How to Make an Herbal Anti-Flea Pillow for Your Pet

Fleas are not just pesky pests; they can infect your pet with disease, cause anemia, transmit tapeworms and torment your pet with irrepressible itching. An herbal flea pillow can offer an effective yet inexpensive way to keep those bugs at bay.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 pieces of sturdy fabric, 8 X 8 inches each
• Needle and thread or sewing machine
• 2 cups dried pennyroyal
• 1 cup dried wormwood
• 1 cup dried lavender
• 1 cup dried rosemary
• 1 cup dried lemongrass
• Orris root powder

1. Make a cloth bag by sewing 2 pieces of fabric together on three sides. Leave the fourth side open to stuff the pillow. Turn the bag inside out.

2. Combine the herbs in a bowl and lightly crush them. Add the Orris root powder, which will work as a binder or fixative. It helps to preserve the flee-repelling properties of your herbal pillow stuffing.

3. Stuff the bag with the herbs and sew the top shut.

4. Tuck the herb-filled pillow into your pet’s bed or place it in the animal's sleeping area.

5. Replace the anti-flea pillow every two months. Alternatively, unstitch the top and replace the herbal filling instead.

Tips & Warnings

• You can place your herbal anti-flea pillow in any area in your home that is prone to having fleas.
• Add catnip to the herbal mix for your favorite feline.
• Substitute southernwood for wormwood. Feverfew and chamomile are other flea-repelling herbs that you can use.
• Use cedar chips are as another natural, anti-flea filling. You'll find the chips sold as small animal litter in many pet stores.
• Just because herbs are natural does not mean they can't be harmful or toxic. Your pet must never consume pennyroyal. If there is a chance that your furry friend may chew through the pillow fabric, substitute peppermint for pennyroyal. This is a safer option, although it is not quite as effective.

[nclblows]

on 12/5/2008 Can you guys please take the Giant Dog picture out of the printed article, so we're not wasting paper and ink on someone else's dog's face? Thank you.