Common Sense Control of Insect Pests on Homestead Animals
(Page 5 of 5)
July/August 1971
By R.J. Holliday, DVM
Nicotine sulphate or Black Leaf 40 has some value as an insecticide and as a repellent. It is useful as a surface spray in and around buildings and very dilute solutions can be used on animals (not on cats). Follow the directions that come with the package.
RELATED CONTENT
Pine tar, thinned with a vegetable oil, can be used to kill ticks that have attached themselves deep in the ears of animals. Use only small amounts, as this product will also remove hair.
In the past, some species of ticks on cattle have been controlled by dipping in a "lime-sulfur" solution. This solution is relatively non-toxic and reasonably effective. It can be sponged on at weekly intervals if dipping facilities are not available.
Remember too that a healthy, well-fed animal is resistant to much of the damage caused by external parasites. Don't neglect the nutrition of your animals, and pay particular attention to their intake of vitamins and minerals. Iron, especially, may be in short supply because of the blood loss caused by ticks, horseflies and mosquitoes.
One final bit of advice. You should evaluate your own psychological approach to insects in general and school your thinking to accept a moderate level of parasitism of your animals. Even with the extremely toxic biocides now in use, it is impossible to have 100 percent control . . . and if you cannot settle for less than this, perhaps you should move back to the sterile environment of a city apartment.
Consider the sage words of Edward Noyes Westcott: "A reasonable amount o' fleas is good fer a dog—keeps him from broodin' over bein' a dog."
Page:
<< Previous 1 |
2 |
3 |
4 | 5 |
