Worming Dogs and Cats: Natural Alternatives

If you don't like the idea of giving your pets harsh chemicals to eliminate parasites, there are a few alternatives. People have been using natural herbs and substances to control parasite infestation in animals and people for centuries. The difference between natural parasite control and chemical parasite control is that natural control is an ongoing process. Chemical control is usually a one-off process that is repeated periodically.

One thing you can do to help control internal parasites as well as fleas and ticks is add a bit of cayenne pepper to your pets' food. Be sure to use cayenne pepper that is intended as a nutritional supplement. It doesn't taste hot like the kind that is used as a spice. you can get this at the health food store in capsules - usually 450 mg size. Add this to your pets' food at a rate of 225 mg for every 50 pounds of pet. Little critters like cats will just need a wee bit sprinkled over the food daily.

You can also add parsley to your pets' food. Use fresh or dried parsley. Be sure fresh parsley is diced small and mixed in well. You can add about a teaspoon for every 10 pounds of pet. Your cat may not like this mixed in with its food, but it will probably really enjoy fresh parsley to chew on. Parsley is cheap to buy as a bedding plant and easy to grow. Your indoor cat will especially enjoy this, and it will help with fur-balls as well as fighting parasites.

You can also add a little wheat bran to your pets' diet. Buy this at your local health food store, or your local feed store may have it inexpensively by the pound. Mix 1/8th of a teaspoon per ten pounds of pet with your pets' food. Just as with the cayenne, sprinkle just a bit over small pets' food. This is best added to wet foods and allowed to soak up extra moisture before it is presented to the pet. You might want to use it with foods that have a gravy with them, add some extra water, or if you boil bones for broth occasionally, use that to add moisture and palatability.

Food grade diatomaceous earth can be given to your pet monthly as a wormer. You can also sprinkle a small amount of diatomaceous earth under your pets' bed. You can also sprinkle it in your carpet to help kill lice, ticks and fleas. When you use it in your carpet, sprinkle it, let it sit for about 10 minutes, then vacuum it up, put the vacuum bag in a plastic bag, and freeze it or set it in the sun to kill any live fleas that may be inside.

Don't toss diatomaceous earth around indiscriminately outside. It will kill any insect by drying up their mucus membranes. You don't want to kill off the beneficial insects along with the bad ones. Also, be sure to wear a mask and protective goggles while you are applying it and vacuuming it up. You don't need your mucus membranes dried up, either! Once it is settled, it should be safe for your pet. Don't apply it too heavily.

When you use food grade diatomaceous earth as a monthly wormer, follow these guidelines:

Kittens will need about a quarter of a teaspoon.
Miniature dogs will need about a half a teaspoon.
Big cats and dogs that weigh less than 50 pounds will need about a teaspoon.
Dogs that weigh between 50 - 100 pounds will need about a tablespoon.
Dogs that weigh over 100 pounds will need about two tablespoons.

Offer the diatomaceous earth in a special food that is hard to resist. Most carnivorous critters really love jack mackerel. Just mash the fish and juice up and stir the diatomaceous earth in. They will never know it is there.

If you happen to have a mule, you may be interested to know that folklore has it, you can worm him with chewing tobacco! This is one I haven't tried, though, since I neither chew nor have a mule!

For more on natural care for your dog & cat, you may enjoy:

Vitamin Rich, Immune Booster Dog and Cat Food
http://hubpages.com/hub/Vitamin-Rich--Immune-Booster-Dog-and-Cat-Food

Preventative Health Care for Your Dog
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1754706/preventative_health_care_for_your_dog.html?cat=53

Best Friend Amazon Store
http://astore.amazon.com/bestfriend-20