Sasha was just eight weeks old when I brought her home. She had all of the gorgeous puppy traits plus one more unfortunate addition…she was covered in fleas! I noticed her scratching obsessively and it was hurting me to see her so uncomfortable.
Being an advocate for coconut oil, natural health and chemical free living, I also like to apply these principals to my animal’s health. I tend to avoid commercial brands that use chemicals in their ingredients. I had also heard that some of the common ‘chemical treatments’ are known to have cancer-causing ingredients.
Commercial Flea Killers
Some of the active ingredients found in chemical flea killer solutions include Imidacloprid and Fipronil. These pesticides are highly toxic neurotoxins that kill bugs on contact and ingestion.
Some reports or vets might say that although this ingredient is a “POISON” it won’t harm your puppy, cat or dog, and I say sure! I’m just not going to buy that one and I am definitely not going to risk it!
The application or use of chemicals may not show an immediate adverse affect on your pet (like it does to the bug), however over time the toxicity build up can lead to suppressed immunity, digestive dysfunction, skin sensitivities which can all manifest later as various forms of disease and ill health.
Coconut Oil The Natural Solution
Coconut oil is an organic food-grade product that contains lauric acid which acts as a repellent to fleas and ticks. It is especially good to note that coconut oil is non-toxic so if your pet licks it (and they usually do), it is perfectly safe. It also won’t have any short or long-term toxic side affects. Coconut oil is a saturated fat with over 40% lauric acid, the richest source naturally available. How it works? The theory is that the fat in coconut oil literally suffocates them.
If your animal already has fleas in their coat, cover your hands in coconut oil and rub them together until it gets a liquid like consistency. Now massage it on to your pets coat, making sure to work it all the way down to the skin. Once you have covered your pet’s coat (you can do one section at a time) take a flea comb and run it through the fur and you will find that the fleas stick to the comb because of the oil. Any fleas that are not stuck in your pets fur because of the oil will jump off your pet because of the repellent nature of the lauric acid and any that don’t get away will suffocate. They can literally jump off so it is best not to do this inside your house.
I did this once a day for three days in a row and that was enough to make Sasha’s coat beautiful and shiny and to see her sleep peacefully without scratching and biting. I now just give her a top up once a week by putting some oil on the back of her neck, along her spine and over her tummy. I also put a tablespoon in her meal each day, as I know this beautiful oil does wonders for her on the inside too.
Animals in the Wild
Carnivorous animals like cats and dogs would have consumed a high amount of saturated fat in the wild and the beneficial fats in coconut oil are a great way to make sure they are getting enough in their diets. Coconut oil can help aid pets’ digestion, improve their coats, help prevent infection and more, see coconut oil for healthy pets for more information.
Animals in the wild do not get cancer - it doesn’t exist however our domestic animals do. This could be partly due to the chemical ingredients found in commercial products. So next time someone tells you that this poisonous, toxic, killer chemical is safe to lather over your animals fur, or consume in their food, think again.
Author: Jenni Madison
Jenni started Coconut Magic when she returned from living in Thailand in 2011.Whilst abroad, Jenni had discovered the most amazing quality of coconut oil and experienced her own health transformation. Jenni returned with very little other than her coconut oil discovery and a desire to share it with the world. Just a few months after her return coconut oil and a whole new perception of well being started to become 'rediscovered' in the west. People were looking for clean, pure and sustainable, health products. People were eager to learn about health food, raw food and healing with plant-based nutrition. Based on this, alongside Jenni's passion to share what she had discovered in the East, the company grew fast.
Coconut Magic is committed to bringing you the highest quality coconut products, backed by sustainable, fairly traded production, and well being education.
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5 comments
Sorry I have another ? Can I give the dog a dawn dish soap & vinegar bath ? I heard something about lemons as well , about my 3 month old bunnies can I rub coconut oil on them .? You say its very safe for my hardwood floors I have cleaning vinegar should I add some dish soap or a lemon dish soap , this years flea problem is so impossible for me to get rid of them , this my first time having trouble & my first time having bunnies , I have a huge living room so I decided in half the bunnies in one half , no the dog don’t go in there they don’t like him , He’s snuck in there a couple times , I could really use some help really appreciate your opinion . Thank You .
90%of flea infestation is not the adult flea but the eggs ,larvae, and pupae, Does coconut oil kill these other aspects of the fleas life cycle? Believe me you Never want to have fleas in your home. Their bitevis horrific and the cocoon stage is indestructable and can survive for months.
Coconut oils have become a common treatment for skin problems. It’s anti-fungal, antibacterial, and easy to purchase. Coconut oil has been doing a lot lately since it came back to the mainstream. Try coconut oil to help kill fleas on your dogs and prevent them from coming back. http://coconutoils.com/dog-fleas/