbreak of what is commonly called “kennel cough”. If your dog presents to the vet for symptoms of a dry, hacking, relentless cough and has recently been boarded or is a daycare playmate, chances are your vet will quickly diagnose your dog with tracheobronchitis. That’s medical jargon for inflammation of the trachea (windpipe) and bronchioles (upper airways leading to the lungs).

Typical cough for dog with tracheobronchitis:

Your hacking dog 101

Symptoms can appear within one week of exposure (usually 3-4 days) and can persist for up to 2 weeks. Like the common cold in people, kennel cough is highly contagious, rarely fatal, and runs its course in a week or two. Healthy adult dogs are usually treated with cough suppressants and various natural remedies to boost the immune response — making antibiotics unnecessary. More at risk for serious infections are puppies, elderly dogs, and those with compromised immune systems. If your dog develops a snotty nasal discharge, becomes lethargic, or isn’t eating well — off to the vet your dog goes!

What about vaccines?

Although boarding kennels (and daycare centers) will most often require that your dog receive the Bordetella vaccine, it is impossible to guarantee that your dog will be protected against the nuisance of kennel cough. As many as 20 different strains of bacteria and viruses have been identified to cause symptoms of tracheobronchitis. So, it’s more like your dog is getting a flu shot — could be totally worthless or offers only partial protection.

There are two ways to vaccinate your dog with the Bordetella vaccine: nose drops (intranasal route) or with an injection under the skin. Most vets agree that the intranasal route is the preferred way to vaccinate cooperative dogs. The intranasal route boosts local immunity at the site of an attack (the nose and throat) and so it makes better sense than trying to stimulate the general immune system with an injection. Furthermore, injectable vaccines have a systemic effect on the body and are more likely to cause unwanted side effects. Veterinary recommendations range from vaccinating every six months to not at all!  Note: The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has classified Bordetella as a non-core vaccine — making its use optional. 

Don’t fret if your social dog succumbs to the hack of kennel cough. Here are some natural remedies to help your dog fight his own germ battle:

Kitchen helpers

Soothe the throat and speed the healing with good old fashioned honey! This bee food has both antibacterial and antiviral properties. While all honeys have these medicinal properties, Manuka honey from New Zealand (native bees harvest nectar from the manuka bush) has shown impressive results in the research studies done at the University of Waikato: http://bio.waikato.ac.nz/honey/contents.shtml. It is sold in the United States and might be well worth the higher price it commands. If you prefer to shop locally, buy a good quality raw honey (not processed) to ensure higher nutrient value.

The suggested honey dose for dogs is anywhere from ½ to 1 teaspoon three to four times per day. Dogs lick it up or mix in their food.

Another popular all-purpose infection fighter is coconut oil. The healthy fats in this oil can also benefit the coat and aid in the treatment of arthritis. Get the facts on this amazing oil http://coconutresearchcenter.org/aboutus.htm.

Recommended daily dose is 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight — best to give in 2 divided doses. Give a 20 pound dog 1 teaspoon of coconut oil twice a day. If your dog is infected or has been exposed, the dose should be doubled. The only adverse effects of a too-high dose are loose or greasy stools. So, adjust the dose accordingly to your dog’s bowel tolerance.

For best results, combine honey and coconut oil together to optimize the effects of these two powerful health boosters. Your dog will thank you for the extra treats and feel better too!

Plant kingdom remedies

Apitherapy Honey Wild Cherry Bark Syrup from Honey Gardens in Vermont combines raw honey, apple cider vinegar, wild cherry bark, propolis (sticky mixture that bees collect from tree sap and other botanical sources which doubles as a natural antibiotic to both seal and protect the hive) with a mixture of medicinal herbs and essential oils.

This wild cherry syrup is pure plant medicine! It works as a respiratory relaxant, an anti-inflammatory for inflamed respiratory tissues, and an antitussive for relieving irritating, relentless, and spasmodic coughs. The propolis and raw honey contribute to its natural antimicrobial action making this a very effective product. Keep some in your medicine cabinet for human colds, too!

You can find it in natural food markets and on-line retailers:
Honey Gardens Apiaries Apitherapy Honey Wild Cherry Syrup 8 oz.

Dosage guideline: 1 teaspoon per 20 pounds of dog. I recommend that you ask your vet or pharmacist for a syringe to give the syrup orally — one tsp is equal to about 3 ml (same as cc). You can also just mix the syrup into a little honey or something your dog really likes.  Give one dose every other hour while symptoms persist or 4-6 times per day. Shake well.

Hyssop is often called the Biblical herb — referenced in the New Testament. So, its usage has stood the test of time! Relieves hoarseness, mucous buildup, and is an effective aid for respiratory problems in general. Available in powered capsules or tinctures.

Nature’s Way makes good quality herbal products:
Nature’s Way – Hyssop 890 mg 100 caps.

Common guideline for herbal supplements: Use ¼ the adult human dose for each 20 pounds of your dog’s body weight

Home Remedies — turn up the steam!

Water vapor helps loosen mucus clogs, making it easier for your dog to cough it up. The moisture is also soothing to inflamed air pipes in the throat and chest.
Create your own temporary sauna by running your shower on its hottest setting and letting steam build up with the bathroom door closed. After a good water vapor builds up, let your dog breathe in the steam for about twenty minutes. Or use a home vaporizer as another way to help your dog breathe easier. Place the unit near the area where your dog sleeps, but not so close that he might burn himself on it or feel tempted to chew on the cord. Optional: add several drops of eucalyptus oil to the water.

Good old-fashioned cure all — chicken soup for the cough

Grandma was right! Medical science finds proof that a homemade concoction of chicken, onions, sweet potato, parsnips, turnips, carrots, celery stems, and parsley has anti-inflammatory and healing properties. So, brew up a healthy pot of chicken soup for you and your under-the-weather hound. Just remember to remove the onions before canine consumption. The extra licks (not the ones you will get!) will also help to keep your dog hydrated if also battling a fever.

My dog Rosie

Not all dogs exposed to kennel cough germs will get sick. For my dog Rosie, home away from home is my veterinary clinic and in our past 11 years together, Rosie has not fallen ill to any infectious diseases. Why? I believe her low stress lifestyle and health promoting diet gives her an advantage. In fact, she has never been vaccinated with the bordetella vaccine— no doubt her long term exposure to multiple strains at the clinic has blessed her with natural immunity. And even if your dog does wake you up gagging like there is something stuck in his throat, take some comfort knowing your dog will build up natural immunity with repeated exposure.

Dogs and humans alike are exposed to a countless array of contagious infections by bacteria and viruses. Whether or not we (and our dogs) get sick depends on how well our immune system is functioning at the time of sneaky germ attacks.

For more information on how to prevent illness, review articles posted in the cancer series: Our immune system (when working properly) has the natural ability to find and destroy cancer cells as well as the viruses and bacteria that make us sick.

Don’t let your canine pal be a sitting duck for the next germy bug out here — boost your dog’s immune system with better diets, probiotics, antioxidants, and keep reading Dog-Breath

In the house, fleas can be safety eliminated with a tried and tested diatomaceous earth product made by Fleabusters. This flea powder is applied to all carpeted areas and furniture. Kills fleas physically rather than chemically and is completely safe for pets and children. The company will treat your house and offers a full one year no flea guarantee! Or do-it-your-selfers can purchase Fleabusters powder online at Only Natural Pet Store.

In the yard, let Mother Nature do her thing with beneficial nematodes. Create a biological battlefield using microscopic roundworms that feed on flea larvae and other pests like flies, ants, and roaches.

Fleabusters offers another product, BioBusters, for outdoor flea control. Or look for NemAttack Beneficial Nematodes online or at garden centers.

Keep your dog flea free naturally!

Stock these 3 items in your First Aid Kit:

• Liquid dishwashing soap: 1-2 teaspoons

• Baking soda: ¼ cup

• 3% hydrogen peroxide: 1 quart (unopened bottle or a fresh bottle) 

Directions:

Mix together then rub and sponge into hair coat. DISCARD any extra—must not store!

Leave on 5 minutes before rinsing off.

This magic combo is both safe and effective. Speeds up the breakdown of organic residues and can be repeated as often as needed. Note: until all skunky residues are gone, wet dogs will still somewhat smell like our charismatic friend, Pepé Le Pew!

Hydrogen peroxide can also be used to treat hot spots and applied to minor cuts and abrasions. It’s a natural antiseptic and removes fresh blood stains too! Also makes a cheap veggie wash (dilute a few capfuls into a sink of water) and super people mouthwash (dilute one capful of hydrogen peroxide into 1/4 cup of water).