Even though the thought of taking your dog on a road trip or vacation may have seemed like a huge task in the past it doesn’t have to be that way if you start planning for the trip now to guarantee that your dog has an enjoyable and safe trip.

The Little Things That Matter

Make sure that your dogs vaccinations are up to date at least 2 weeks in advance before leaving so if you have to put your dog in a kennel unexpectedly she will be protected from the germs that other dogs may have in the kennel. You should also apply flea & tick medication to your dog before leaving so your dog won’t be in misery dealing with pests on the vacation instead of enjoying her time with you. If you’ve run out of dog supplies like flea and tick medication before your trip you can buy pet supplies online and have them shipped to your house. This is especially helpful for people like me who live hours away from major stores like Petco and Walmart.

What To Pack For The Trip

Besides packing all of the necessary dog supplies it’s also important to pack a copy of your dogs medical records and it’s rabies certificate just in case you need them during your trip. You should also consider packing a picture of your dog just in case she gets lost and you need a picture of her for lost dog posters.

One of the most important steps to preparing a dog for a trip is to practice crating your dog before the trip. This will help your dog to get used to the crate and make it not such a shock to her once you do finally hit the road.

Related Posts:

• Beware: Tea Tree Oil Can Be Harmful To Pets
• Control Fido’s Fleas Without Risking His Health

Every so often a product will come down the line that would appear to be a panacea, but when all is said and done, it may in fact do more harm than good. The weight-loss supplement fen-phen is a good example of this, or such prescription painkillers as Celebrex and Vioxx. The resulting public outcry is often enough to force the makers of such products to pull them from the shelves, or the company may even go out of business.

Tea Tree Oil or Snake Oil?

There should be a distinction between products that are simply ineffective – Kinoki footpads, for instance – and products which can actually be detrimental to the health of the user. Tea tree oil, at this point, would seem to straddle those two lines. An essence-oil derived from the Australian tea tree, it is supposed to relieve all manner of maladies in people and in pets – specifically, it is touted as a remedy for fleas and ticks.

The Potential To Do More Harm Than Good

The ASPCA, however, has issued a statement that contains the following information:

“Clinical effects that may occur following dermal exposure to significant amounts of tea tree oil include loss of coordination, muscle weakness, depression, and possibly even a severe drop in body temperature, collapse and liver damage. If the oil is ingested, potential effects include vomiting, diarrhea and, in some cases, seizures. If inhalation of the oil occurs, aspiration pneumonia is possible.”

Veterinarians would caution that tea tree oil should not be used on cats or small dogs unless it is in an extremely diluted form. The dissemination of such valuable information is a good thing, and with the power of the Internet, it is also an easy thing. The only problem is that the potentially harmful effects only became known after the pet-medicine industry had sold tons of tea tree oil under the guise of it being beneficial. In the end, we should all stick to the golden rule of business: Caveat Emptor. Let the buyer beware.

Related Posts:

• Control Fido’s Fleas Without Risking His Health
• How To Plan A Dog Friendly Vacation
• Tea-Tree Oil For Bug Repellent And Almost Everything Else!

Organic Flea & Tick Control - 32 ounce Average Rating: total customer reviews...

Let’s face it. Fleas are the bane of most pet owner’s existence. No one likes them, especially the pets who become their living host. But conventional flea repellents and remedies contain chemicals so toxic that one has to wonder if the cure is worse than the problem, especially considering that not only the pet will be exposed to those chemicals, but the humans who apply them will be equally exposed.

However, the alternative of leaving Fido to scratch his fur off does not seem all that appealing, either. What is a pet owner to do?

There are other methods of dealing with fleas that do not entail using noxious chemicals. Here are a few ways to handle those pesky fleas without turning your pet into a toxic waste dump.

1. Release beneficial nematodes into your yard.

These are tiny worms that feed on flea eggs and larvae, yet are harmless to your lawn and other foliage. Reducing the population of fleas outside will help to keep them off of Fido and out of your house.

2. Remove your shoes when entering your house.

Flea eggs are easily carried inside on the soles of your shoes.

3. Bathe your pets regularly.

Add ½ teaspoon pure Tea Tree oil to a mild pet shampoo, and wash them thoroughly clear down to their skin. The tea tree oil kills fleas and eggs, and also soothes any irritated areas on your pet’s skin from flea bites. Warning: Tea trea oil can be harmful to some pets.  Please use with caution.

4. Feed your pets a healthy diet.

Encourage them to drink fresh water, and make sure they get plenty of exercise. A healthy pet is less likely to encounter serious flea infestations than one with a weakened system.

5. Vacuum your house regularly.

Dispose of any vacuum cleaner bags to eliminate trapped flea eggs.

6. Use cedar sachets in your pet’s bedding.

Fleas despise the scent and will stay away. Lavender, Tea Tree, Rosemary, and Sweet Woodruff also work well.

Also, use under furniture cushions, and in corners of the rooms. Do NOT use cedar in a spray solution, as inhaling it can cause dogs to choke.

When all is said and done, frequent brushing and combing also help to eliminate fleas from your pet. Not to mention pets just like the attention! Try these methods and see for yourself how easy it is to keep fleas away from your pets without the use of dangerous or irritating products. You and Fido will both be glad you did.

Related Posts:

• Beware: Tea Tree Oil Can Be Harmful To Pets
• The 5 Worst Garden Pests—and How to Control Them
• Organic Approaches to Garden Pest Control
• How To Plan A Dog Friendly Vacation
• 4 Steps To Eco-Friendly Ant Control
• Tea-Tree Oil For Bug Repellent And Almost Everything Else!
• Pesticides Are Destroying Our Bodies! (Here’s Proof)
• 5 Homemade Chemical Free Bug Repellents That Work
• Got Cockroaches? Repel Those Rascals The Green Organic Way!
• Organic, Environmental, and Natural Ideas For Pest Control