A veterinarian’s advice should always be sought before beginning any flea control program. They can assist you in creating a flea treatment plan and are qualified to help you keep your pet safe and healthy. A regimen to prevent fleas from disturbing your dog is usually followed by an initial treatment to eliminate any fleas that are already present.
Nitenpyram, also referred to as Capstar, is the substance that is most frequently used to quickly kill fleas on dogs. Fleas are killed by this single-use pill within 30 minutes of oral administration. When utilizing Capstar, it is advised that you confine your pet to a small space. It will be simpler to clean up if your pet can rest on a sheet or blanket that collects fleas as they fall off. It is possible to get Capstar from your veterinarian or numerous online pet supply stores without a prescription.
Your veterinarian could advise bathing with certain flea shampoos, which will also rapidly kill fleas. After a thorough bath, remove any remaining eggs by combing using flea combs made specifically for the purpose. An insect growth inhibitor called lufenuron is additionally available from your veterinarian. When taken as a pill once a month, it stops flea reproduction but does not kill adult fleas.
What naturally rids dogs of fleas?
Where you reside will determine whether fleas are a seasonal or year-round issue. Since dogs spend more time outside in the summer, they are typically the biggest threat. A straightforward visual check is not usually sufficient because fleas are really small and move swiftly. Look for black spots on your dog’s skin and coat to see whether they have fleas. (Ew!) These are flea droppings. You might also run a white tissue across your dog’s fur to look for flecks. If you find evidence of fleas during your investigation, use these natural home cures.
Flea Comb
A flea comb is a must-have for pet owners looking for a natural flea-killer because it is an economical and useful alternative. Although they range in size, all have tightly spaced teeth that remove fleas and their eggs from the dog’s coat. (Be sure to dip the comb in soapy water to kill any eggs or adults it picks up after each pass.) In your fight against these pests, this is a fantastic initial move.
Lime or Lemon Comb/Lemon Bath
Apply fresh lime or lemon juice to your dog’s comb before making several passes through their coat. (Instead of using a comb, you can use a towel dipped in the juice if your dog has a short or slippery coat.) Another choice is to combine diluted lemon juice with water (1:2) and a small amount of pet shampoo.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Fleas can’t live there because of the slightly acidic pH level of apple cider vinegar. Spray the mixture on your dog’s coat and belly, being careful to keep it away from their eyes and any open wounds. To make the combination, combine six cups of ACV with four cups of water (using a 6:4 ratio), along with a pinch of salt.
Collars
Apply a few drops to your pet’s existing collar or to a bandana after diluting two to three drops of oil in one to three tablespoons of water. (You’ll have to apply this mixture again and again. For more thorough directions, consult The Pet Lovers Guide to Natural Healing for Dogs and Cats by Barbara Foug aux.) Natural flea repellents like lavender or cedar oil should be tested first on your dog before applying to anything that touches their neck.
Can I use vinegar as a flea treatment on my dog?
Fleas cannot be killed by apple cider vinegar, although it can help to deter them. Fleas won’t likely bother your pet if it has it on its fur because they don’t enjoy the taste or smell of it. Fill a spray bottle with water and apple cider vinegar after diluting it. If your pet dislikes being sprayed, use a brush to apply the mixture to their fur during a grooming appointment.
Eggs from fleas can drop off your cat and land in their bedding or other sleeping areas. The eggs can remain there for several months before the proper circumstances allow them to hatch. Put all of the fabrics your dog sleeps on, including their bedding, your sheets, and all other fabrics, in the washing machine and wash in hot, soapy water. After that, put everything in the dryer on the highest temperature possible without endangering the fibers. Another alternative if you have a lot of fleas in your house is to throw out all pet bedding and sheets and start over.
Diatomaceous earth is poisonous to animals like cats and dogs yet nontoxic to parasites like fleas. Before vacuuming or washing the area, sprinkle some on your pet’s bedding and other flea-prone areas of the house. Let it sit for three days.
One of the best methods for getting rid of fleas in your home is vacuuming, especially when combined with other treatments. By vacuuming every other day, you can reduce the amount of active fleas and eliminate the infestation by catching more eggs before they hatch. After use, make careful to discard the vacuum bags or wash the canister in hot, soapy water.
You can think about contacting pest control experts for assistance if you have a significant flea infestation or if you’re having problems eliminating the fleas on your own. They can assist with the care of your house and yard and offer you advice on how to avoid more problems.
Spending time outside increases the likelihood that cats and dogs will bring fleas inside. On your clothing, the insects might find their way into your house. By applying some of the following remedies to your yard, you might lessen the risk of fleas:
Dish soap
Making a flea trap out of dish soap and water is the first step in this home treatment for fleas. All you need to do is lay a plate or bowl filled with warm water and dish soap in the areas of your home where fleas are most active.
Due to the high viscosity of the water and dish soap mixture, it acts like glue and traps the fleas. Every day, you should repeat this process with a new batch.
This flea home cure must be used at night in order to be successful. This is due to the fact that fleas are typically night pests. Although it has been suggested that placing a candle close to the solution can aid this natural flea treatment, doing so is not recommended because of the possible fire hazard that an unattended, naked flame can present.
Herbal flea spray
A herbal flea spray is recommended by quick home treatments to get rid of fleas in your house. This all-natural flea treatment is safe to use around pets, kids, and other household items because it is manufactured from non-toxic ingredients.
Mix 4 liters of vinegar, 2 liters of water, 500 ml of lemon juice, and 250 ml of witch hazel in a big spray container to make a flea spray. You should vacuum thoroughly, putting the contents into an outdoor trash can, and wash any bedding or cushions that may be contaminated before using the product around your home. Once this is done, use a vigorous spray to administer the natural flea remedy to your home, making sure to cover the floors, carpets, furniture, pet beds, and window sills.
Baking soda
Vacuuming is one of the best home treatments for flea management if you’re having trouble knowing how to get rid of them. By pulling fleas out of the carpet and furniture fibers, this aids in flea removal. However, there is a way to make this more successful, and it involves baking soda!
Lay baking soda along your carpets and furniture, then use a stiff brush to push it into the fabric to make this natural flea medication effective. Then, give your house a good vacuuming, empty the vacuum’s contents into a bag, and put the bag in an outdoor trash can.
Salt
When combined with vacuuming, salt is an excellent natural flea home cure, similar to baking soda. Adult fleas can be eliminated by using salt as a dehydrating agent.
Take some salt (finely powdered works best) and sprinkle it all over your carpets in each room to treat fleas naturally. After letting the salt sit for a couple of days, clean the entire house and put the debris into an outdoor garbage can.
Lemon spray
There are many uses for lemon around the house, but in addition to being an effective wasp sting treatment, it also works well as a natural flea treatment.
Making a citrus spray to put on infested furniture is the first step in an all-natural flea treatment. Thinly slice a lemon, add to a pint of water, and bring to a boil to prepare the flea spray. Pour the citrus solution into a spray bottle after letting it sit for the night. The following day, take the citrus solution and spray it over your couches, pet beds, chairs, etc. that are contaminated. Never soak; just dampen.
Diatomaceous earth
Diatoms, an algae fossil, are what make up diatomaceous earth. It is a very fine powder that is non-toxic to humans and an excellent all-natural flea cure since it dehydrates fleas.
Applying thin layers of diatomaceous earth powder to locations you suspect have high flea activity will help treat a flea problem. After letting the diatomaceous earth work its magic for two days, vacuum right away and use the appropriate flea prevention measures.
It is crucial to remember that you should only use food grade diatomaceous earth when treating fleas naturally. Despite being non-toxic, the powder’s composition might make a mess and irritate your eyes and throat. It is suggested that you use a face mask when treating your home with diatomaceous earth.
Rosemary
A fantastic natural flea control product is rosemary. It can be applied to pets and used to treat minor infestations (depending on how you use it). Making a powder to use as a treatment for fleas in your home is the main goal of this illustration of a natural flea medication.
Use rosemary in a pestle and mortar together with some rue, wormwood, fennel, and peppermint to ground into a powder to prepare a herbal flea powder. When you suspect flea activity in your home, sprinkle it on your carpets, furniture, pet beds, window sills, and wherever else.
Rosemary is a natural flea repellent; it won’t get rid of fleas, but it will assist in preventing and repelling them.
Flea repelling plants
Utilizing particular plants to assist repel these biting insects is the ultimate all-natural way to get rid of fleas. Fleas despise certain oils, chemicals, and compounds that some plants contain, thus they will strive to avoid them.
There are numerous plants that are effective flea repellents. A fantastic natural home treatment for fleas is to use these plants in flower pots and flower beds around your house.
Plants that ward off fleas
- Dollar Royal
- Chrysanthemums
- Lavender
- Spearmint
Which homemade flea repellent works the best?
Six homemade flea repellents you can make at home with items you already have
- Spray with apple cider vinegar.
- Spray with lemon, lavender, and witch hazel.
- Shampoo treatment with Listerine.
- Dog treats with brewers yeast and coconut oil for flea prevention.
- Flea shampoo using Dawn dish liquid and vinegar.
- Furniture powder made of salt and baking soda.
Are fleas Removed by Dawn?
You’ve probably seen the advertisements showing wild birds damaged by oil spills being cleaned with Dawn dish soap. You might question if Dawn can eliminate those bothersome fleas on your cat or dog if it is effective and gentle enough for wildlife.
Even while Dawn dish soap has the ability to kill fleas, it is not the most efficient or effective solution, and it cannot stop flea infestations.
Here’s why Dawn dish soap might not be the magical flea-killer your four-legged family member needs it to be.
How do you create a DIY dog flea and tick spray?
What you require:
- one part water
- 1 component Witch Hazel
- Lavender essential oil, 3 drops
- 3 drops of essential oil of lemon
- 3 drops of essential eucalyptus oil
You’ll also require:
- 4 oz. spray bottle in a dark tone.
- pipes in plastic
Directions:
- As essential oils can lose their strength when exposed to UV rays and they can eat away at plastic, use blue or amber colored glass bottles.
- Half-fill bottle with water, then add witch hazel to the remaining space.
- To blend, add the essential oil and shake thoroughly.
- Shake the spray vigorously before each use to ensure that all the components are well-combined, then generously coat your dog’s fur.
- If you discover that you use the spray frequently, you can double or treble this recipe to reduce the frequency of preparation.
Can lemon juice be sprayed on dogs to kill fleas?
Fleas!!! Even I despise the word. Every pet, pet owner, and veterinarian hate dealing with fleas. Nearly 2,000 eggs can be laid by a single female flea during her lifetime. Therefore, finding even one flea in your home is a serious issue.
I use an integrative strategy to effectively treat fleas. This means combining the safest holistic topicals I can discover with the least amount of the safest Western medicine I can locate.
Any or all of the suggestions presented here may be used. I would suggest including your veterinarian in the battle against fleas in your home. Veterinarians have knowledge of the flea life cycle and can guide you toward the most effective flea prevention strategy for your family.
Your protocol should also be based on whether or not you have a dog or cat and whether or not it goes outdoors or stays inside. The suggestions made here are meant to serve as general guidelines and suggestions for flea prevention.
- Wash the blankets and toys you provide your pet on a regular basis. In addition to pet fur, furniture and bedding also harbor fleas. Fleas will be less prevalent if you wash frequently.
- Regularly vacuum. Vacuum the wood floors, the sofas, the rugs, and the carpets. Fleas and larvae that may be lying around your home can be picked up by the vacuum.
- Every day, brush your pet. Any flea brush would work for this, but the furminator is a wonderful one.
- Test wearing a natural flea collar. It is safer than the majority of topical flea medications. For dogs, mix 4 tablespoons of water with 4 drops of organic lavender essential oil from VetNaturally. Put a bandana or the collar of your pet in the solution. Place it on your pet’s neck when it has dried. Use only a breakaway collar on cats when using 1 drop of VetNaturally lavender essential oil in 4 tablespoons of water. Cats shouldn’t wear bandanas. Try a different essential oil that is suitable for pets if your pet appears to dislike the aroma.
- Build a genuine lemon spray. Applying lemon oil to your pet’s coat can help prevent fleas because they don’t like the aroma of lemons or the limonene they contain. Slice the six organic lemons in half. Place for five to ten minutes in boiling water. Leave the lemons and water to rest overnight after turning off the stove. In the morning, strain the lemon/lemon components out. Apply the remaining liquid on your dog’s coat using a glass spray bottle. Avoid touching your eyes or any other vulnerable areas. Every day or every other day, you can apply this spray.
- To your pet’s water, try adding Braggs apple cider vinegar. It enhances the quality of your dog’s coat while preventing fleas. Per quart of liquid, add 1 teaspoon of Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar. Based on a 45-pound dog, this. Place two bowls of water—one with vinegar and one without—on the table at all times. In this manner, your pet can still get his usual water if he doesn’t like the vinegar.
- Always have a natural flea spray on hand. Three drops of organic lavender essential oil from VetNaturally should be added to one quart of fresh water in a glass spray container. Add one cup of Braggs apple cider vinegar after that. Spray your dog as necessary. Avoid getting any mist in their eyes. This spray can also be applied on blankets and other bedding.
- Use a natural flea wash on your pet. Pick any mild, natural shampoo. 1/4 cup of the organic shampoo should be mixed in before adding 1/2 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice, 2 drops of organic lavender essential oil from VetNaturally, and 2 cups of water. Use this mixture once a week to bathe your pet.
We hope that these suggestions will help you maintain your pet and home flea-free whether you combine conventional medicine with natural remedies or use natural remedies exclusively. Knowing better helps you act better. Together, we can achieve more!
