Natural Composition for Killing Parasites on a Companion Animal

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for killing parasites that includes topically applying onto a companion animal a composition including a natural, non-synthetic active ingredient. The composition may be applied to the animal in various forms, such as a spot-on, shampoo, an on animal spray, or an on animal powder. The present invention further relates to a topical composition for killing a parasite that includes at least one natural active ingredient.

1 . A method for preventing infestation of a parasite on a companion animal and killing a parasite in combination, comprising topically applying to a companion animal a composition comprising at least one natural active ingredient, wherein the composition comprises from about 0.1% to about 25% by weight of the natural active ingredient. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the natural active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of botanical extractives, plant essential oils, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the plant essential oils is selected from the group consisting of peppermint oil, cinnamon leaf oil, lemongrass oil, clove oil, castor oil, wintergreen oil, aldehyde C16 (pure), α-terpineol, amyl cinnamic aldehyde, amyl salicylate, anisic aldehyde, benzyl alcohol, benzyl acetate, cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic alcohol, carvacrol, carveol, citral, citronellal, citronellol, p-cymene, diethyl phthalate, dimethyl salicylate, dipropylene glycol, eucalyptol (cineole), eugenol, iso-eugenol, galaxolide, geraniol, guaiacol, ionone, menthol, menthyl salicylate, methyl anthranilate, methyl ionone, methyl salicylate, a-phellandrene, pennyroyal oil, perillaldehyde, 1- or 2-phenyl ethyl alcohol, 1- or 2-phenyl ethyl propionate, piperonal, piperonyl acetate, piperonyl alcohol, D-pulegone, terpinen-4-ol, terpinyl acetate, 4-tert butylcyclohexyl acetate, thyme oil, thymol, metabolites of trans-anethole, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one solvent. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of isopropyl myristate, isopropyl alcohol, butyl myristate, and combinations thereof and the solvent comprises from about 75% to about 99% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one synthetic active ingredient. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one synthetic active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of pyrethroids (e.g., cypermethrin, imiprothrin, lambda cyhalothrin, permethrin, chlorpyrifos, phenothrin, diazinon, etofenprox, and pyrethrins (e.g., pyrethin I, pyrethrin II, cinevin I, cinevin II, jasmolin I, and jasmolin II)), N-phenylpyrazole derivatives (i.e., fipronil), organophosphates or organocarbamates (e.g., dichlorvos, cythioate, diazinon, malathion, carbaryl, fenthione, methylcarbamate, and prolate), imidacloprid, arylheterocycles, insect growth regulators (e.g., agridyne, diofenolan, fenoxycarb, hydroprene, kinoprene, methoprene, pyriproxyfen, tetrahydroazadirachtin, chlorfluazuron, cyromazine, diflubenzuron, fluazuron, flucycloxuron, flufenoxuron, hexaflumuron, ifenuron, tebufenozide, and triflumuron), amitraz, selamectin, nitenpyram and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises an odor modifying ingredient. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises an absorbent. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent is a dehydrating agent and the absorbent comprises from about 40% to about 60% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a carrier. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, and combinations thereof and the carrier comprises from about 30% to about 50% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is selected from the group consisting of a spot-on, a shampoo, an on animal spray, an on animal powder, a foam, an animal collar, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . A method for preventing infestation of a parasite on a companion animal and killing a parasite in combination, comprising topically applying to a companion animal a shampoo composition comprising at least one natural active ingredient, a solvent, and a surfactant, wherein the composition comprises from about 10% to about 25% by weight of the natural active ingredient, from about 50% to about 80% by weight of the aqueous solvent, and from about 15% to about 35% by weight of the surfactant. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the solvent is water. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, amphoteric, and zwitterionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the composition further comprising a thickener selected from the group consisting of water-soluble, guar- or xanthan-based gums, cellulose ethers, microcrystalline cellulose anti-packing agents, and combinations thereof and the thickener comprises from about 0.5% to about 3% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the composition further includes a preservative and the preservative is selected form the group consisting of sodium benzoate, parabens, DMDM hydantoin, tetrasodium EDTA, chloraoallylhexaminium chloride, and combinations thereof and the preservative comprises from about 0.01% to about 1% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         19 . A method for preventing infestation of a parasite on a companion animal and killing a parasite in combination, comprising topically applying to a companion animal a spot-on composition comprising at least one natural active ingredient and a solvent, wherein the composition comprises from about 10% to about 25% by weight of the natural active ingredient and from about 75% to about 90% by weight of the solvent. 
     
     
         20 . A method for preventing infestation of a parasite on a companion animal and killing a parasite in combination, comprising topically applying to a companions animal a powder composition comprising at least on natural active ingredient, an absorbent, and a carrier, wherein the composition comprises from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the natural active ingredient, from about 40% to about 60% by weight of the absorbent, and from about 30% to about 50% by weight of the carrier. 
     
     
         21 . A method for preventing infestation of a parasite on a companion animal and killing a parasite in combination, comprising topically applying to a companions animal a spray on composition comprising at least on natural active ingredient and a solvent, wherein the composition comprises from about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of the natural active ingredient, and from about 80% to about 99% by weight of the solvent. 
     
     
         22 . A topical composition for killing a parasite, comprising:
 (a) at least one natural active ingredient, wherein the natural active ingredient comprises from about 10% to about 25% by weight of the composition; and   (b) a solvent, wherein the composition comprises from 75% to about 90% by weight of the solvent.   
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein the composition further includes at least one synthetic active ingredient.