Natural Pest Control

Blood sucking insects which cause majority  of the problems for our animal companions  in Maltese Islands are fleas, ticks and tiny mosquitoes of Culex  pipiens genus commonly   known as Sand Flies.

Fleas  have evolved in order to be able to feed on their natural hosts such as cats and dogs and other warm-blooded species of animals. They  are similar to cockroaches in the fact that they adapt to their environment, becoming stronger and more immune to popular insecticide chemicals with each generation. A single flea can lay as many as 60 eggs per day. The lifespan of a flea is about 90 days. Indeed, controlling fleas does require significant effort.

What many people don’t know is the fact that most of the fleas are living in your pet's environment, rather than in its fur. (Every flea found on your pet means that there  are approximately 30 more living in your home.)
Fleas just feed on animals and lay eggs in warm and moist places, such as carpets, wooden furniture, wooden floors, textiles and bedding. Vacuum cleaner bag for instance presents perfect environment for incubation of flea eggs and larvae development.

Therefore we cannot emphasize enough that the only proper way to permanent solution of flea infestations in your pets lies in the treatment of their environment simultaneously with the treatment of their skin.

The best natural solution for fleas in animal environment is so called Diatomaceous Earth. This is s a remarkable, all-natural product made from tiny fossilized water plants. It is relatively inexpensive and what is more important completely harmless to humans and animals unless directly inhaled in large quantities. To us Diatomaceous Earth is smooth talcum like powder while to insects it is a mechanical pesticide being lethal dust with microscopic razor sharp edges. These sharp edges cut through the insect's protective covering drying it out and killing them when they are either dusted or sprayed with wettable powder of Diatomaceous Earth. If they ingest the Diatomaceous Earth it will shred their insides. Diatomaceous Earth can s be used both indoors and outdoors sprinkled in thin layer everywhere in animal environment. It is also  possible to apply Diatomaceous Earth on animal skin too but this has to be done cautiously so animal doesn’t inhale the powder.

Apart from Diatomaceous Earth food-and plant-derived substances are a healthy substitute for chemical-based products. But are they strong enough to control fleas and ticks? Why are some people more prone to mosquito bites than others? There's a nutritional reason, and it has to do with the strength of each person's immune system and the levels of B complex, zinc, selenium and antioxidants in the body and bloodstream. A strong immune system and high nutrient levels help repel insects. So one of the first steps in flea control is proper adjustment of the diet.

When using flea repellant products on our animal companions we have to bear in mind certain facts:
Even if all the ingredients in a flea repellent product are natural, this doesn't ensure that they won't be toxic to your pet. For instance, d'Limonene, which is derived from citrus peels and found in many natural anti-flea products, can be highly toxic to cats. Herbal flea collars, though they don't contain the poisons that conventional flea collars do, come with the same warning: do not let children play with the collar. If it's not good for your child, why would it be good for your pet?

It is advisable to read product labels carefully. For example, one line of supposedly natural flea sprays and dips contains "all natural synthetic Pyrethrin." Pyrethrins are insecticides derived from the African chrysanthemum (Pyrethrum). Pyrethroids are synthetic derivatives of pyrethrins. Both are commonly used in conventional preparations which make the product sound innocent because it's derived from a flower. But pyrethrins alone can be toxic to the animal and pyrethroids certainly expose your animal to more chemicals.

Other natural ingredients known to cause allergic reactions or have toxic effects in some animals include Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil and Pennyroyal oil. We have to be aware of this fact if opting for such oils.

Cat owners take special note:
Cats should not be given any essential oils, period.       The use of essential oils with cats is a potentially volatile combination. Cats do not efficiently metabolize essential oils and their use can lead to symptoms of toxicity. In addition to essential oils, cats have known metabolic sensitivities to certain herbal preparations and allopathic medications. Because the cat's body does not efficiently excrete essential oils, they can build up to toxic levels. Symptoms of toxicity include vomiting, dizziness, clumsiness, lack of appetite, lack of energy and shock. In addition, cats have very thin, delicate skin. Essential oils are absorbed rapidly into their skin and enter the bloodstream, overwhelming their systems. Cats dislike strong odors and generally keep away from strong scents -- even highly diluted essential oils. Many people find that they can use essential oils on their cats with no obvious adverse effects. Although one or more applications of an essential oil product or blend may not cause immediate harm, the effects of essential oils can be cumulative and manifest themselves at a later date in the form of toxicity for which owners and vets often can find no attributable cause.

In dogs we can safely use various essential oils such as d’Limonene ( according to prescribed dose), Tea Tree Oil and Neem Oil.  But we must not forget these products will eradicate flea infestation only if used in combination with  Diatomaceous Earth  in animals environment.

Ticks are blood sucking parasites related to spiders which transmit  potentially fatal diseases in dogs such as Erlichiosis and Babesios. Ticks  normally climb to the vegetation top waiting for animals to pass so they can attach themselves. Once they caught the ride they   burrow  their head into animal skin and start feasting on animals blood. They will engorge themselves on blood so much that they will increase their size manifold, as shown on the picture.  After they fed they drop off. Under no circumstances we should attempt to pull attached tick from the animal skin as we will only manage to pull off only their body while the head will remain under the skin which can result in further complications. There is special technique to pull out ticks without decapitation but this should be done by veterinary professional or experienced animal career. Ticks transmit diseases when regurgitating their saliva in animal’s blood stream. This will not happen before tick was almost fed which gives us approximately 12 h time window to remove ticks and prevent them from infecting our animal companion. Therefore every outing to the countryside or places with high grass and bushes should finish with thorough examination of your dog. Ticks can be found on stray cats but this is extremely rare occurrence. Above mentioned essential oils are reasonably effective as tick repellant.

Sand Flies are tiny, sand colored mosquitoes that are most active during the night.  They are very sensitive to sunlight and strong wind and cannot fly as high as regular mosquitoes. In Malta they are extremely dangerous for dogs as they carry protozoan blood parasite called Leishmania. Sand flies dislike sunshine and wind and are dormant during daytime. They are also poor fliers unlike other mosquitoes and usually cannot reach above 3rd floor.  Common misconception in Malta is that sand flies live on the sandy beaches. In fact, they are called sand flies because of their color and are normally  present around rubble walls, old houses with wall crevices, soil, vegetation etc. This means they are practically omnipresent in Maltese Islands.    The best protection against Sand Flies is application of  Neem Oil or Citronella Oil  prior to every outing during the time  from dusk till dawn. In addition to this we have to protect dog’s indoor environment with mosquito nets or vaporizing mosquito replants which we use for our protection.