Non-Toxic, Natural Remedies for Treatment of Fleas on Dogs and Cats

There are two methods of eradicating and preventing fleas on your pet and in your home, the natural way and the chemical way.  I prefer to always try the natural way in most everything I encounter as I have sensitivities to chemicals that affect my health.  The other important reason I prefer using natural methods is that it helps the environment, even if it’s in a small way.  Products that are not chemical based have much less of an adverse effect on our planet and on our health.

When it comes to fleas, pet owners are very much aware of the difficulty in dealing with the problem of getting rid of them on their pets and in their homes.  The life cycle of the flea makes it challenging to keep up the process until the last flea is gone.  It is important to remember that it will take more than one try to be successful in making your pet flea free.

If your pet has been scratching and if you have seen small black particles on his skin (which are flea droppings) he more than likely has fleas. If you prefer to use the safer, natural methods of flea treatment and prevention instead of the standard, customary ways, you will be avoiding strange chemicals that could have potentially harmful side effects. If you have children in your home or are chemically sensitive as I am, you may want to look into the natural substitutes that can help keep those little flea beasties at bay.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  If you have a very young puppy or kitten, please check with your veterinarian for sound advice on what you need to do in order to safely rid your pet of fleas. Some flea remedies can be harmful to younger pets.

Basics

1.  Fight the flea at all life stages!

2.  Kill the adults – They can only reproduce after they feed on blood (sounds like a bad horror movie, doesn’t it?)

3.  Get rid of the eggs – Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum!!! Empty vacuum right away and take it outside and away from your home to prevent them from hatching and re-infesting. Eggs hatch every two days to 2 weeks.  Wash bedding often in hot water with a splash of white vinegar.

First Step – Wash and Clean Everything

Give your whole house a good old-fashioned cleaning and be sure to wash down hard surfaces and every place that your pet comes into contact with. Vacuum all areas of your home and discard the vacuum bag (if you have a vacuum that uses one) so that any flea eggs are far removed to prevent re-infestation.  Wash your bedding as well as your pet’s bedding, and any towels that you have used on your pet with the hottest water possible.

Give your pet a good bath and start with his head and work back to his tail.  This will remove some of the fleas on his body.  Be sure to thoroughly flush any fleas down the drain..

Eradicating Fleas The Natural Way

Flea Comb – These can be purchased at Petco, Petsmart, or  Amazon.com, Petsmart.com , Chewy.com or Petco.com and are priced nicely from $3 – $8.

·  2-3 freshly sliced lemons (depending on the size and age of your pet, smaller and young pets would need 1                           lemon)

·  Pot of fresh water

·  Spray bottle

·  Flea comb and sponge or brush

·  Bowl of soapy water (put the fleas you remove from your pet in it to drown them)

Boil a pot of water and add the cut lemons after turning off the heat. Cover the pot and let it steep for about at least 3 hours or overnight. After steeping, you can strain the lemon particles from the liquid if you want to use a spray bottle to mist your pet’s fur.  Otherwise, pour the liquid into a large bowl and soak the flea comb in it and then comb it thoroughly through your pet’s fur. Be sure to get in the armpit and groin area and in and around the ears, as these places are where fleas like to hide.  A sponge works well if you have a very short-haired pet.  Put fleas that come out on the comb into the bowl of soapy water to drown them. Do this at least twice a day.

Natural Flea Spray

Apple Cider Vinegar – I would recommend using Bragg Organic Raw-Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar, which can be purchased at most grocery stores. Mix the ACV with water in 1 qt water:1 cup vinegar proportion and pour into a large spray bottle.  Although this does not kill the fleas, they will jump off and this remedy works for almost 3-4 days.   If the smell of the ACV is too strong for your pet, you can add 2-3 drops of lavender or cedar oil to the liquid, and either of those oils will help give the spray an extra edge. To avoid spraying the mixture near your pet’s face, dampen a soft cloth with it and gently wipe it on. You can lightly spray this mixture on and around your pet’s bedding.

Natural Flea Collar                                                                                                                

· 3-5 Drops of cedar oil or lavender oil

· 1-3 tablespoons of water

· Bandanna

· Eyedropper

Dilute 2-3 drops of chosen oil in 1-3 tablespoons of water (always dilute essential oils when using on your pets). Choose a snazzy bandanna for the flea collar and apply 5-10 drops of the mixture to it.  Rub the sides of the fabric together to spread the mixture and tie it about your pet’s neck.  If your dog or cat won’t tolerate a bandanna, apply the mixture to the inside of his regular collar.  Reapply the oil mixture to the bandanna or collar once a week.  For extra protection, you can apply some of the mixture directly to the base of your pet’s tail.

Flea Deterring Drinks or Food Additives  (To be used along with the other remedies)

Apple cider vinegar – Again I recommend Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, because not only does it deter fleas, it improves pets’ skin and coat condition from the inside out and it improve their digestion.

You can place 1 teaspoon of ACV in drinking water or in food for a small pet and up to 1 tablespoon for medium to large sized-pets.

Brewer’s Yeast –  Brewer’s yeast is one of the more common supplements and it is an excellent source of both B vitamins and the mineral Chromium. B vitamins plan an essential role in skin, coat, and eye health in pets. It is also known to deter biting insects. For powders, use ½ teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight in your pet’s food daily. The correct dosage for tablets, read the dosage instructions on the package, which is available at all pet stores and online at Chewy.com, Drs Foster and Smith, and Amazon.com.   A cautionary note:  Some pets are allergic to yeast, so watch out for dry, itchy skin. Stop giving him the supplement and see if the rash clears up.

This article is intended for pets who have mild  or average flea problems  If your dog or cat has a serious flea infestation, please consult your veterinarian so that you can get the best advice and care for your pet’s health.  Always seek professional help if your pet has health issues.