Green Grub The Joy of Feeding Your Dog Organically

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

Contributions sourced from

10 ways to get rid of fleas on your dog

1. Coconut oil

Coconut oil is a safe, simple solution to treat your dog. Its fatty lauric acid covers the fleas exoskeleton in an oil coating, immobilizing and suffocating it.

Treatment. Work a light consistency through your dogs coat, down to the skin, in an outdoor setting. The Lauric acid contained in coconut oil is a natural flea repellent that may cause bugs to leave the fur.

2. Natural flea spray

Nothing beats a natural flea spray. These solutions are free from synthetic chemicals, perfect for treating adult fleas. The spray will safely kill the fleas on your dog and can be sprayed around the home to address the infestation. Always carefully read the labels first because some products work differently than others. For example, some only repel fleas, while others kill adult fleas but not eggs and larvae. Some natural flea sprays, like Tropiclean Flea & Tick Spray, repel and kill these parasites in all life stages.

Treatment. Youll need a natural flea spray designated safe for your dog and gloves to keep your hands clean. Our top pick for an all-natural flea spray is Vets Best Flea and Tick Spray. Dampen your pets coat with the spray, then massage it into the skin.

Always check with your vet and discuss treatment options before applying natural flea remedies to your dog.

3. Organic shampoo

All soaps and shampoos kill fleas when used in a bath. You dont have to use flea shampoo to kill fleas. In fact, some of these products can be harmful to your dog and excessively dry out their skin. The surfactants in regular soaps actually suffocate fleas. Fleas cant float on top of the water because of the way their exoskeleton is formed. When you add soap or shampoo to the warm water, they will drown in the water.

Treatment. Use any organic shampoo as you normally would in a bath. Make sure that there is some standing water in the tub so the fleas will fall or jump into it and then drown instead of jumping off your pet to safety. Make sure to read the directions on the bottle before using it.

4. Apple cider vinegar

Even fleas are picky eaters.Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a natural treatment for dogs that keeps fleas away. Dilute one part ACV with one part water in a spray bottle and give your dog a dowsing before heading outdoors.

Treatment. Some pet parents believe that an oral dose of ACV also keeps fleas at bay. The evidence is anecdotal, but if your vet gives the all-clear, add a tablespoon of vinegar to your dogs drinking water to repel fleas. Keep a bowl of your dogs fresh water handy in case they dont like the taste of ACV.

Always consult your vet for the correct dosage before incorporating any new supplement into your dogs diet.

5. Flea prevention and treatment

Ask your vet about the best type of flea preventionfor your dog. Some types target multiple parasites while others might only kill fleas. Nearly all flea control is intended for dogs 12 weeks and older, so you may have to resort to natural methods if you have a young puppy.

Treatment. Most flea prevention treatments require a vet prescription to purchase. Capstar is available over the counter, but it only kills adult fleas, so it wont end an infestation alone.

6. Lavender essential oil

Lavender contains linalool, which is effective at treating fleas at every life stage. Because the science isnt clear on how safe undiluted lavender oil is for pets, use it in your home rather than on pets directly.

Treatment. Mix up to 10 drops of food-grade lavender essential oil in an 8-ounce spray bottle and spray walls, floors, and places your pet doesnt frequent. Some pets are sensitive to essential oils, while others arent. To be safe, avoid spraying it where your pets spend time.

7. Diatomaceous earth

Diatomaceous earth is a non-toxic treatment best used to control adult fleas at home. Made of silica, diatoms, and natural minerals, it resembles a powder-like substance. Diatomaceous earth kills fleas by damaging their exoskeletons and infiltrating their bodies to draw moisture out.

Treatment. Sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth in your home on bedding, furniture upholstery, baseboards, and carpets. Wait overnight to let it work its magic, then vacuum the diatomaceous earth with the dead fleas. Wear a mask while spreading diatomaceous earth and avoid spreading it with pets in the room, as the tiny particles can cause lung irritation.

Can Dogs Have Green Beans?

Lets face it. Most of our dogs could stand to cut back on the treats just a little bit, but for many of us, treats are an important part of our daily interaction with our canines. This leaves us looking for healthier alternatives to reward our dogs for their good behavior. Green beans may just be the perfect low-calorie treat substitute weve been waiting for.

Are Green Beans Safe for Dogs?

Chopped, steamed, raw, or cannedall types of green beans are safe for dogs to eat, as long as they are plain. Green beans themselves are not only safe for dogs, but veterinarians also recommend them as a healthy treat. Best of all, dogs seem to love them.

Sometimes, green beans are prepared with other ingredients. This can make them not only less healthy and even dangerous. Here are some green bean hazards to avoid:

Canned beans with added salt
Green beans cooked with oils and spices
Green beans cooked with harmful vegetables, such as garlic and onions
Feeding large, whole green beans to dogs, which can be a choking hazard

Are Green Beans Healthy for Dogs?

Green beans are full of important vitamins and minerals, such as protein, iron, calcium, and vitamins B6, A, C, and K. Green beans are also full of fiber and are low in calories, which can help dogs and humans feel full when they are dieting.

Your dog does not necessarily need these extra nutrients if they are already eating a complete and balanced commercial diet. But green beans offer a nutritional alternative to dog biscuitsand can make us feel less guilty about cutting out unhealthy treats and scraps from our dogs diets.

Can Green Beans Help Dogs Lose Weight?

More than one-half of American dogs are overweight. Many owners dont even realize that their pups are on the heavy side, but this oversight comes at a cost to our canines. Obesity leads to a long list of health problems, including Type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, orthopedic problems, heart disease, kidney disease, and some cancers. To make things worse, carrying those extra pounds around can decrease your dogs life expectancy by up to two years.

Giving green beans as a treat in place of conventional biscuits can help your dog lose weight, as long as you are also taking action to increase their exercise and moderate their regular diet. Feeding green beans will not help your dog lose weight if they are not getting enough exercise and is consuming inappropriate calories for their age, breed, and lifestyle.

What Is the Green Bean Diet?

You may have heard someone mention the green bean diet as a way to help a dog lose weight. This diet plan gradually substitutes green beans in place of a percentage of a dogs food. For example, an owner starts out by supplementing 10 percent of the volume of a dogs regular meal with green beans, increasing the percentage over time up to 50 percent, until the dog reaches its target weight. Then the owner gradually reintroduces the regular food back into the dogs diet.

While the green bean diet sounds like a good idea in theory, veterinarian Ken Tudor, writing for PetMD, explains the risks of attempting the green bean diet without veterinary guidance. To begin with, dogs that gain weight suddenly or have difficulty losing weight, despite exercise and diet restrictions, could have a serious health condition, such as hypothyroidism or Cushings disease.

Even if your dogs extra weight stems from a few too many kibbles and scraps, according to Dr. Tudor, Regular food is inappropriate for weight-loss patients. Although weight-loss patients are fed the calories appropriate for their ideal target weight, they still need amino acids, fats, vitamins, and minerals for their present weight. This can lead to nutritional imbalances and deficiencies, and dogs on the green bean diet may regain the weight they lost as a result of metabolic changes.

Tudor concludes by saying that green beans can be an effective part of a weight-loss diet, as long as you consult with your veterinarian about the best dog food and overall wellness plan to help your dog lose weight.

The Perfect Healthy Treat

If, however, you are just looking for a healthy, low-calorie treat to feed Fido, green beans are an excellent option. As with any treat, try not to exceed 10 percent of your dogs daily diet, and watch for any signs of stomach upset or allergic reactions.

Check out this list of which fruits and vegetables are safe and unsafe for dogs to eat.

11 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Grubs in Garden

Many gardeners have dealt with the irritation of finding grubs in the soil among their plants. White grubs are voracious root-eating pests that eventually turn into leaf-eating adult beetles [1].

Its not a pretty sight to see these critters crawling around, eating the roots of your crops, and damaging your lawn.

If youre reading this article, then youre likely seeking natural, harmless ways of getting rid of grubs once and for all.

Fortunately for you, there are plenty of methods you can use to rid your garden of them without harming your plants.

How to Get Rid of Grubs Naturally

Below are some of the best organic solutions and home remedies for grub control.

1. Beneficial Nematodes

This is a popular eco-friendly method to control grubs in your vegetable garden, flower beds, and lawns. Beneficial nematodes actively seek out these soil-dwelling pests.

You can buy beneficial nematodes for grubs online or at certain garden centers. Soak them in water on the sponge they come on.

Next, put them into a sprayer attached to a hose, and then give your yard and garden a good and thorough spray to release them.Once infected by the nematodes, the critters will die within a day or two.

2. Soap and Water

Soapy water is enough to kill grubs in your lawn and garden, as the soap itself will smother them.

For this homemade grub killer recipe, combine 3 tablespoons of organic liquid soap with a gallon of water. However, you can use Dawn dish soap if youre only using it for your lawn.

Spray the soapy water solution on the infested lawn or soil.

3. Milky Spore

This is a naturally occurring bacterium that, once applied in your garden, wont harm you or your plants.

Milky spore is highly effective as a natural grub killer. However, it can take up to two years to see the full effect.

Also, it only works on Japanese beetle grubs [2], so its best to combine it with other remedies.

Read the package instructions on how to apply.

4. Birds and Chickens

In our opinion, the best grub worm killers are birds and chickens.

Set up bird feeders or a chicken coop. Chickens and some birds will peck and forage against anything they find in the soil, including beetle grubs.

The only issue is that they may also go after beneficial insects youll want to keep.

5. Organic Fertilizer

Organic fertilizer, compared to synthetic fertilizer, has a lower chance of hurting beneficial soil organisms, such as beneficial nematodes. Read 29 Organic and Homemade Fertilizers for Plants.

It may not stop root-eating grubs, but it allows everything else to keep living. With organic fertilizers, beneficial nematodes stand a better chance of surviving another day to target grubs.

6. Neem Oil

You can also use neem oil for grubs in the garden. It is very popular among organic gardeners as a natural and healthy pest control home remedy.

Make a natural grub repellent spray by combining 2 tablespoons of neem oil, 2 teaspoons of liquid soap, and a gallon of water.

Next, apply it to your lawn and garden soil to repel grubs. You can find neem oil at decent prices online or at some retail gardening stores.

7. Diatomaceous Earth (DE)

Food-grade diatomaceous earth is a great organic remedy to kill grubs and other bad garden worms naturally. Moreover, it is pet-friendly and safe to use around the house and in vegetable gardens.

The product will dry out insects, dehydrating them to death. To apply, dust a little around your plants in the soil.

This natural grub worm treatment is very effective, but it is also indiscriminate, so use it sparingly.

8. Garlic Spray

Actually, a lot of vegetable garden pests cant stand the smell of garlic spray. So, making a spray out of garlic and using it in your garden can help keep it free of most garden pests.

For this DIY grub control spray, puree 4 bulbs of garlic in one cup of water. Next, let it sit overnight.

Afterward, strain and apply the spray around your garden beds and pot plants. It will discourage grubs, slugs, caterpillars, and other pests that you dont want around.

9. PyGanic

PyGanic is an organic insecticide you can use to get rid of lawn grubs and certain pests in your garden.

With its active ingredient being pyrethrin, this product is safe for use on organic crops. Moreover, when used moderately, it will not harm earthworms.

10. Surround WP

Made from modified kaolin clay, Surround WP is another effective natural pesticide to get rid of white grub worms. When applied, it forms a barrier film that protects against these pests.

To use this treatment, follow the package directions on how to use it.

11. Limit Irrigation

These fat white worms (as some people call them) thrive in moist soil. So, limiting the amount of water flowing into your garden or over your lawn grass may reduce the population of grubs.

Will Epsom Salt Work?

Some say it doesnt, while others say high doses can. However, high doses of Epsom salt can kill earthworms, so you may want to reconsider using it.

What are Grub Worms?

They are nothing more than the small larvae of certain beetles. However, grub worms are especially harmful to your garden and need to be dealt with as soon as possible.

They will nibble on the roots of your plants and, later in life, chew up the leaves of your crops. So, eliminate them from your garden as soon as theyre spotted.

Signs of Infestation

Youll see telltale signs of grubs in your lawn when you notice dead or damaged patches. If it feels spongy and soft to the touch, and if you see various wildlife digging at your grass, thats another sign of grubs.

If you happen to pull back a section of grass and can count more than five grubs per square foot, youve got an infestation. These signs mean that they are most likely present in your garden as well.

Droopy leaves, the sudden death of plants, and the appearance of garden moles are all signs of a grub infestation.