I have spent some time in Boulder, Denver and Glenwood Springs (and many other CO towns - I love the state in general) and there are periods of time, when even at higher elevations there *is* warmer weather.  Those of you who live there year round though, know better than I the temperature patterns in general.  Here's some info. from Pitcairn's book about flea life cycles:

Adult fleas live three-four months and during that time, if they get on your pet, they are laying eggs.   The larvae that hatch from those eggs can't travel very far, but go into a pupae (sp.?) stage within one-two  weeks.  Within another one-two weeks, they can hop onto another site host. The whole cycle takes anywhere from 2-20 weeks, depending on the temperature in the house and the environment. Even though you can kill of the adult fleas, if there are some eggs hatching somewhere, more are
developing.

I know it's pretty cool (read *cold*) in June in CO in some areas as I've been there that time of year (in fact was there in July one year and it snowed then too), but keep in mind that there are times when temperatures could be such that fleas could *possibly* incubate.  I've been in some of the mountain towns in the summer at higher elevations where the temps reached 75-80 F.  Considering the time frame involved with the development of the fleas, it is quite possible that there are some in the environment.

I know Sandy, our list owner, has said that she hasn't experienced much trouble with fleas either in her mountain type environment.  It probably just depends on how long the cold spells last as to whether fleas can survive in that elevation.

In a message dated 6/9/99 6:37:39 PM Eastern Daylight Time,  Boonedagel@
<< Has anyone ever heard of Beneficial Nematodes (apparently worms of some sort)  for natural flea control outside?  Does anyone know where I can get them quickly?>>

Gardens Alive 812 537-8650.----(Indianna) They ship on the next business day.

We just put down 30 million of them.  They come in a plastic bag.  BTW, they  are so microscopic that you can't determine what they are.

This is the third year that we have used them on our lawn.  I haven't had to  use any other flea control since we started to use them, which is surprising,  because our land borders on conservation area which harbors a multitude of  bugs and other things.

Sharon

Boston

Hi Greg,

I just bought some from my local garden nursery.  I'm in San Jose, Ca.  I'd call around first, to be sure they carry them.     I understand they are good for flea eggs, and some 250 other little critters you don't want to see in your garden, and last for up to two years.    My understanding is only buy the refrigerated ones.

Diana

<<<Frazier mentions southernwood as an acceptable substitute >for wormwood. (1 00 cap daily per 10 lbs body weight). >>>

<ok.. stupid question number one: what is the 1 00 cap?>

That's the size of the capsule; a 00 capsule would be the medium size of the empty gel caps you can find in some HFSs to fill with your own herbs. According to one of my herb books, the average amount of herb in a 00 capsule would be 500-600 mg. if purchased ready made.

As far as the garlic, I don't think I would have luck getting a capsule that size down my cat, but you may have better luck.

Sorry, Susan, I know this was your original post, so I'll back off and let you answer the remainder of the questions :))

If it were me and I was dealing with tapeworms, I think I would try a product by Standard Process, Zymex II.  I believe Mary W-T has used this, haven't you, Mary?  In combination with garlic and some finely grated carrots I think she mentioned it was pretty effective.

<< Add one teaspoon of parsley water  per 10 lbs body weight daily to cats' food. I am doing this part right now, but I am wondering what the purpose of the parsley is- do you know? is it just for a general all purpose strengthener?>>

i Megan, Puotinen doesn't say, but I think that parsley is a general cleansing herb, a diuretic, so that would help establish a
healthier intestinal environment.  I don't really know -  Any of you in-the-know about herbs have some comments?

<< know this is off topic, but I also have my d*gs on this, as the pregnant foster cats brought fleas into a previously flea free zone, and the  fleas brought tapes. I need to dose a 60#, and a 40# adult, and a 15# 3 month old. Would I still do it twice weekly, or should I go to daily?>>

What a drag:(   Okay, give the big guys (d*gs) 1 drop of BWH extract per 10 lbs of body weight *every* day instead of just twice a week, you're right.

<<Frazier mentions southernwood as an acceptable substitute >for wormwood. (1 00 cap daily per 10 lbs body weight).
ok.. stupid question number one: what is the 1 00 cap?>>

<Is that one capsule?>

Generally, that's the capsule size most companies use for the supplements, I've noticed.  You can buy plain empty capsules at the  health food store;  I know they come in smaller (and possibly larger) sizes, but, for instance at the healthfood store I use, I can only get 00 capsules.

<<above regimen you add 1 clove capsule per 10 pounds body stupid question number two: what is a clove capsule? like a garlic pill? could I give one fresh garlic clove? I thought a full capsule would be too much for a cat. Or is a clove capsule made of cloves, the spice? Is this something you can buy?>>

These are cloves, the spice.  Weird, huh?  Like I said, I just looked this up; I haven't tried it. (Haven't needed to yet thank Bastet :) I have never bought clove caps.  You may have to buy the ground spice/herb & caps at the healthfood store and then make up the caps yourself.

After you get to the 6th or 8th week, Puotinen says you might consider stopping and then varying the herbs with other vermifuge herbs.  She also says that some herbalists use herbs to support the liver during any detoxification program.  She doesn't say which herbs, but I know milk thistle is frequently used for liver support.

<<Sorry, Susan, I know this was your original post, so I'll back off and let you answer the remainder of the questions :))>>

Oh, no, Leah, you know so much more about herbs.  I prefer to have one of you check out this stuff and respond, b/c even tho Puotinen's an herbalist, like you said, she recommends some pretty potent herbs for kitties sometimes.  I'm learning but it really helps to have your and other's input :))) Thanks!

<<If it were me and I was dealing with tapeworms, I think I would try a product by Standard Process, Zymex II.  I believe Mary W-T has used this, haven't you, Mary?  In combination with garlic and some finely grated carrots I think she mentioned it was pretty effective.>>

Actually, Puotinen also mentions Zymex II as an effective treatment for internal parasites:  "1 capsule per 5 lbs body weight up to a maximum of 3 for cats and 9 for d*gs, dosing the animal once a day.  Give the capsules with water or a food that does not contain protein; otherwise the enzymes will digest the food's protein and not the parasites." p.404 Megan, if your cats or d*gs will eat figs or papayas, those fruits have  digestive enzymes which will "literally digest the outer coating that protects intestinal worms."  Feed these fruits separately, "so that their enzymes can reach the worms in a more concentrated form."  (If you use dried figs, soak them in water an hour before serving.)

I just read an article by Dr. Randy Kidd, a holistic vet, on worming  animals with herbs. Thought you all might be interested in a selection of  his comments. (I don't have permission to reprint the entire article here.)
 

"Time and again, I'm asked which herb is best for treating worms. Time and  again, I give an answer that surprises many of my clients: If your pet has  serious parasite problems and you're serious about treating them, don't use  herbs. Use commercial drugs instead---they're more effective. This is not  to say that herbs can't help. After chemical deworming, an herbal program  can enhance your pet's ability to avoid worm infestations. In certain mild  cases, I suggest no treatment at all, other than allowing the animal's own healing abilities to take over, perhaps with an herbal boost to help. For example, a healthy...kitty's natural immune system will eliminate adult roundworms as the animal matures, and tapeworms are really more unsightly than they are a problem to your pet's overall health."

"Over the years, I've tried several commercial herbal parasite remedies on pets in my practice. The problem is that they don't meet the twin criteria that veterinarians use to evaluate any remedy: safety and efficacy. In almost all cases, these herbs cause side effects when used in doses strong enough to fight parasites. If you want to risk using them---and I recommend doing so only in mild cases---be alert for adverse reactions, especially in cats."

"...some herbal preparations are moderately effective against tapeworms and roundworms,...none are effective against heartworm or hookworms."

"Garlic...has some apparent effectiveness against...roundworms. ...may cause abnormal blood cells and result in anemia. Cats are more susceptible to the blood problems than dogs."

Black walnut produces fewer side effects than the artemisia family. No mention of it's effectiveness though.

Pumpkin seed seems to be non-toxic for cats and dogs although it cause a habit forming drunkenness in ostriches, cattle, sheep and poultry that creates withdrawal problems. Pretty weird, huh?

He does list some herbs used for prevention but refers to a different article for dosing amounts. These are the herbs listed:
angelica, burdock root, echinacea, licorice root, milk thistle, siberian ginseng and stingng nettle. For those of you, like me, who rotate small bits of herbs into the kits food for variety, these would probably be good ones to keep in rotation.

In a message dated 6/13/99 7:28:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time, NKorman@ writes:
<< These are the herbs listed:  angelica, burdock root, echinacea, licorice root, milk thistle, siberian  ginseng and stingng nettle. For those of you, like me, who rotate small  bits of herbs into the kits food for variety, these would probably be good  ones to keep in rotation.  >>

I wonder why wild black carrot extract isn't on the list? Maybe if he tried this he wouldn't say that about herbs...(not that I'm suggesting ppl go out an try it...I think ppl need to be more careful with herbs than they might think when treating a cat). I just know it is used for parasites and VERY effective.

Did you mean as a preventive or as a treatment that wild black carrot works well? The herbs listed below are ones he says DO work very well as preventives. The only medicinal reference I can find for wild carrot is to treat threadworms in kids. Guess it might work for other worms too then. The book I have suggests using just the root. That should be safe enough. One caution - although the seeds of carrots can be used medicinally, they can also induce an abortion so keep them away from your preggers kitties. :-)

Have you used the extract yourself on the kits? How much did you use and for what type of worms?

Hi Leah,

You caught me. VBG I forgot to post the source. I'm really bad at that. The  article I quoted from is in Herbs For Health, the July/August 1999 edition. It deals with mostly treatment of worms. He has a regular column in that publication. It's called Pet Corner. The article he refers to for preventive dosages is in the same magazine, March/April 1998 issue. Someone tell me they have that issue handy or I'm going to have to turn the house upside down looking for it....LOL

I found the Herbs For Health March/April 1998 issue. Here are some excerpts from Dr. Kidd's Pet Corner column. The column focuses on maintaining a healthy immune system using herbs. Lots of good info here worthy of discussion.

"I like to protect my pets with a few herbal immune-system boosters on a regular basis, and I always give them these herbs when they have a minor illness to keep it from becoming more serious."

"An easy way to help your pets stay one step ahead of a cold or infection is to incorporate immune system herbs into their diet. It's easy to do---just sprinkle culinary favorites onto their food, including thyme, garlic, oregano, turmeric (all antibacterial), and cayenne (it enhances the activity of immune system cells). Don't worry about doses---your pet will eat only what it needs and ignore the rest."

"The most notable herb for supporting and stimulating the immune system is echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia and E. purpurea). ...if you can catch an infection early, you can often stop it with low doses (1 or 2 drops) of a nonalcoholic tincture of the whole herb, given 3 to 4 times a day for a week. For prevention and general immune care, I recommend a low dose once a
day for five days each week."

"...when I treat a specific disease with any pharmaceutical, I also include appropriate herbal immune-system 'balancers', or adaptogens. Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is my favorite adaptogen because it supports nearly all organ systems. ....an anti-inflammatory and also helps fight bronchial and abdominal problems. Most pets like the taste,...so it's an ideal pet
medicine to sprinkle on food. Use it with caution, though, because licorice root may cause sodium retention, especially dangerous for pets with renal failure or those on heart medication."

"When a specific part of the immune system is weakened, I recommend an adaptogen as well as an herb with healing properties specific to that system."

"My favorite detoxification herbs are burdock root (Arctium lappa) and red clover (Trifolium pratense). Both of these herbs are well tolerated by most pets. They also work well against dry scaly skin (a common place for immune diseases to manifest)."

"When it comes to pets, herbs and dosages, we just don't have all the answers. That's why I prefer to mix food with a weak herbal tesa or small amounts of chopped whole fresh or dried herbs. But when I do use tinctures, I adhere to the following guidelines: I use less of the herb. Read the product label, then adjust the dose down to the animal's size, assuming that the dosage on the label is meant for a 150-pund human. For puppies, kittens and elderly pets reduce the adult animal dose by half.

When I suspect a pet is getting sick, I administer 1 or 2 drops of a tincture every 2 to 3 hours for the first 2 or 3 days then reduce to 3 to 5 times a day for about a week.

Remember, a cat's enzyme system is highly sensitive, so be careful with your kitty."