Keep your furry friends free from fleas with these simple and natural remedies.
Fleas can be a year-round nuisance for pets, not just in the summer months. They thrive wherever it’s warm, making your pet’s skin a cozy home. While there are many conventional methods like collars, shampoos, and medications, you can complement these with natural remedies.
Veterinarians often suggest using natural remedies alongside traditional preventatives. It’s crucial to prevent and treat flea infestations as these tiny pests can transmit serious diseases such as heartworm, Lyme disease, and tapeworms.
Here are nine natural flea remedies suitable for both cats and dogs. Remember to consult your vet before trying any new treatment for your pet.
Dealing with Fleas in Your Home
When your dog brings fleas indoors, you end up with fleas in the house. If you’re wondering how to tackle this problem and get rid of fleas from your dog’s bedding and other items they use, here are some simple methods you can try at home.
1. Machine Wash
Start by collecting all the soft items your dog comes into contact with, such as blankets, towels, beds, pillows, and mats. Put them through a cycle in the washing machine. While it’s a bit of work, washing these items is crucial to addressing the flea issue.
2. Tumble Dry
After washing, it’s essential to dry these items thoroughly. Putting them in a hot tumble dryer for just 15 minutes can effectively kill fleas at all stages of their life cycle, including eggs, larvae, and adult fleas. This step helps ensure that your efforts are successful in eradicating the fleas from your home.
3. Vacuum
Your vacuum cleaner is your best friend when it comes to battling fleas at home. If you have a water-based vacuum, it’s ideal because it drowns fleas as soon as they’re sucked in. For dry vacuums, be ready for fleas to try to escape when you empty the canister or bag.
Do this outside immediately and consider spraying water inside to prevent fleas from getting away.
4. Baking Soda
Sprinkle baking soda on your carpet, then sweep it into the fibers with a broom. This process dehydrates fleas and their eggs. Leave the baking soda overnight and vacuum it up in the morning along with the fleas.
5. Salt
Similar to baking soda, salt can dehydrate and kill fleas and their eggs. Sprinkle salt on carpets and furnishings before vacuuming the next day. But be cautious as salt can cause your vacuum to rust if not cleaned out properly afterward.
6. Lemon Spray
Boil thinly sliced lemon in water, let it cool overnight, then fill a spray bottle with the mixture. Lightly spray your carpets and furnishings. Lemon is effective against fleas and leaves a fresh scent, no vacuuming required.
7. Steam Clean
Steam cleaning your carpets and furnishings not only kills fleas on contact but also keeps your home clean and fresh-smelling.
8. Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is a fine powder made from the tiny remains of algae. It might sound strange, but it’s a highly effective natural remedy for dealing with fleas. To use it, simply sprinkle diatomaceous earth on your carpet and let it sit for 48 hours.
Make sure to keep the area blocked off so nobody, especially your dog, walks over it during this time. Afterward, vacuum the carpet thoroughly. Diatomaceous earth works by drying out and killing flea eggs, helping to prevent another infestation.
9. Flea Trap
An easy and clever way to tackle fleas indoors without using sprays on your furniture is by making a flea trap. Just fill a plate or bowl with warm water and add a few drops of dish soap. Leave it on the floor overnight.
The soapy water’s thickness acts like glue, trapping fleas on the surface. In the morning, empty out the mixture and wash your plate or bowl well.
10. Rosemary Prevention
If you have a pestle and mortar, you can make a mixture of rosemary powder to keep fleas away in the future. Add other ingredients like peppermint, wormwood, fennel, and rue, and grind them into a fine powder. Then, sprinkle this mixture throughout your home to help prevent flea infestations.
Dealing with Fleas in the Backyard
If your dog has fleas, chances are they’re also hiding in your backyard, even if you can’t see them. Here are some simple and natural methods to tackle fleas outdoors:
1. Clear Out Clutter
Fleas love to hide in dense vegetation, so keeping your garden tidy can discourage them. Trim or remove overgrown bushes and hedges, and make sure to keep your garden free of weeds.
2. Watch for Damp Areas
Fleas thrive in dark, moist spots and avoid sunlight. Scan your yard for places where moisture accumulates, like under bushes, and clear away dead leaves, twigs, and excess mulch. Letting sunlight reach these areas can help deter fleas. Also, avoid overwatering your lawn.
3. Introduce Beneficial Nematodes
Certain types of nematodes, like Steinerma Carpocapsea, are natural predators of fleas and safe for your garden and pets. These microscopic worms can help control flea populations without harming other beneficial insects.
4. Plant Flea-Repelling Herbs
Consider adding plants like spearmint, chrysanthemums, lavender, and Penny Royal to your garden. These plants naturally repel fleas and can contribute to a healthier outdoor environment. Be sure to research which plants are suitable for your local climate before planting.
Getting Rid of Flea on Cats and Dogs
Apple Cider Vinegar
People have been talking up apple cider vinegar for its health benefits for ages, and it turns out it might help keep fleas away from your pets too. Fleas supposedly don’t like the strong smell and taste of apple cider vinegar.
While it won’t kill fleas, mixing equal parts water and apple cider vinegar and spritzing it on your pet might help prevent fleas.
Apple cider vinegar has about 5% acetic acid, which is like a natural antiseptic. Spraying it on your pet’s coat or giving them a wet comb through can soothe itching.
When taken by mouth, it might even help balance your dog’s pH levels since apple cider vinegar is alkaline while dog food tends to be acidic. Just make sure to check with your vet before using apple cider vinegar on your pet.
Baking Soda
Some folks say baking soda can help with fleas, but research shows it doesn’t actually kill flea larvae. However, it’s safe to use on your pet’s coat (plus, it’s good for getting rid of odors). You can mix it with water to make a paste or add it to their regular shampoo during a bath.
For preventing fleas, mix a bit of baking soda with water and put it in a dish near a light, away from your pet’s reach. Fleas are drawn to light, so they might jump into the dish and drown.
Brewer’s Yeast
Brewer’s yeast comes from a type of fungus used to ferment beer. As a supplement, it boosts energy levels and keeps skin, hair, and eyes healthy. It can also help bolster your pet’s immune system, which might help fend off fleas and other pests. But, studies aren’t clear on whether it directly repels or kills fleas.
You can give powdered brewer’s yeast to your pet orally. Just chat with your vet about the right dosage.
Rosemary Flea Dip
Chemical flea dips can be harsh, but you can make a milder version at home by adding fresh rosemary to the water. Rosemary is known to repel fleas (and spiders and cockroaches too!).
To make a natural flea dip, boil two cups of fresh rosemary in water for 30 minutes. Strain out the leaves and add warm water (up to a gallon, depending on your pet’s size). Let it cool down but still be warm, then pour it over your pet’s coat and let it dry naturally.
Lemon Spray Repellent
Fresh lemons can be used to make a spray that might help keep fleas away. Although it hasn’t been proven to kill fleas, the scent seems to drive them off.
Cut a lemon into quarters and cover it with boiling water for up to ten minutes. Let it steep overnight, and you can even add some rosemary leaves. The next day, strain out the lemon bits and pour the liquid into a spray bottle. Spray it on your pet, avoiding the eyes, focusing on areas like behind the ears, around the tail base, and the neck where fleas like to hide.
If your pet doesn’t like the spray, you can rub freshly squeezed lemon or orange juice on their fur instead. Just make sure it’s fresh fruit and not citrus essential oil, which can be harmful to pets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are fleas dangerous to pets?
Fleas are pesky blood-sucking parasites that often bother pets. While it’s common to encounter them, remember they can pose serious health risks beyond just causing itchiness.
A flea infestation on your pet could lead to conditions like flea allergy dermatitis, anemia, or even diseases transmitted by fleas such as murine typhus.
How long does it take to get rid of fleas?
The time it takes to get rid of fleas varies depending on how severe the infestation is. A mild infestation might clear up within a couple of days with intensive treatment, but more severe cases could take months.
It’s important to address not just the fleas on your pet, but also those lurking in your home. This means thorough cleaning of carpets, bedding, furniture, and other areas where fleas might hide.
How do you know if your pet has fleas?
Keep an eye out for signs like itching, tiny black dots (known as flea “dirt”) in your pet’s fur, or irritated and bumpy skin. Sometimes, you might not spot the fleas themselves until the infestation has become quite serious.
How often should you check your pet for fleas?
Mild flea infestations can be tricky to spot, as your pet might not show obvious signs of discomfort. However, since fleas aren’t healthy for pets, it’s a good idea to actively look for signs of them on your pet at least once a month.
