Insect Repellant

[luci]

I was recently at a pet nutrition clinic (yay I found some raw advocate vets!) and I asked about a natural insect repellant. She mentioned that some horse stables mix a 50/50 vinegar and water with a drop of Dawn (to help it stick) in a spray bottle and mist the horses to keep the insects away. She said there were amazingly few flies in that stable. What do you guys think of that? Since I live in the city there just isn't much of a concern about mosquitoes and ticks, but we will be taking everyone up to the lake home a few times this summer. I think it would be a good idea to use a repellant. Thoughts?

[sherrylynne]

I use that to kill aphids on my flowers, but never heard of it for mosquitoes. I have just recently read about infusers with lavender oil keeping away flies, though. And citronella plants, oil, etc., does seem to work for mosquitoes. Not a clue what would work for ticks, though.

[tsslilsis]

I do use vinegar and spray it on the dogs.. And they get ACV in their water to keep away fleas.

Vinegar makes sense as a repellent and not only does the drop of Dawn make sense for helping it stick but also Dawn can be used to wash flea infested dogs so I would think it would help keep away or maybe even kill fleas.. I've given Weezer a vinegar and water bath when he had a couple of fleas and they died right then and there.. No fight.

I wouldn't think the Dawn would be toxic either, after all if our dishes are still soapy for some reason (Like, a cup that wasn't rinsed enough), I know I've never died from ingesting some!

I would imagen if you put a few drops of mint or lavander extract it would help repell them as well!!!

-~Ketlin

[novemberkris]

This is funny, because last weekend I got companion plants for my veggie garden. It appears that sage repels ticks. Powdered rosemary can keep away fleas and ticks. Pyrethrum also keeps away most insects including ticks. I don't know how many are safe, but I know rosemary is also in ferret Repiraid or whatever that Marshall's respiratory treatment is.

[Heather]

Experiment with the different herbs, there are many that claim to have antibug properties. Always, check for toxicity but be very careful with using essential oils. Like cats ferrets are sensitive and it builds up to toxic levels very quickly. Do not apply essential oils directly to your ferrets. Yes, I know everyone has heard of someone who has applied EO's to their ferret and nothing has happened, it usually is long term problems that it aggravates (everything from respiratory issues to liver and kidney problems).
ciao

[tsslilsis]

I didn't think about that aspect of it.. But would mint do that?? I know I have used Dr. Bronners mint soap on my fuzzies and myself and it smells wonderful and kills fleas, ect.. And who wouldn't love a mint scented ferret.

Maybe if you had a large spray bottle and just put 1-2 drops in the solution mentioned above?

I personally don't have the need to put repellant on the fuzzies.. The dogs don't have fleas and the ferrets don't go outside much so when the rare flea is seen they just get a vinegary bath.

-~Ketlin