One of the primary reasons I practice Holistic Veterinary Medicine is to educate pet owners in ways they can raise healthy, chemical-free pets.
Many of the recommended topical flea and tick medications used to today are very dangerous. These products are formulated in all parts of the world and we have seen major issues with consistency and purity of formulas. In a study done by the EPA back in 2008, there were over 44,000 “REPORTED” adverse reactions that year alone. I’m sure one of the major reasons this study was performed was to give the “OK” for some of these same companies to make oral flea/tick medications, which we know are FAR more dangerous than the topicals.
The itching phenomena
When I see clients worry the most about fleas, they have no idea that fleas have not even appeared on the scene yet. They are just concerned because their pet has started the spring/summer itch phenomena. The liver wakes up in the spring and with that, works to bring blood to the surface of the skin. Most often, this results in severe pruritus or itching.
In holistic medicine, we do not aim to cover up symptoms but rather we work to correct the cause of the symptoms. Due to the many causes of itching, it is imperative that we work with each patient individually to correct his/her cause for pruritus or itching. Believe it or not, it is rarely connected to fleas. There are many reasons that a pet may begin to itch suddenly, some of these reasons may be: an unhappy liver, unhealthy blood, lack of blood to skin surface, improper diet and unhealthy or dry skin.
So what does this mean for your pet?
If you can begin understanding that “Healthy In is Healthy Out” then you are already ahead of the game.
Fleas and ticks actually “smell” blood. Unhealthy or acidic blood has an odor that is an attractant to these pests. Imbalanced organs also give off an odor that attracts these pests.
This is the reason we want to work closely with certain foods, proper diet and supplements to create harmony in your pet’s body. When we work to maintain proper balance and healthy blood, these pests will leave your pet alone. (The same is true for us and mosquitos!)
Flea and tick prevention is possible without using harmful chemicals. If you must use chemical pest preventative, there are ways to reduce the risks to your pet. Download the eBook below for more information.
