When I was a child, my parents had cats. Every cat had to have a couple of things. A litter box, which we fought over cleaning. And a flea collar. In those days, that's how you handled fleas. You put on an awesome hot pink rubbery collar that glows in the dark, and is impregnated with enough pesticide to keep your cat 'free of fleas and ticks' for 120 days.

We snuggled with those cats, slept with those cats, had our faces right on those flea collars, and ate snacks with those pesticides on our hands.

When our parents finally consented to letting us have a dog, it was the same thing. Well, maybe not exactly the same. Our cats weighed about 8 pounds. Our dog, a fawn German Shepherd mix, weighed 100. Logic would dictate that the amount of pesticide needed to protect a 100-pound dog would be a whole lot larger then for an 8-pound feline. But still, we slept with the dog. Watched Saturday morning cartoons with the dog. Laid in the grass with the dog. What ever was on the dog was on us. We weren't worried. In fact, we never gave it a second thought.

How times have changed. People have become much more health conscious. And that goes for their animals, as well as the environment. We've begun to look more closely at the 'treatments' we put on our dogs.

Think about the 'flea collar'. What makes this harmless-looking ribbon of flea-free magic work? Flea collars function in one of two ways, either by emitting a toxic gas, or by being absorbed into the animal's subcutaneous fat layer. They use chemicals such as propoxur. According to the US EPA, short-term exposure of this toxin to humans can result in "cholinesterase inhibition of red blood cells, with mild cholinergic symptoms including blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, sweating, and tachycardia". Yikes.

Another commonly used chemical in flea collars and sprays is permethrin. Again, according to the EPA, this synthetic chemical is a 'weak carcinogen'. (Just weak? That makes me feel safer.) However, they do say it is highly toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates. So keep your dog out of your Koi pond!

And what about the effects on the dog? Some owners have complained that these chemicals have caused hair loss and chemical burns on their animals. More serious side affects include reports of vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures, and even death in some companion animals.

Take phenothrin, another insecticide commonly used in animal flea treatments. According to Wikipedia, "In 2005, the EPA canceled permission to use phenothrin in several flea and tick products, at the request of the manufacturer, Hartz Mountain Industries " (Phenothrin - Wikipedia). The products were linked to a range of adverse reactions, including hair loss, salivation, tremors, and numerous deaths in cats and kittens." However, Hartz continues to use this chemical in their dog products.

In an article written by Dr. Karen Becker, of Mercola Healthy Pets, this wellness veterinarian comments " With 44,000 reported adverse reactions including 600 deaths in 2008 - which represented almost a 60 percent increase over the prior year - it's my firm belief the risks of these products are too great to warrant routine, monthly use".

This is just the tip of the iceberg where chemical pesticides are concerned. And why, after becoming more educated, I had to begin looking for healthier ways. And what I found were numerous alternatives.

One example is Diatomaceous Earth, which is a fossilized sea algae. (Food grade only, please.) This powder feels soft to humans, yet is like cut glass to parasites. It can be taken internally, externally (rubbed into the fur or under feathers), or dusted around the environment, both inside and out. Insects or parasites that move through it are scratched to the point where they dehydrate and die. Without any chemicals or toxins.

Another great alternative is essential oils. Cedarwood, tea tree, lavender, and many others can be used as a deterrent, to keep dogs clear of pests. Nothing poisonous about them. Insects just can't stand the smell!

This is how I first came to make my own soap, and now have several holistic recipes created specifically to chase bugs away from dogs. Other like-minded people began buying those bars, leading me to eventually start my own business making pesticide-free soaps. I named my little business "All Natural Dog Soap". Our motto: Because Nature Has It Right. Every time I get a card or an email from someone thanking me for helping them address their dog's bug problem naturally, it makes me feel really good inside. I know I am doing my part, not only to improve the lives of our companions, but also lessening the toxic load on the environment as a whole. That's important to me. Not to mention getting rid of those pesky parasites!

Let's face it. Fleas are gross little suckers (pun intended) We all hate fleas, and nobody wants them in their house or on their dogs. But let's not throw out the baby with the bath water. There are healthier alternatives that will eliminate our flea problems (and many other parasites) completely naturally, without pesticides or chemical toxins, and for far less money too! Hats off to nature!

Virginia Dunn is an author, canine evaluator / temperament tester / protection dog judge, and an expert on caring for animals naturally. She teaches raw feeding and cooking for dogs and cats. She also owns All Natural Dog Soap, a small business dedicated to creating healthy healing soaps for dogs (and people too). You can visit her at http://www.AllNaturalDogSoap.com. You can also visit her FaceBook page, where she is the sponsor of the "Random Acts Of Kindness Challenge", encouraging people to uplift a stranger, post their good deeds, and have a chance to win something awesome! This challenge enjoys a new sponsor every month. http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/All-Natural-Dog-Soap