How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar for Fleas in Pets

Apple Cider Vinegar as a flea remedy:

My cats were keen to the ACV added to their water to prevent fleas, and they would steal water from their loving humans to avoid it. A little over a week ago, I started adding a few drops of ACV to their nightly soft food. The food is pungent enough to cover up any hint of the ACV odor. They no longer scratch themselves to the point of scabbing up and I can't find any fleas on either cat. As always, ACV is amazing!

So, I use an organic shampoo product with tea tree oil. I then used the Apple cider vinegar as a rinse, and left it on for 15 minutes. Then gently rinsed it off. My Shih Tzu has terrible skin allergies and is VERY allergic to fleas. This really really works thank you to everyone!

I read on this site about using apple cider vinegar diluted for fleas on my dog. He was really really bad! He was constantly itching and biting at them but I didnt see any fleas at first and he went 2-3 weeks with scratching and biting at himself. I felt so bad for him I called the vet and they told me it was probably dry skin, so they said to rub in vegetable oil into his skin. So I tried it and while I was doing that I finally noticed the fleas. He has really thick hair so when I checked the first time they might not have been very bad, well today I noticed them and they were horrible. He has big spots of hair missing and skin broke open. It was kind of late and so I needed something from home I could use until going to the store so I looked up home remedies for fleas and found this site....I applied the ACV and water 50/50 about 30 minutes ago and I have already noticed a difference in him!!!! I have never been happier in my life! He can finally have relief from it. Thank you soooo much...Rusty thanks you all on here!

Fortunately, apple cider vinegar is full of probiotic enzymes!

From N. J. RE: FLEAS.... I used Dawn Dish Liquid on my cat and it kills the fleas alminsed him off ost immediately, now I have a pretty bad infestation so I just relather up the cat left him in the bathroom for 15 minutes and rinsed the soap off and rinsed him off again with ACV... Wallah!!! NO FLEAS on the cat... Now just waiting on the flea bombs to do their job.

You didn't mention spraying your pets. You must spray them if you want results. Also, you said "vinegar" but it needs to be "Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar" to spray on your pets. The same thing in their water. And Vaccum!

ACV- is what I use...I wouldn't be writting if I didn't see results for myself...I have been putting a TBSP. daily in dogs food and also spraying him with water/ACV mix every other day....I must say that it is working great...My dog Zeek (Sharpei mix) was tearing his legs and back side by his tail up!!!! His Vet had me try the prescription diet to rule out food allergies...it wasn't working...so before I spent more $$$$ on allergy tests I researched and came across the uses of ACV for possible flea allergy etc...I prayed that this would help...guess my prayers are being answered...he no longer has sores on his legs and back side by his tail....I'm so happy and feel so great that he is no longer mutalating himself...he has an occasional itch or scratch here and there...but nothing compared to before I started using ACV...I also give him a TBSP. or two of plain yogurt or cottage cheese ever so often in his food...Tuna in oil and sardines...I do bathe him with Medicated shampoo but it was the ACV that I truly feel has healed his sores and has prevented him from biting and scratching himself as before...I hope it continues to work and for others as well!!!

what we do to bath a cat it fill the yub with the soapy water. Put cat in cover with laundry basket with holes in it. then just drain the water and spray the cat threw the holes and then let them go. protects your hands and arms from there claws.

Will the acv work in the house? I have tried everything possible. Fleas are taking over our house!!!!!

To get rid of fleas in the house you can put a bowl of soapy water (ajax soap works well) under a night light or smaller lamp. The fleas are attracted to the light and will fall in the water and die. It worked for my family when I was young and our cat was infested with fleas. Set up more than one of these traps and I'm sure it will work. Good Luck, Lori.

I'm thankful to have found all this info regarding ACV to help my poor pup who is itchy and miserable from flea allergies. Starting him and his sis on ACV right away.

Meanwhile, thought I'd share how I got rid of the fleas themselves: SALT. It's true. I bought regular old table salt in the cardboard tube containers at the grocery store. I'd read about putting it thru a processor to get the grains really fine but didn't do this, didn't need to do it.

Sprinkled salt in the carpet, on the furniture, in the doggie beds. Did NOT vaccuum before I did this.

Salt killed the fleas in the house. When the new fleas popped up in a couple of weeks from the eggs, not so many and I sprinkled fresh salt. Gone.

Also treated the yard, but here I was not successful until I used one of the bottle insecticides from Home Depot (spray using garden hose). Natural remedies failed in the yard.

Salt works in the house. Works GREAT. And, no fear about the pups - if they lick the salt, it's safe.

I did not salt the dogs, tho. I did wonder about doing it, and remembered that drink called a "Salty Dog. " LOL

Salt in the house and the hose spray outside, and we are flea free.

Now, ACV will hopefully clear up the flea allergies that remain ....

Thanks again to everyone and God bless!!!

In case no one answers, I know of one successful method: put out some white, and only white, flat dishes on your floor at night in areas you would like. For the average living room, 3 to 5 would be good. You want them small'ish and not too deep. To the dish add water & dish soap. If you can, have some floor lamps near the water dishes. The warmth will help attract the fleas, where they jump in and are trapped by the soap. I used it in a small room so only had 2 dishes out and 1 lamp, left out overnight and there were fleas in those dishes in the morning. Also, Diamotaceous Earth is great at killing fleas! The thing is, it kills them right away on conract (by microscopically cutting them up), but they are still embedded in your pet. A good flea comb afterwards and my scamps are both good to go. Best of luck in being flea-free!!

Thanks .I will try I haven't heard of brewers yeast for fleas. How much would you give to a small poodle?

Oh yes spray every day for a week, then every second day. I will have to have a look what a flea looks like. Haven't seen one in years.

I'm having the same problem. Way too much time taking fleas off my dog and she's allergic to fleas. One flea drives her into a itching rage.

Are you using organic ACV or regular? If you are using anything but organic, that may be your issue.

Theresa, Frontline and other topicals aren't working this year at all. Do you know of other meds that are working?

Please be careful with rosemary and dogs. Some dogs react badly and have seizures from ingesting rosemary (if you spray your dog with this and he licks it).

Do not use pennyroyal essential oil on any animal. It is very toxic and can cause death.

Hi, what is the dilution with water ratio for ACV added to my dog's water bowl? And does the supermarket brands ACV work?

You can give your dog 1 claritin for allergies and that will help the itching. My vet told me the other day and it is working. Good luck

I have heard Live Nematodes (microbial worms) that are sprayed through a garden sprayer all over your yard and garden will kill any fleas and other bad insects. So many people are using them now to combat the fleas in their yards and gardens, I am getting ready to order for my yard. You can purchase them online and at Amazon. I think they come in the million amounts and I am needing about 10 million which is only about $10-$12 dollars. I will keep my fingers crossed!

"... sprinkled salt on my carpets left for 24 hrs then hovered which also seems to work."

Please tell us (at least me) what "hovered" means. Thanks!

Posted by Theresa

×

Theresa

The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.

About Theresa

Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.

Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.

Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and  fueled  her quest for the knowledge held in lore,  and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.

-----------------------------

How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation

If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.  

http://www.piperslegacy.org/

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(Mpls., Mn) on 10/23/2015

Not the OP, but 'hovered' = Hoover Vacuum - so the OP treated with the salt and let it work for 24 hours before vacuuming the salt and dead fleas out of the carpet.

I think they meant hoovered. Hoovered as in Hoover vacuum cleaners. English way of saying vacuumed.

Hello I was wondering what kind of salt was used to sprinkle on the ground. Is it sea salt or table salt.

Dear Kandace,

For your dogs ears:

I would treat the ears once or twice a day for a week or ten days. Perhaps once a week for prevention after initial treatment.

Apple Cider Vinegar should be diluted to 50% or less to use in the ears. Full strength will burn and be uncomfortable.

I was wondering, we have no more pets but still have fleas the pets have been gone for weeks now and we have flea treated the whole house sprayed the bedding and washed everything in the house. But we are still finding them and they are getting bad again and my kids are allergic to them and I don't know what to use to get rid of the fleas or to help my kids not itch. I heard that apple cider vinegar works on the bites and stops the itching. We can't leave the house for days or hours will the Apple Cider Vinegar work if sprayed on my floors and things like that.

Sprinkle salt all over the carpet and bedding, all over the house and then vacuum it up they die from dehydration

If fleas do no have a host they die within a few days, Take a vacation for while and when you get back they should be dead.

i've been reading about the acv remedy for fleas but i'm wondering if anyone can tell me if the fleas can make my cat want to hide all the time and act scared? i'm gonna try the acv in hopes that it will help him but is it best to spray it on, put in his water or put in his food. can anyone help, i'm desperate.

I am trying the Apple Cider Vinegar for bathing the dogs. But this will do no good unless I can get the infestation under control in their dog houses. I would like to be able to sprinkle or spray something in the houses that won't hurt the dog to breathe. I use fresh straw also for bedding. Does anyone have any suggestions for me?

Thanks, Kathy

I think dish-soap kills fleas on contact - it's good to bath the animal in that, but as far as ACV, oils and whatever, they are only deterents. They will not kill the fleas, but are excellent as a preventative measure. You need to get rid of the fleas initially and I believe that the ACV and using diluted essential oils will help prevent a re-infestation. I am using diluted eucalyptus oil on all of our bedding, in closets, on clothes and also misting it on our skin and hair to prevent flea bites. I also mist it on the cat to prevent more fleas on him. If you really want to get rid of the fleas, use some spray or powder on carpets and furniture (there are all natural ones at pet stores) and also treat your pet with a flea/tick product. It is not all natural, but it will take at least a few months to rid the house of fleas because of their life cycle. If you don't do something to kill them initially, there will be re-infestation problems

okay, so im trying the ACV thing right now. my 2 cats and dog wouldnt drink their water with it in it, so i mixed it in yogurt, and they ate it. the 2 cats vomited the ACV/yogurt up though...i sprayed them all down with the ACV && water mix too.

i just did the baking soda/salt mixture all over my carpet. hope this works.

We recently came back from my brother & sister-in-laws house where we had visited & stupidly took our dog. We brought back unknowingly a whole army of fleas. Our dog, Annie is a Black Lab with webbed feet and a huge amount of allergies. She has horrible abscesses inbetween her toes and on her body now because of the fleas. All of us in the house are allergic to the bites & I am getting open sores. We put Genetian Violet extract on the abscesses after an epsom salt bath. It made her quit chewing on her feet. :)

Will the acidity of the ACV damage her skin? She already stinks because of the skin allergies & what we think is skin fungus. We have tried EVERYTHING for her including changing her diet to antifungal shampoos & sprays, PLEASE HELP!!! We are at a loss for what to try next. Also... We have one room (with the kitty litter box & computer) that seems to be overly infested (more-so than anywhere else) and we cant figure out why & what to do about it. Does the ACV actually kill fleas on the carpet, or just deter them??

We used ACV on our kittens in the barn, they are almost 2 weeks and on the mother, it got rid of the fleas and didn't hurt the kittens.

My 5 month old kitten unfortunately has fleas and so he is constantly scratching and biting. I read on another website (written by a vet) about using ACV. You use 1/2 water & 1/2 ACV or just regular vinegar in a spray bottle. While you spray it on you also rub it into their skin. Apparently the fleas don't like the smell or the taste of it and won't stay on the cat.The article also said that cats don't like the smell of vinegar. It seems to be working. My kitten isn't scratching as much (hardly at all), but boy is he licking at the vinegar and water combination. The article also said that the vinegar and water combo will help heal the sores that were created from the scratching and biting. I just thought I would pass this on.

I have a one and a half year old pekignese/pomeranian mix who in the last couple of months has shown symptoms of flea allergies, constant licking biting and scratching of her hind legs and rear end as well as her feet. We would find maybe 3-4 fleas on her a week. Which on a dog without allergy probably would not cause this kind of reaction. I wanted to only use natural treatments to try to cure this problem so I looked online and found alot of information. To treat my yard I used diacomateous earth, which is a fossil that kills bugs by injesting/breathing these sharp peices of fossil. Inside my house I did a salt and borax detergent on the floors and furniture. I did this every two weeks attempting to rid my house of any fleas. My dog still had hot spots, and was losing hair and getting scabs from her itching. I also tried lavender essential oil on her collar, and in the bath, and I used Dawn dishwashing detergent to try and drown any fleas that may be on her. This was all in addition to the advantix monthly treatment. These monthly treatments kill the flea when they bite the treated animal, the problem was keeping the fleas from even getting on her. One bite meant misery for my sweet pup. My vet told me to try benadryl and I did that to try to prevent her from itching, while I looked for another remedy. I came upon this site and started using it in her water just a small drop in her water once a day. Then last weekend I tried the half water half ACV rinse after her bath and let her air dry. I have seen MAJOR improvement this week, and have cancelled my appointment with a specialist to find a better way to treat my dog. I am a beleiver now, and will continue using this method as it really has proven itself to me. It is peak flea season here in Dallas and I am amazed at these results, and have even shared them with an online dog allergy group that I belong to. I am so thankful that I dont have to medicate my dog, or use unatural treatments. Thank you so much to this site and everyone who shared their success and failures, My little Nilly thanks you also!

I got my german shepard from wretched people, they had taken him off his mother at 3 weeks old, the feeding and watering was horrific. I immediately began him on mothers milk for 4 weeks.

Later when he was 4 months old, i bathed him and treated him with flea treatment. IMMEDIATELY he broke out in a terrible rash with lesions and such. The odor made me physically sick. My dog is allergic to flea treatments, AND fleas. It was so bad, that i considered putting him down, it broke my heart to see him suffer so much. what kind of life is that? always constantly itching and bleeding. I found this site, i bathed him in acv and sprayed him down three times a day. all gone. now he is 9 months old. my son flea treated him for me while i was out of town. BAM, horrible, and i do mean horrible rash blood red, lesions, sores, constant itching and crying. I immediately sprayed him down with the acv solution and he fell asleep in about ten minutes, relief from the itching. I began just two days ago adding it to his water, and I can not believe the difference. A dog that is allergic to the chemicals in monthly flea treatments AND allergic to FLEA's has a miserable life. Thankfully due to the acv my dog has a chance at a good itch free life. I cannot thank you enough. It made me cry to see him in such torment. thank you to everyone who shares their stories, it saves lives and the quality of those lives.

WARNING!

Cedar chips are not a good idea to use for pet bedding as the cedar secretes an oil that can cause blindness in animals.

I just tried the ACV on my Maltese, she's been miserable every Aug-Oct for years. Now she's resting quietly, within minutes. Thank-you so much! Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you! We've tried allergy shots, bathing, haircuts (she's practically bald now) benedryl, baby oil, seems like more things too, nonstop itching 24-7. Now she's happy again. Thanks so much!

Have you tried Brewers Yeast? It's supposed to keep fleas off pets. I've been giving it to my two dogs for years now and they've never had fleas.

Don't use DE on anything you plan to vacuum. It is highly abrasive and my Vac motor was shot after a month.

DE is good but best used outside (in dry weather) or in barns, stall, on farm animals, etc. I used it inside my fabric furniture never to escape, as well as in cracks where I would not vacuum. Slow but does work.

We are using Cedarcide right now; only a trial size, but one shot dropped a big fly in mid flight. dropped like a rock. I have high hopes for them to help with the fleas. The eggs seem to have tapered off and I also use EVO Apple Cider Vinegar, along with cheap white vinegar, on fabric but not wood.

Is it safe to use the soap flea traps with my dog around? Will she naturally not want to drink the soapy water?

Posted by Theresa

×

Theresa

The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.

About Theresa

Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.

Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.

Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and  fueled  her quest for the knowledge held in lore,  and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.

-----------------------------

How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation

If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.  

http://www.piperslegacy.org/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-Bobo-home/1409993732632080?sk=timeline&ref=page_internal

http://ted.earthclinic.com

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(Mpls., Mn) on 11/17/2017

Hey Amy,

I have these around my house and my dogs sometimes taste the water but that's about it, they don't drink from them. Please make sure your pet has access to fresh water should you use this type of trap.

My 5 month old kitten unfortunately has fleas and so he is constantly scratching and biting. I read on another website (written by a vet) about using ACV. You use 1/2 water & 1/2 ACV or just regular vinegar in a spray bottle. While you spray it on you also rub it into their skin. Apparently the fleas don't like the smell or the taste of it and won't stay on the cat.The article also said that cats don't like the smell of vinegar. It seems to be working. My kitten isn't scratching as much (hardly at all), but boy is he licking at the vinegar and water combination. The article also said that the vinegar and water combo will help heal the sores that were created from the scratching and biting. I just thought I would pass this on.

FLEAS/TICKS and ACV: Full Strength ACV on dog that was scratching constantly. His hair under his tail and on his abdomen had a red tint to it (he is white) and I am not sure it wasn't some kind of mange problem too since it had a terrible odor which wasn't helped by bathing. After spraying him down with full strength ACV the odor dissipated and his scratching has stopped. I sprayed him for 3 consecutive days at first but skip a day or two now. Thank you for saving me a vet bill...

After reading all the feedback about Apple Cider Vinegar, I was eager to try it. I originally researched it because of the horrid flea infestation on my dogs. I have two Great Danes, one of whom recently experienced a bad reaction to the Frontline we had been using (weird!) for years.

So, I bathed them in baby shampoo and then sprayed some Apple Cider Vinegar on them both. Poof! Within two weeks of spraying every other day and adding a tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar to each gallon of their water, they practically live outside (Johns Island is notorious for fleas) and not a single flea. I'm not sure about ticks, though, because they rarely get them in the first place.

So, meanwhile, my son is getting eaten alive in our house. The fleas didn't touch the cat (I used the same process on the cat), my husband or myself but apparently my son was delicious. We tried gentle bug-repellent, natural bug-repellents, nothing worked to keep them off. I bombed the house, but then the eggs hatched and we went 'round and 'round again. To top it off, he developed an allergy to flea bites so now instead of just itchy little bites, each bite turns into about a dollar-bill-sized rash.

So, I began to give him a light tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar per day mixed in with 8 oz. of water. Not three times like you'd do for weight-loss, but like you would do for the dogs or the cat and lo and behold, after another week of benedryl and calamine lotion, he stopped getting bitten. It took almost three weeks to really work for my son, though, so be patient if you want to try this. I also talked to my doctor and he says it's alright (for my son, not medical advice!) just as long as he kept drinking lots of water and kept up his vitamins because, apparently, a high dosage of vinegar can sometimes deplete you of necessary vitamins and minerals as well as speed dehydration, not much but enough to notice.

I kept this up until I didn't spot a single flea for about a month, then took my son off the vinegar (about two and a half months).

Now, I don't know if this was a side effect of the vinegar or just getting rid of the stress of the flea bites, but my son stopped wetting the bed about halfway through the vinegar "treatment". The only reason I mention it is because someone else posted on here that her grandfather? (sorry, not sure) gave her a spoonful of vinegar and honey in water to help her to stop wetting the bed. But, like I said, it could have been either and most likely taking away the rash-stress was the determining factor.

I just started reading the comments on how Apple Cider Vinegar can help you shed those few extra unwanted pounds, so I'm trying it. I'll try to keep you guys updated, I'm pretty excited about it!

My little Venus has been going nuts with itching and biting..had 2 spots size of toonies on her rump..one with a scab, one with hair off and bald. She is on a regime from vet for fleas etc. In desperation, one hot day I sprayed apple cider vinegar and water {half and half}all over her skin and especially on those 2 spots. She stopped scratching for about an hour and a half. So we now put 5 ml/ 1 tsp. mixed with a tsp/ water in a 5 ml. syringe and shoot it into her mouth once a day. She wouldn't eat if we put it in food or drinking water. VOILA!!! NO MORE ITCHING AND BITING

hi Linda

I read online that Apple Cider Vinegar is used for flea control and I was just wondering what is the correct dosage for our shihtzu?

I am in Tx & have a Pomeranian who is also scratching & losing hair. It drives here CRAZY. We give them liquid drops for heartworm. It also does fleas & ticks. When I check her she only has 1 or 2 fleas but she is still scratching & losing hair. I'm going to try what you said.

If your dog doesnt really have a lot of fleas and is still so bad that there losing fur/getting hot spots it may not JUST be a flea allergy your dog can be allergic to pretty much all the things we can be allergic to my Lab mix is like that he has seasonal allergies his brother and his mother dont its rather difficult so u might wanna try changing food could be allergic to wheat or corn.

Be careful giving alot of baths the vinegar wash that could really dry out their skin and that could itch even more hope this helps

Labs are indigenous to Norway and are best on a Fish based diet. Definitely get him off the grains. Will make a huge inprovement

This is not true. Garlic was found toxic to dogs who were given 270 fresh cloves a day. Most dogs wouldn't even get this amount in an entire year, forget about a day.

I got my german shepard from wretched people, they had taken him off his mother at 3 weeks old, the feeding and watering was horrific. I immediately began him on mothers milk for 4 weeks.

Later when he was 4 months old, i bathed him and treated him with flea treatment. IMMEDIATELY he broke out in a terrible rash with lesions and such. The odor made me physically sick. My dog is allergic to flea treatments, AND fleas. It was so bad, that i considered putting him down, it broke my heart to see him suffer so much. what kind of life is that? always constantly itching and bleeding. I found this site, i bathed him in acv and sprayed him down three times a day. all gone. now he is 9 months old. my son flea treated him for me while i was out of town. BAM, horrible, and i do mean horrible rash blood red, lesions, sores, constant itching and crying. I immediately sprayed him down with the acv solution and he fell asleep in about ten minutes, relief from the itching. I began just two days ago adding it to his water, and I can not believe the difference. A dog that is allergic to the chemicals in monthly flea treatments AND allergic to FLEA's has a miserable life. Thankfully due to the acv my dog has a chance at a good itch free life. I cannot thank you enough. It made me cry to see him in such torment. thank you to everyone who shares their stories, it saves lives and the quality of those lives.

What is the ACV solution you use to spray your dog with? (What is the water/ACV ratio?) Also, how much ACV should we put in their water bowl? Thanks!

Spray your dog with pure ACV - no diluting required. Works the same way for you - except instead of spraying it on, I wet a wash cloth in vinegar and make like I'm taking a bath. After letting it dry and getting dressed, I head for the fields or woods with no fear of ticks, chiggers, or sand flies.

Does this only work at night or also in darkened rooms during the day?