Earth Clinic Mobile: Home Remedies for People and Pets

Apple Cider Vinegar for Fleas

5 star (86)		88%
3 star (3)		3%
1 star (8)		8%
(1)		1%

Daisy (Los Angeles Ca) on 02/23/2014:
5 out of 5 stars

I had just about had it with my dog trixies scratching. I felt so bad for her, she would scratch and bite her vagina. Her hair was shedding like crazy, creating black marks and her belly was red and dry. I thought maybe it was the detergent, smog, house cleaners, or her love of swimming. I've never seen a flea on her so I never suspected it to be fleas.

Yesterday I poured half ACV and half water into a spray bottle and sprayed her down. Half an hour later I bathed her with Dr bronners baby shampoo. It worked!!! Thank god for earth clinic!

Lynnie (Columbus, Ohio, Usa) on 10/06/2013:
5 out of 5 stars

Went online this morning to research a "natural" remedy to rid my Miniature Schnauzer of a few fleas. She currently is on flea medication from the vet, but it just wasn't working, also was very pricey. Found this wonderful site & used the 50/50 Apple Cider Vinegar in a spray bottle. As soon as I sprayed her, the fleas came to the surface of her fur and died. She was so relieved, she laid down for a nap. So nice to have my baby dog not scratching & chewing herself raw. Will also start adding to her water. Thank you so much!

Karen (Fl) on 08/23/2013:
5 out of 5 stars

The apple cider vinegar that is being discussed here is NOT the cheap stuff you get at the grocery. They are talking about raw/unpasturized vinegar. I learned this the hard way. When I changed to the "good" stuff, the fleas did go away, just as advertised. Please check into this and try again. It *does* work!

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June (Winfield, Kansas) on 07/18/2013:
5 out of 5 stars

I never bathe mine in ACV. If they are infested I guess you should bathe them to get the fleas off, probably with soap so it kills the fleas, but you can also just put a few drops of ACV on their fur and rub it in. Also put a few drops in their food every day. You will see the number of fleas decrease within a day or two. All my cats are outside and none of them have fleas. I have been using ACV for several years now. I put a few drops of ACV (organic with the mother) in their food every day. It works like a charm.

There is also this stuff called bug arrest you can buy online. It's non-toxic and contains no pesticides. It has enzymes in it that eats the exoskeletons off bugs. It will get rid of mange, scabies, earmites and all other bugs.

Good luck.

Mrsg (Jupiter, FL, USA) on 06/13/2013:
5 out of 5 stars

I have a 10 month old Maltese. I add ACV to my dog's food and water, also use it as a rinse after shampoo and I think I helps keep fleas and ticks away.

Alicia (Mart, Tx) on 05/28/2013:
1 out of 5 stars

I must be doing something wrong. I have 7 dogs and 2 cats. I have been trying ACV to get rid of their fleas and its just not working. I have bathed them all with dawn and then used the ACV / water mix. The next day they are covered with fleas again. What am I doing wrong?

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Sandee (Huntington Beach, Ca) on 08/19/2012:
5 out of 5 stars

(YEA) My Husband & I came home from a two week vacation to a unhappy flea infested cat and house... Yikes... We had our two Scotty's with us and they showed no signs of fleas till our return... It was misserable for all of us, we were ready to go to a hotel... We took both dogs and our cat to the groomer to get defleaed (with Frontline) while our home was being sprayed... It did not solve either problem... Still we had fleas... For three weeks we treated our dogs & cat with flea shampoo and pest control, still fleas... By now our dogs have soars on them one was getting an ear infection... Yikes... I took the advise of ACV put it full strength into a spary bottle sparyed everything in the house (including pets with 1/2 Water 1/2 ACV solution) no more fleas! I will continue with this natural remedy from here on... Yeaaaaaaaaa! :)

Shawna (Bakersfield, Ca) on 01/07/2012:
5 out of 5 stars

I started washing my dog with Lavender baby shampoo and rinsing her in diluted ACV 3 days ago and she has completely stopped scratching. Her fleas were so bad she has open sores all over from scratching. I put a little bit of it in her drinking water but know my kitten won't drink it so today I started misting them both with the diluted ACV. It cured the problem quickly so hopefully it will keep them away as we haven't noticed any around the house yet. Good luck to everyone searching for solutions, it's nice to see so many people who want to use only natural products!

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Marilyn B (Vancouver, Bc) on 11/24/2011:
5 out of 5 stars

Hello to ALL: Regarding the apple cider vinegar..... Am a skeptic to start with... Nothing ventured/nothing gained.... My wee 3 lb 9 yr old chihuahua, had his first flea EVER!!! Did the dawn dish detergentX2, washed all the bedding and now the apple cider bit..... Well, after bathing him, and rinsing him with water in the kitchen sink, I finished with the appe cider... 2 tsp to 1 pint of warm water, in a spray bottle... His fir looked oh so funny, but AIR DRY ONLY, so that the apple cider seeps into the pores... No harsh chemicals used... I spray him also every time he comes in from the outside.... Also wash all his bedding, and spray 50/50 solution around the living areas..... 50 apple cider and 50 water in a spray bottle. I did this every 12 hours for 2 days!!! ... I also put apple cider in his drinking water, and guess what....... He did NOT even detect any difference!!!

For the drinking water, I used 2 tsp to a pint. Keep it in the fridge... I also find he is drinking way more!! Than without the apple cider and finally...... I find the appe cider is GREAT for his bowels... Take for instance, in the mornings at 7AM, he always did the pee pees... NOW... He does the peepees and the bowels at the same time.... Before he did the bowels at 11AM... The apple cider is definitely a natural laxative...... So bathe your pet regularly X1 weekly, use the rinse with apple cider, a everynd the drinking water also with the apple cider, and spray him 2-3 X daily... He is a happy little man, coming 10 yrs in Feb. And he thinks that I am GREAT! .....

An inexpensive way to control the fleas without a vet trip..... Ps by spraying him X2 daily, apparently, the fleas DONOT like the taste of the apple cider on the outside skin OR coming through his pours on the inside, by way of his drinking it.... Just make sure, you spray the carpets, and mop the hardwood flooring every day... When using the vacuum, try to seperately bag the used bag so that any fleas donot jump out... OR seperately bag the used bag and put it in the freezer, which will kill the fleas until you use the bag again. Donot use the vacuum bag more than twice.... Hope this info helps!

Tiffany (Los Angeles, California) on 08/25/2011:
5 out of 5 stars

I have a small dog who was miserable with fleas I bathed him with dawn dish soap and rinsed him with a 50/50 mix of Apple Cider Vinegar and water after, he was dry I massaged organic olive oil in his skin which was red and inflamed. He finally stop scratching! And the fleas are gone for now I'm sure I will have to repeat this process until all the fleas are gone.

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