Summer Pest Solutions - please stop bugging me!

Published: Thu, 06/10/21

Welcome to Bug Season!

Greetings,

I hope everyone is enjoying June, the sun and the warmer weather. This e-letter is dedicated to dealing with the pests that like to bug us during the summer - fleas, ticks, and other flying creatures.

I will not go into the pros and cons of using prescription medication to prevent fleas and ticks for your pets. Please discuss this with your veterinarian and make your own decision. Instead, I would like to share a few natural solutions to help keep those pests at bay and a few remedies for bites, stings and poisonous plant rashes.

Please note that natural remedies may not always be strong enough to repel bugs, depending on your location and the type of insect. If you or your pet has a bite, rash or other skin irritation that does not heal within a day or two, please contact your doctor or veterinarian.

Wishing all a very peaceful June,

Thank you,

jeanie mossa MS. L.Ac.

Four Paws Acupuncture

Laughing Wu Media

Combating Fleas Naturally

To rid your home of fleas, purchase a box of 20 Mule Team Borax (available in your grocery store laundry aisle) and spread it lightly over your carpet. Use a broom to sweep it deeply into the carpet.

Wait a couple of hours then vacuum. The residual Borax that remains in the carpet will kill the fleas and their larvae simply by drying them out.

Make sure your pets do not walk on the floor while the Borax is there. It can be absorbed into their feet.

When washing dog beds, towels and sheets sprinkle Borax on them before tossing them into the washer as a precaution to kill any eggs that might be hiding in the fibers.

Apple Cider Vinegar Flea Spray

In a large spray bottle mix:

4 liters of Apple Cider Vinegar

2 liters of water
500 ml of lemon juice
250 ml of witch hazel

Spray this natural flea solution around your home on carpets, furniture, bedding, windowsills, floors and on car seats.

Please DO NOT

spray on your pets!

Garlic

Garlic is a natural weapon against fleas. Fleas detest the smell of garlic. Contrary to many beliefs, garlic is safe to give to your dog in small amounts. Add a half clove for small dogs or whole clove for larger dogs to food each day.

Garlic has a natural sulfur which repels mosquitoes. The odor of garlic scares them away for as long as they can detect the odor. If you are prone to mosquito attacks, add garlic to your own food. It will also help keep away vampires!

Dog Whisperer® Tick + Flea Spray

We discovered this spray at the Tendercrop Farms stand in Wenham MA a few years ago. Love the smell and how easy it was to spray on our dog and ourselves before walks. Best part - it works! Available online.

Repel ticks + fleas, naturally!

Plant-Based

Proven Effective
Eco-friendly & Non-irritating
Made with 100% Pure Essential Oils

Clove + Eugenol FREE

Refreshing Herbal Scent

Made in USA

https://www.yayaorganics.com/collections/dog-whisperer

Citronella

Citronella is a natural essential oil that works against mosquitoes. You can find it in candles, oils and incense. We burn a few of these sticks when we are sitting out in the garden. We also have two large Citronella plants near our patio table to help keep the flying vampires away.

PLEASE DO NOT APPLY CITRONELLA OIL TO YOUR PET'S FUR! I

Sting Stop for Humans!

I am mosquito magnet, even though I consume mass quantities of garlic, am a vegetarian and use a bug repellent when going outside or hiking. I am not sure what they could be attracted to!

Sting Stop is a safe homeopathic ointment to keep on hand when those pesky bugs bite or sting. I keep one in my purse, house and car. You can find this online. Soothing relief within minutes!

https://www.naturesway.com/products/boericke-tafel-ssssting-stop-gel

Calamine Lotion

Sometimes Sting Stop or other ointments just can't take that itch away! Anyone who had measles or the chickenpox may remember having pink blotches all over their body or face to relieve the frantic itching.

Recently I had a bizarre rash appear that was resistant to any remedy I tried. Not sure if it was a reaction from the Ouchie Faucie vaccine, bugs or from a plant. Fortunately, while roaming through the grocery store this bottle appeared and called out to me! The lotion is not as thick as I remember from childhood, however it did provide much needed relief from what ever attacked my skin. Keep in the fridge for extra cooling relief from stings.

Calamine lotion, is a medication used to treat mild itchiness. This includes from sunburn, insect bites, poison ivy, poison oak, or other mild skin conditions.

The active ingredient in calamine lotion is a combination of zinc oxide and 0.5% iron (ferric) oxide. The iron oxide gives it its identifying pink color.

This is a must to keep in your medicine cabinet.

BARKOPAEDIA goes to Washington!

A few months ago we sent a copy of our book, BARKOPAEDIA: The Canine Book of Knowledge, to Champ & Major Biden, the handsome German Shepherds now residing at the White House. It took a bit for the book to pass through security, however we received a thank you this week from President Biden.

Now, I won't lie - I honestly hoped for a paw print and an invitation from Champ & Major to visit and play with them. However, we are very grateful that the book finally arrived and hope it can help Champ and Major.

Barkopaedia: The Canine Book of Knowledge is available on Amazon & the Laughing Wu Media site.

If you are ordering for Father's Day, Amazon would be the best option for fastest delivery.

Please note we do not have books in stock at our office. All books are shipped directly via the publisher or Amazon.

http://www.laughingwu.com/barkopaedia.html

Need a last minute gift?

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Nubi juan Kenobi wants to remind you to take time to stretch, breathe and smell the citronella!

4pawsacupuncture@gmail.com