ASK THE VET FLEAS ASK THE VET FLEAS 
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Question: I prefer not to use any of the topical and toxic flea preventatives on the market. Do you know of any natural ways I can help prevent fleas from bothering my dogs and cat?
Answer: A successful flea control program involves treating your pet, as well as, the environment. The adult female flea can lay as many as five hundred eggs a day. That can translate into tens of thousands of fleas by the end of the month. Under ideal conditions of temperature and humidity the flea can go through its four-stage life cycle which is egg, larva, pupa and adult within three to four weeks. There are various methods of flea control presently on the market ranging from pesticides to insect growth regulators that can be topically or given orally by mouth. Other environmentally safe methods exist that I would like to share with you. Many pet owners have found some of these methods very beneficial and some have had exceptional results. Citrus is very unappealing to fleas. One tactic is to take a large lemon and slice it paper thin. Place the slices in a bowl with a tablespoon of crushed rosemary leaves. Pour a quart of almost boiling water over the leaves. Let it steep overnight. The following day strain the mixture and place the liquid into a spray bottle. It is best if this is kept refrigerated. Spray it on your pet daily during flea season. Another option is to take orange and lemon skins that have been sliced thin and boil them for 15-20 minutes. Strain and let cool. The mixture can be sponged on your pet and left to dry. It is an effective pet flea rinse that is non-toxic and all natural. Also, slicing citrus such as an orange, lemon or lime and rubbing it against the grain of the fur is a very good repellent to fleas. If you have a flea collar that is currently being utilized by your pet, you can cut it into smaller pieces and place it in your vacuum cleaner bag. In this manner, any eggs or adult fleas that are picked up in the vacuum will be eliminated. The suction from the vacuum kills the fleas. Historically, cedar and sassafras wood shavings, as well as, fir and pine needles have been utilized to eliminate fleas from dog kennel and sleeping areas. The additional of brewers yeast to food has also had some positive effects and adversity to fleas. There still seems to be some controversy over the use of brewers yeast against fleas, however, it is a wonderful source of B Vitamins and a great supplement indeed. Recommended dose is between half and one teaspoon of nutritional brewers yeast for cats and up to two teaspoons daily for dogs depending on their size. Additionally, dried or powdered pennyroyal or common table salt can be sprinkled on your carpets and left overnight. Vacuuming the following day will help remove fleas and their eggs. Ideally, the best way to protect pets against flea infestation is to keep them as healthy as possible by first providing them with the best possible health care and diet. My recommendations for diet begin with an all natural diet or any number of pet foods which do not contain BHA, BHT or ethoxyquin as any of its preservatives.
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ASK THE VETBy Rose DiLeva VMD, MS, CVCP, CVA
Question: Could you give some advice on fleas and ticks and problems with skin issues in dogs and cats?
Answer: After twenty years of practicing veterinary medicine, I have seen many diseases vary in their incidence. Twenty years ago the number of cancer cases was minimal. Today it is the number one killer of companion animals. In my practice the most common cases I treat holistically are cancer followed by skin problems. Most of the skin cases have been to a number of conventional practices for the typical treatment of antibiotics and steroids. Antibiotics and steroids have their place in veterinary medicine but it is my personal belief that they are overused and just mask the symptoms rather than treating the true underlying condition. Some skin problems are fairly easy to diagnose such as flea infestation. Often times the fleas are visible on the pet’s fur or their droppings, which appear like specks of black pepper. The best way to inspect your pet for fleas is to move your hand against the direction of the fur and look closely at the skin itself for fleas or flea droppings. Many of the products on the market today work well to eliminate a flea problem on your pet. My choice of topical treatment is Frontline. It kills fleas, flea eggs, ticks and chewing lice. It is applied directly to the skin monthly. Other more holistic methods include the use of citrus fruit, such as a lemon or orange, cut it lengthwise and rub it against the direction of the fur. It’s a great flea repellant. For the home, sprinkle table salt on the rugs and leave it overnight. Vacuum it up the following day and throw away the vacuum bag. You can place a flea collar in the new vacuum bag so that if other fleas, larva or eggs are vacuumed up, they to will die. Ticks have become more of an issue in the past years. Many of the ticks that live in our area are carriers of numerous and serious diseases such as Lyme disease, Erhlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Cat Scratch Disease. Presently, I diagnose Lyme disease in a dog or a cat every week. These pets can present with red like hives or a rash on the skin, lethargy, decreased appetite, lameness, weakness and incontinence. The best tick control is to inspect your pet each and every time it comes in from the outside. We are in one of the highest incident areas for Lyme disease in this country. I frequently suggest that the owners of Lyme positive pets get tested themselves because they are likely to be with their pet when it is outdoors. I can say that I have seen a high correlation between pets that have Lyme disease and owners that come up positive, at least in my client population. By far the greatest diagnosis for the itching, scratching, hair loss pet is allergies. Once again, many clients that come to me for an alternative approach to their pet’s skin problems have been to many other veterinarians for conventional treatment. I have found that a combination of acupuncture, Chinese herbs and food allergy testing get these patients under control. Many companion pets are allergic to wheat, soy, yeast, dairy, beef, corn and rice. Skin conditions can be an indication of numerous other body system dysfunctions ranging from an under active thyroid gland to over active adrenal glands. A normal healthy animal’s hair coat should be smooth and shiny and without flakes or dandruff. If you have any questions about your pet’s skin or health, please call your veterinarian for an examination. Dr. Rose DiLeva is owner of Animal Wellness Center in Chadds Ford, Pa. She practices holistic veterinary medicine. She practices acupuncture, chiropractic, traditional Chinese medicine, Chinese herbal medicine, gold bead implants and more. She can be reached for consultations or speaking engagements at 610-558-1616
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ASK THE VETBy Rose DiLeva VMD, MS, CVCP, CVA |
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Reiki has long been practiced on humans as a form of energy medicine and energy healing. It originated in Japan with a Dr. Mikao Usui. Many schools have developed since then but Dr. Usui is considered the founder. It was through Dr. Usui’s line that I became a Reiki Master in 2003. The term Reiki translates into “universal life energy.” Reiki is considered part of the range of holistic healing presently gathering acceptance into mainstream medicine, particularly energy medicine. Since everything in the universe, us, plants, trees, animals, the oceans, all are made up of energy, we are all connected. It is through this connection that Reiki is able to help a person or animal heal, not just on a physical level, but also, on an emotional, mental and spiritual level, as well. Animals are particularly sensitive to Reiki because they have the ability to accept Reiki energy without reservation. All animals are very sensitive to the energy fields of the earth and can feel immediately and profoundly the energy coming from the Reiki practitioners hands. This can be felt either by placing of hands directly on the pet, directly above the pet or from a short or long distance. There are four different levels of Reiki, I through IV. These levels are learned consecutively and in a specific order. Each level is based upon the one before it and includes and “attunement” in which the Master teacher transfers the ability to use Reiki energy to the student. Attunements occur at each level and are more profound and deep as one continues along the levels. Receiving an attunement allows the Master to teach the student how to become familiar with the nature of Reiki energy and the wonderful healing effects it can have. The second level of Reiki involves learning to send energy across distances and using three ancient symbols which intensifies one’s intensity of flow of the Reiki energy. This level is the best one to reach for treating animals because some of them, in the beginning of treatment, do not yet want to be touched. This is something that the practitioner must respect. One must allow the animal to take only what they need and in a position and distance that they are comfortable with. Some animals will come right next to you or move under your hands, others will sit or lie close by. Sometimes they will yawn, take some deep breaths or fall asleep during treatment. Once the practitioner uses Reiki it will become very obvious when the pet is enjoying the session and starts to relax and accepts the healing energy. Reiki treatments in humans and in your pet can be dehydrating, so it is important to stay hydrated by drinking water following a treatment. Always have fresh water available following a session. You may also see that your pets can experience increased elimination for a brief period of time afterwards. This is perfectly normal in all cases. Additionally, Reiki can affect both physical and emotional aspects of life that require healing. As such a “healing crisis” can sometimes occur. Basically, this can bring up emotional experiences that are deep seated in the patient (for example, a pet that was left on the side of the road to die as a puppy, a pet that was abused or another that was abandoned at the SPCA). Reiki will help the pet let go of these unresolved emotional issues and move into the present with all that pain lifted from their shoulders. This works very well for pets with behavioral problems. When a healing crisis occurs the body exhibits a new set of symptoms temporarily or old ones intensify briefly. For example, a pet with a respiratory illness may get more congested, have more discharge from its nose or eyes or may sneeze or cough more frequently. Although these situations seem to happen less in pets they still may, none the less, happen and therefore, I want you to be made aware of that. Reiki will help heal the areas of your pet that need healing. The results are seen during, directly after or within a few days of the treatment. One of my cases, a 130 pound Labrador named “Marshall” who has significant degenerative arthritis in his hips and back end, had walked up to the third floor of his owner’s home within one week of his first Reiki treatment. He hadn’t been able to do that in years ! Anyone interested in Reiki on their pet ( and this includes all kinds of pets…dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, birds, etc) feel free to call my office at 610-558-1616 for an appointment. Those individuals that cannot get to my hospital can set up for a Reiki session at a distance. All questions are welcome.
Dr. DiLeva is a 1987 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s school of veterinary medicine. She practices alternative and conventional veterinary medicine. Dr. DiLeva is a certified veterinary acupuncturist and a certified veterinary chiropractitioner. She can be reached at her Animal Wellness Center in Chadds Ford, Pa at 610-558-1616 for appointments, speaking engagements and telephone consultations. Her web site is www.altpetdoc.com
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