Question from Debbie in Kentucky
Hi,
What do you recommend for flea and tick control for dogs? I saw Sergeant’s Nature’s Guardian squeeze on product and their powder. The package says it is “natural”. The ingredients listed are peppermint oil, cinnamon oil, lemon grass oil, clove oil, thyme oil, vanillin, and isopropyl myristate. The powder has the same oils but has silicic acid, calcium salt, carbonic acid, monosodium salt, and calcium carbonate. Do you think these “natural” products are safe?
Thanks for your help.
Debra’s Answer
First, let’s look at the ingredients.
Obviously cinnamon oil and the like are natural. Isopropyl myristate is not quite natural. It is made from myristic acid (a saturated fatty acid from plants) and isopropyl alcohol (made from petrochemicals). So it’s a “half-and-half” ingredient.
The rest of the ingredients are natural.
I don’t see any ingredients here that are particularly toxic, however, it is always wise to be careful with essential plant oils as they are very concentrated and can be irritating to the skin.
I don’t see any reason not to use this.
Readers, what do you use to control fleas on dogs?
