DON'T BUG ME!

I just love the springtime……the warm temperatures caressing my face, the fresh air playing with my hair, the mild breezes with their fragrant scents stimulating my nostrils, music coming from cars with windows rolled open, dog shows with excited exhibitors, family gatherings, lifted spirits and oh yes, all those awful BUGS crawling on my skin and biting me and my dogs! Can I tell you how much I hate bugs? I can hear some of you saying, “But those bugs have a purpose here on earth.” Well I say, “Take your “purpose” someplace else because you sure are UGLY! Go do your thing on the plants and trees and stay the heck away from me and my dogs!” But alas, those bugs don’t any attention to me because sooner or later they find themselves coming back to me and my “fur kids!” For being so tiny, they are certainly stubborn and persistent critters. Looks like it’s me against them in a never ending battle of their love for me and my dogs and my hatred for them! So if I have to share the planet with them, they need to keep their sorry little butts off of me and my dogs and stay outside and not trespass into my house.

It seems like the insects of the world are living longer life’s than ever before. They seem to endure weather changes so much more now than I’ve ever seen. I had a “resident” spider that lived in between the window and screen all through the winter and up until this spring. How this little creature lived through the cold brutal temperatures of the winter, I do not know. I really don’t care either as long as it remained outside.

I’m going to list some products made for controlling the bug population on and in our dogs as well as ourselves and our property. For the last couple of days I’ve been talking on several of the lists that I belong to about a product called Diatomaceous Earth. Someone brought up the subject on an All-Breed list that I belong to and I took it to my German Shepherd lists to get their feedback about this product. I have yet to use it, but now that I’ve gathered all the information that I want about it, I will place an order and start my dogs on it as well. If I get brave, I might even take it myself as it can be used by humans as well as dogs. VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE…….MAKE SURE THE PRODUCT IS HUMAN FOOD GRADE!! DON’T USE IT ON OR IN YOUR DOGS IF IT ISN’T! It seems this product helps take care of fleas and ticks when used on the dog’s skin and coat. Be careful not to breathe in the powder when you use it. Some people recommend using gloves when using it on the dogs. Also make sure the dogs don’t breathe in a lot of the dust as well. Use it gently. When using the product to add to your dog’s food, this is also supposed to help with internal worms. It can be used in and around the house. Everyone that I got feedback from about Diatomaceous Earth LOVED it! Product description: GreenSense Diatomaceous Earth - This fossilized skeletons of tiny aquatic organisms. When untreated, the razor sharp edges of this mined product scratch the exoskeletons of hard bodied insects, making them susceptible to fatal attack from natural organisms in the soil.

On this same All-Breed list that I belong to, I read that a few people swear by a product called “Flea Treats” which I had never heard of before. This is what the description says about this product……….Flea Treats keep fleas (and ticks!) off your pets. They're free of hormones and insecticides. They're reasonably priced. They're guaranteed. They're safe, healthy treats, too! You might be wondering how we do that. Read on.... FLEA TREATS are a B vitamin complex, specially formulated for dogs and cats. They're flavored with real liver--your pet will love them.

A product that I use for myself to keep the little “buggers” away is Avon Skin So Soft. I mentioned this product already recently, but am doing so again for this article. Anytime I take the dogs for a walk or when I’m cleaning up the dog runs, I make sure I spray myself with this product. I love it! I’ve even sprayed it on the dogs as well. From the description: Repels mosquitoes that may transmit West Nile Virus for 8 hours. Provides effective protection against gnats, no-seeums, sand flies and biting midges. DEET-free, dermatologist-tested, hypoallergenic. 2-in-1 protection.

Some people swear by brewers yeast and garlic. Others don’t believe it does anything at all. Years ago I used to use this when I fed my dogs and looking back I must say I never had a flea problem. From the products description: Four Paws Brewers Yeast with Garlic tablets contains an excellent source of vitamins, minerals and natural proteins to promote healthy coats and control shedding. This formula also contains garlic which is known to be a natural, superb deterrent for fleas.

Another product to help protect you and your dogs against bugs is a bug zapper for the yard. I used to have one hanging from a big old tree not too far away from my dog runs. The bugs are attracted to the light. They fly in to it and “ZAP” they fly no more! Here is the product description: High Intensity Black Light Bug Killer – Bk15d 15 Watt Electric Bug Killer - Flowtron's advanced electronic insect control system can eliminate thousands of flying insect pests while providing an environmentally-friendly way of eliminating these pests from your outdoor living areas. Built into the Flowtron insect abatement system is a high-intensity ultraviolet light which can lure these light-sensitive insects through an outer protective enclosure to an electrostatically-charged killing grid, where they are quickly and safely eliminated without the use of any toxic chemicals. Dead insects simply fall to the ground and become clean feed for birds and animals. You will also find that the Flowtron's exclusive lantern styling enhances any backyard setting and also doubles as a security light. These practical and environmentally friendly bug zappers are maintenance free and provide an economical way to rid your yard of those troublesome insect pests.

I have really tried to stay away from the poisons that I have used in the past like the spot on flea and tick preventatives that are so popular with most dog owners. They’re expensive and I’m paying all of this money to the companies to poison my dogs??? There are alternatives out there and I’m on a quest to find as many of them as I can while protecting my dogs from all the bugs that have a right to be on this planet too………..only not on me and my dogs please!


My ratings: natural non-poisonous flea & ticks products: (4), poisonous flea & tick products: (1)