Good Bloggie!

Fleas: a dog’s worst friend. And owners aren’t too keen on them either!

Last year, we had a horrible time with them. Cocoa was preggers, which added to the dilemma. We used low-impact and organic methods. Finally getting rid of them just before the pups were born. Diatomaceous earth was sprinkled all over the backyard and throughout the house. (Yep. There were in the house.) It looked like a snowstorm in April, both around and inside the house!

Diatomaceous earth consists of tiny fossils with very sharp edges. These edges cut the exoskeleton of the fleas and dries them out. The fossils don’t hurt large animals or us because they are too small. Some ranchers mix food-grade diatomaceous earth in cattle feed to organically worm their livestock. If you want to try diatomaceous earth, look for food-grade. DON’T use the type for pools.

We also used a shampoo and flea spray safe for pregnant moms and pups, but finally resorted to Frontline on the non-pregnant dogs before it was over. It takes about 3-4 weeks to truly get rid of fleas. You have to eliminate the first round of adults, then wait for the eggs to hatch, then get rid of those. Fleas have a very, hardy survival cycle.

Recently, while shopping at a local pet store, discovered nematodes were in stock. Wanted to give this a try last year, but didn’t follow through. So this year, we are trying it out. The shop clerk said after week, he realized all his fire-ants were gone. However, there is some controversy whether nematodes are effective against fire-ants.
University of Flordia study

What are nematodes? They are tiny, simple animals and there are more varieties than you can imagine. Different ones like to eat different things. The ones from the pet store like fleas and other small insects. They come refrigerated and dormant. You crumble them into a clean, (never seen chemicals) water sprayer. Then spray the damp and dark places of the yard where fleas and nematodes like to live. The nematodes wake up and start seeking a meal.

We’ve already had the yard chemically sprayed before the weather really warmed up, so haven’t had any issues this year. But some neighbors are reporting flea problems. And it’s about time to either spray again chemically, or give some friendly nematodes a try. We are opting for the friendly nematodes. Sprayed the yard last week and all seems well. We’ll see how things go and whether any fleas jump up to say “hi!” the rest of the summer.

For more information on nematodes, visit these links:

• What Are Nematodes?
• Mother Earth News
  

If you want to give them a try, look for them at a local pet shop or order them online. Haven’t bought from the places below, but they carry the flea-loving nematodes. If you do try them, let us know how they work for you. We would be interested in hearing your results.

• Arbico-Organics
• Wormsway.com
  
• Longacre Farms