Flea Police

"Mommy, can you please do something about those fleas?"

It's been so H-O-T outside that we decided to bring the dogs inside to catch a break from it. Well, you can't have a stinky dog in the house so it was bath time for everyone. As I was washing one of them I noticed her white fur was speckled with black dots. UUGGHH!!!! I knew what that meant...FLEAS!

Instead of buying those chemically treated shampoo's that cost an arm and a leg, I stretch our dog shampoo by using any citrus scented dish washing liquid. Since I can buy Ajax pink grapefruit for less than a $1.00...that is my soap of choice. The fleas do not like citrus at all so it works wonderfully to kill those nasty things. You can literally see the fleas dying off and dropping like flies into the wash water. Once I am done with that round of washing, I only need a dime full of the store bought oatmeal & baking soda dog shampoo to help soothe their skin and help balance the oils in their coat. No more stinky doggies!

Now that we have tackled the fleas from the outside, it's time to work on getting rid of them from the inside. Unlike bath time, the dogs like this flea "treat"ment.

Flea Be-Gone Dog Treats #1
3 cubes beef bouillon
1-1/2 c. boiling water
2 c. whole wheat flour
1 c. cornmeal
2/3 c. brewers' yeast
2 Tblsp. garlic powder
2 egg yolks

Preheat oven to 375*

Dissolve beef bouillon cubes in boiling water, and set aside. Grease cookie sheets.

In a large bowl, stir together the whole wheat flour, corn meal, brewers yeast, and garlic powder. Add the yolks, then gradually pour in the bouillon water while stirring. Mix thoroughly to form a firm dough.

On a floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters. Place cookies one inch apart onto cookie sheets.

Bake for 20 minutes, then turn off oven. Leave the cookies inside for at least 3 hours or overnight to harden. Store in an airtight container.

Click HERE for printable recipe

Flea Be-Gone Dog Treats #2
1 c. flour
1/4 c. wheat germ
1/4 c. brewer’s yeast
1 tsp. salt
1 Tblsp. plus 1-1/2 tsp. canola oil
optional additions:
1 clove garlic chopped, or 1 tsp. powdered garlic
1/2 c. chicken stock plus 3 Tblsp. for basting

Preheat oven to 400*

Line a cookie sheet pan with parchment paper or a silpat. Set aside.

Mix flour, wheat germ, brewer’s yeast, and salt together in a medium bowl. In a mixing bowl, combine oil & garlic. Alternately add 1/2 cup chicken stock & flour mixture in 3 parts. Mix well. Turn dough out onto a floured surface & knead by hand for about 2 minutes. you may want to flour your hands as dough will be sticky.

Lightly flour your work surface again then roll dough out to about 1/2" thickness; just as if you were making biscuits. Cut out shapes either free hand or using cookie cutters & place on lined cookie sheet.

Bake for 10 minutes, then rotate baking sheet. Baste with remaining 3 Tblsp. chicken stock. Bake for 10 minutes longer. Turn off oven & leave oven door closed. Allow pan to remain in oven for about an hour & a half longer. Store in an airtight container.

Click HERE for printable recipe