As summer is approaching quickly especially down south you need to be prepared for the BUGS! Not just for your pets but for yourself included. These are my favorite tried and true products that I have been using for almost two years now.  I have done my research and tested many other products before I found these items.  I hope you find this useful in your own journey to a more holistic approach to pet care.

Flea Collar– I have talked about how much I love this flea collar before but this is something that Lulu wears year round. I really like the herbal smell that it puts off and I like that I can hardly tell that Lulu is wearing it. These collars are Worry free which means there are No phthalates, DEET, synthetic chemicals, insecticides, or pesticides and is safe for people, cats, dogs, and the environment. The collars are waterproof and do not need to be removed before entering the water. Which is awesome for the water loving pups. For maximum effectiveness, I replace lulu’s every 3 months. This is not a replacement for a collar nor should you attach a leash to it.  This is to be worn with a collar.  The special ingredients in these bad ass collars are Peppermint, Virginia Cedarwood and Almond Oil. The preventative power of these gentle oils are non-offensive to your fur baby, but fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and other biting insects absolutely hate the smell.

Wondercide – Flea and Tick Spray for pets and home.  I stubbled upon this stuff at one of my favorite pets stores in Alamo Heights called Mikes Dog Store.  They have the cutest most unique items I’ve ever seen in a dog store and I love taking Lulu in for treats.  When we had first moved to Texas I had no idea how to deal with fleas.  I walked into this store and they told me all about this product! An all natural spray that is essential oil based and safe for your home and pet.  Now I must say Lulu hates being sprayed but if I spray her close to her fur which I have to anyway to penetrate her thick double coat.   I just give her a few treats, praise her and spray and rub it in.  She smells soooo good afterwards and the spray really works! It comes in a few different scents but my favorite is the peppermint one.  Overall I was really impressed with this product and I highly recommend it.  They are a small woman owned business in Austin TX and their products are AWESOME!

Cedarcide Spray and Products – Not only do they have pet sprays they have other products too that are also for your home, your family, your yard you name it.  This is another company from Lewisville TX that I learned about and use for our family.   I personally love these personal travel sizes that you can order.  They are the best size for leaving in the car, in your purse etc.  The Cedar smell from 100% Texas Cedarwood Essential oil is such a woodsy earthy smell that is a million times better than any chemical bug spray you might use.  I would spritz this on myself and the dog before any walk or hike and we were good to go. If you have ever lived in Texas you know the struggle is real with the mosquitos and other awful bugs. Now that we are in Colorado there is still lots of mosquitos so you can bet your bottom dollar this will be in our packs anytime we are out.

Brewers Yeast with Garlic Flavor Tablets–   This article I have found for you only touches on some of the research as to the benefits of brewers yeast.  It is simple and easy to read and kind of touches all the bases rather than sending you to a bunch of other sites too. As always I would consult with your vet and do your own personal research but, I know for a fact that it works great for my dog. I will continue to use it for her not only for fleas but for bugs in general and all the other nutritional values it adds to her diet. This is just one of a few of the supplements that I feed Lulu.   Just like humans dogs no longer get all the nutrients they need from their foods and so it is important to supplement those nutrients with the best foods and products you can offer them.  Ever since I started adding these to her food Lulu has literally been bug free.  Its absolutely amazing all the benefits nature can offer! The Earth Animal company as listed above with the flea collars also have a great internal powder product  that I have also heard wonders about. However, one of the main ingredients is dried chicken liver and Lulu is allergic to anything chicken so I haven’t tried it yet.

 

I hope you find some of these products useful for your fur babies or even your family.  I would love to hear all about your experiences and your favorite products too!  I promise to go into more detail as to what I feed Lulu and all the different supplements she takes.  I know it sounds crazy but she is part of my family and I do everything I can to make sure everyone in my family is taken well care of in the best way possible. Nutrition plays a huge role in the longevity of not only your life but your pets life too.  It’s our job to make sure that they get what they need.    Now I think I will go take a walk with Lulu  while the sun is out!

 

Thats all for today!

 

-Shayla & Lulu