Natures Bounty is a nutritious blend of human grade herbs, organic seaweed and seeds that have been specifically chosen to assist in repelling fleas and ticks naturally. For best results, it is recommended that Natures Bounty is started in early Spring, which allows for the herbs to get into the system before the fleas and ticks become active.
Bounty is available from February until December when it takes a short break for January. If your dog has been on Natures Bounty for a few months then it is advisable to take a break of 1-2 months, so December or January is ideal as the risk of flea and tick activity at this time is low. Taking a break also keeps the herbs active in the body and therefore more effective at repelling unwanted visitors.
Due to the fact that only high quality herbs are used in generous quantities and no fillers or bulking agents are ever added, means that a little goes a long way. For example, a Collie would be given a teaspoon of the herbs everyday for 6 weeks, after this time the blend can be fed for 5 days a week with 2 days off. This makes it very good value for money and the smaller 55g bag would last the average sized Collie 6 weeks.
It is a very palatable blend and can be added to any food whether you feed dry, cooked or raw. When adding to dry food rehydrate your measured amount of herbs with a little warm water before stirring into the meal.
Depending on the environment you live and exercise your dog in, makes it more or less of a challenge to go the complete natural path to preventing fleas and ticks. More challenging risks would be having cats in the household, walking in woodland and areas with a high population of deer or sheep, whereas a single pet household dog who is walked in a town environment would encounter far less exposure to any form of parasite.
If you have a number of these environmental factors it may be advisable to use a natural spray for the days that you are venturing out into a high risk area, such as woodland or sheep fields or if you have just started to feed Bounty later in the year when the fleas & ticks are already active, but the herbs haven’t been fed long enough to be fully effective.
Here are a few ingredients that are used within the blend:
Neem Leaf is predominately grown in India and is highly prized in the ancient form of healing called Ayurveda. It naturally reduces tooth plaque and gingivitis and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It is probably best known for it use as a natural pesticide and its ability to deter internal and external parasites.
Neem is thought to have natural “contraceptive” properties, so it is advised to avoid in pregnant bitches and to remove from the diet if you intend to breed from your dog.
This blend is suitable for puppies when they have reached 10 weeks of age.
Fenugreek leaf & seed are a very fragrant addition to this particular blend. Fenugreek is used to settle numerous digestive issues, balance blood sugar levels, an appetite enhancer and enhances bodily condition and luxurious coat. The seeds are also a good source of soluble and insoluble fibre.
You may find that your dog develops a slightly “spicy” aroma when initially eating Natures Bounty as the oils in the fenugreek can come through the skin. This usually passes but it is a good way to tell the herbs are well into the system.
Organic Seaweed The seaweed used in Natures Bounty is a food grade, certified organic Ascophyllum. It is essential to use a contaminant free seaweed as the toxins can accumulate in the body. Seaweed is nutritionally dense and has a high level of antioxidants to neutralize harmful free radicals and protect against oxidative damage. It is well known to support thyroid function due to its iodine levels. Iodine deficiency shows as fatigue, impaired growth and poor coat growth or hair loss.
Lemon Balm also known as Melissa, is prized for it`s ability to ease anxiety, settle reflux and digestive issues. Due to its citrus notes it also combines well with the other ingredients to help make your dog “unpalatable” to fleas and ticks
The bags come in sizes 55g, 125g and 250g, 500g and 1kg bags and prices start at £14.55.
https://www.hedgerowhounds.co.uk/products/natures-bounty
Why it`s so important to limit the use of chemical treatments.
The overuse of chemicals, whether to prevent internal or external parasites is something I have always felt very strongly about. It can be detrimental to the wellbeing of the animal as well as damaging to the environment. There is a blog about using worm counts and the natural approach to tackling worms here:
https://www.hedgerowhounds.co.uk/news/holistic-approach-to-worming
Highly toxic insecticides used on dogs to kill fleas are poisoning rivers across England, a study has revealed. The discovery is extremely concerning for water insects, and the fish and birds that depend on them. Scientists fear significant environmental damage is being done.
The research found fipronil in 99% of samples from 20 rivers and the average level of one particularly toxic breakdown product of the pesticide was 38 times above the safety limit. Fipronil and another nerve agent called imidacloprid that was found in the rivers have been banned from use on farms for some years.
There are about 10 million dogs and 11 million cats in the UK, with an estimated 80% receiving flea treatments, whether needed or not. The researchers said the blanket use of flea treatments should be discouraged and that new regulation is needed. Currently, the flea treatments are approved without an assessment of environmental damage.
“Fipronil is one of the most commonly used flea products and recent studies have shown it degrades to compounds that are more toxic to most insects than fipronil itself,” said Rosemary Perkins at the University of Sussex, who led the study. “Our results are extremely concerning.”
Prof Dave Goulson, also at the University of Sussex and part of the team, said: “I couldn’t quite believe the pesticides were so prevalent. Our rivers are routinely and chronically contaminated with both of these chemicals.
“The problem is these chemicals are so potent,” he said, even at tiny concentrations. “We would expect them to be having significant impacts on insect life in rivers.” One flea treatment of a medium-sized dog with imidacloprid contains enough pesticide to kill 60 million bees, he said.
The new study, published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, includes almost 4,000 analyses on samples gathered by the Environment Agency in 20 English rivers between 2016-18. These ranged from the River Test in Hampshire to the River Eden in Cumbria.
Fipronil was detected in 99% of samples and a highly toxic breakdown product called fipronil sulfone was found in 97%. The average concentrations were 5 and 38 times higher than their chronic toxicity limits, respectively. The UK has no official limit for these chemicals so the scientists used a 2017 assessment produced for a water quality control board in California. Imidacloprid was found in 66% of the samples and was above toxicity limits in seven of the 20 rivers.
The washing of pets was already known to flush fipronil into sewers and then rivers, while dogs swimming in rivers provides another pathway for contamination. “It has to be the flea treatments causing the pollution,” Goulson said. “Really, there’s no other conceivable source.”
There are 66 licensed veterinary products containing fipronil and 21 containing imidacloprid in the UK, many of which are sold without prescriptions. Many pets are treated every month, whether the flea treatment is needed or not.
So rethinking how we treat our dogs for fleas, ticks and worms is long overdue , for the sake of our pets health and the future of our environment and the creatures we share it with.
