The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Borax, Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Millie ([email protected], Missouri) on 10/27/2010
★★★★★
My son has a black lab and she got case of fleas. He wasn't sure it was fleas because he treats her monthly with frontline. She was in the process of developing mange, he had her to the vet a couple of times but he hasn't go a lot of money, he lives on disability, so I went on line and found your idea of borax and peroxide. He tried it and she is as good as new. We thank you so much we can't tell you how much. God bless you and your work. He also put cider vinegar on her spots as you recomended.
Salt
Posted by Haneen (Eygpt, Alex) on 06/27/2018
Please what is the amount of salt you add to hot water and, you leave the whole mixture without drying it out?
Amethyst
Posted by TERRY (ON) on 07/07/2023
You can buy something called lufenuron. This is the active ingredient in flea medication without the poison fillers. I get it from owndoc dot com. It's about 35 bucks canadian. It's a small bag of white powder. Put it in your pets food. They don't even notice it. About a teaspoon treats all my 5 cats when they eat. Same with the dog. That little bag does me for two years. One treatment or two tops. You won't get fleas in your house either. I've been using it for years.
Diatomaceous Earth
Posted by Cleoppa (Cleburne, Tx) on 08/28/2010
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
I've long been a fan of DE. I know it can do wonders, but it has been less than helpful with my recent problems. In trying to discourage fleas and roaches when I was on vacation, I spread it on my carpet. Not only did it not seem to discourage the bugs, but my vacuum cleaner started smoking when I vacuumed it up. There was still dust floating around for days (which really isn't healthful to breathe). I will definitely never try that one again!
Orange Rind
Posted by Rosie (New York, New York) on 03/01/2010
★★★★★
Another natural remedy for fleas is orange rind. Very good for kittens and for your home. I don't know if it works on dogs. Orange rind contains natural chemicals (pyritherins I think) that kill insects. It must be fresh. Use an orange zester - the large or small gauge. Both will express the orange oil out of the skin. Then just move fresh zest over your cat's fur and watch the fleas fall dead. You do not have to rub it in- gentle moving it around in the vicinity of the cat works well. Cats really don't like the orange but it works so well and harms nothing. I zest oranges before making juice and then toss the zest on carpets, let it set about 10 minutes and then vacuum it up. For furniture I place muslin or a sheet on furniture to protect it. Flea free.
I am going to give the amethyst remedy a try too.
Brewers Yeast, Garlic
Posted by Dwszoo (Midway, Tenn) on 09/28/2011
Just a bit of warning about using garlic on dogs and cats.... They have found that onions are toxic to animals and galic is in the onion family so be very cautious of the amounts you give as you could be harming you dog and I would never give it to a cat.... Just fyi
Cedarwood Oil
Posted by Ray (Wilmington, Nc) on 06/11/2010
How did you use the cedarwood oil? Did you mix it with anything?
Cedarwood Oil
Posted by Brenda (Fayetteville, North Carolina) on 06/10/2012
Could you please give me the name of that special blend of the Cedarwood oil and where I can buy it? Thank you very much.
Brewer's Yeast
Posted by Izzy3 (Sebastian, Florida) on 10/16/2009
★★★★★
Thank You so much for having this site !! I am having success in only less than a full day using Brewers Yeast against these invisible biting bugs , which I believe to be Sticktight Fleas, I have suffered with them for a year now. I am so thankful to be able to pass along what I consider VERY valuble information. I always knew somehow , the remedy would be something simple and common, Brewers Yeast has been used for decades ( maybe longer ) on all kinds of animals for fleas and moskitoes bothering people. I felt results within 15 minutes of taking it, you will feel them getting active in your flesh!! I slept last night , straight through for the first time in at least 8 months. Don't give up the Borax & DE in carpets though, it is also valuble in this battle, I will continue using 20 MT Borax in my laundry for some time. My prayers are with you all.
Dish Soap and Lamp Method
Posted by Joni (Lorimor, Ia) on 10/15/2009
★★★★★
I tried the candle in a pan of soapy water to kill fleas and It really works!!! Every night I catch about 20 of the little devils. I am going to attempt to bath my cats with ACV. This should be interesting!! Thanks for the suggestions.
Garlic
Posted by Db (San Francisco, Ca) on 10/06/2009
Hi, I came across your site while searching for safe & natural flea bath options for our cats. I noticed your garlic food supplement suggestion and thought it would be good to pass this info along to you and your readers:
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/garlic.html
The suggestion of garlic on the dog's food jumped out at me because our boy cat loves to nibble on house plants and we've had to spend some time learning about what plants are toxic to cats; Bulbs and many other plant parts from members of the Lily family (of which garlic is a member) are especially bad for cats. -I did not know that garlic was also toxic to dogs but apparently it is as well (I do know that cats don't have some of the toxin processing apparatus that other mammals have, so they tend to have the broadest risk of plant poisoning.)
Thanks!
Freezing the Bedding
Posted by Jiminiecricket (Houghton Lake, Mi) on 09/29/2009
Has anyone heard of freezing the bedding of cat (or dog) and other small items your pet uses to kill fleas? I read this somewhere online.
Freezing the Bedding
Posted by Karen (Russiaville, Indiana) on 05/30/2013
★☆☆☆☆
Freezing things only puts them in a dormant state. Sometimes putting in dryer for 30 minutes will kill a light case; like trying to kill lice.
Dish Soap
Posted by Marilyn (Oswego, IL) on 09/16/2009
★★★★★
___ ___dish washing liquid will rid your pet of fleas. There are even some vets who recommend this treatment. Just dont get into eyes. It really works.
Dish Soap
Posted by Sparkkel (Alabaster, Alabama) on 03/27/2013
★★★★★
Baby shampoo. I have used it for years on rescues dog or cats. I bath them in it. It kills the fleas and is gentle on their eyes.
Diatomaceous Earth
Posted by Doglover-gsd (Morganton, Nc Burke) on 08/17/2009
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
diatomaceous earth - is a poisonous vapor producing substance.
Dish Soap
Posted by Stacy (The Woodlands, Texas) on 05/15/2009
★★★★★
We just bathed our 5.5m old puppy with a mixture of Dawn, Joy Lemon and three drops of lemon essential oil. I mixed about 1.5 tablespoons but prob only used a couple of teaspoons. The fleas were jumping off of him onto my dress as I bathed him. We dried him on a white towel that became full of dead fleas. We scanned him and all but one of the fleas we found were dead on his body. He is a very tiny chihuahua, weiner, schnauzer mix and prob doesnt even weigh 5 lbs. I doubt it took longer than 5 minutes to totally bathe him.
Brewer's Yeast
Posted by London (Sandusky, Ohio) on 09/02/2009
Hey, get the big jar, and sprinkle and coat it on their dry food like cinnamon toast. Mix it well, make sure all the dry food is covered. IT WORKS!!! All summer long, NO fleas, amazing. The only thing that works honestly.
Brewer's Yeast
Posted by Fran Lord (Union Point, Ga.) on 06/03/2009
Having problems with fleas on our dog. The vet said the dog was alergic to fleas. The liquid my daughter puts on his neck makes the dog sleepy. I am going to try apple cider vinegar and brewer`s yeast but what is ACV you talk about. Fran Lord
EC: ACV is short for Apple Cider Vinegar.
Dish Soap
Posted by Kim (Mountain View, Ar) on 07/23/2012
That's not true that essential oils are bad for cats, it's a scare tactic. I was advised by my holistic vet that lavender oil, peppermint oil and cederwood oil were all good for repelling fleas on dogs and cat, I used these oils on my dogs and cats and they worked well. For cats I mix 1 drop of oil to 3 cups of water before applying to cats fur. With dogs I use a much stronger mixture. 10 drops of essential oil to 2 cups of water. I also recommend using coconut oil {food grade} to kill and repel fleas off cats and dogs. The fleas hate coconut oil but the cats and dogs find it very soothing and healing.
Essential Oils
Posted by Ayga (Lodi, Ca) on 12/20/2012
★★★★★
This is a highly effective recipe for essential oil healing. Equal parts Frankincense, Lavendar (Antiseptic), Tea Tree (Germacide & heals skin disorders), Mandarin (Repellant), Patchouli, Rosewood (Healing). To this add 10X Grapeseed as the carrier oil. Due to the minute molecular structure grapeseed oil pulls the EOs into the skin to promote healing, stop itching immediately, restore healthy skin and coat. I Dilute with water and shake vigorously as I spray it into the coat. Massage it into the skin and the dog will get instant relief. I do not recommend for cats only because I have no experience with cats.
Garlic
Posted by Janice (Bodmin, Cornwall, UK) on 11/30/2008
★★★★★
my gran used to breed dogs for crufts many years ago, she told me she never brought flea or worm products but used cloves of garlic chopped up and put with the dog food once a month,i was dubious about this old wives tale, but there is always an element of truth in the old tales, ive tried garlic on my four dogs, ages ranging fom 16 down to 5 months, they are all healthy, havent seen no fleas or worms, im a believer.
Garlic
Posted by Nena (Johnson City, TN) on 11/25/2008
★★★★★
i have use garlic on my dog for years and they have no fleas and very heathly.and havent had to treat my home for fleas in years and i bath them in tea tree shampoo that adds to help flealess in tenn....just a speakle of garlic powder on their food each day
Rubbing Alcohol for Flea Infestations
Posted by Michelle (Milford, OH) on 03/24/2009
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
A word of Warning: Rubbing Alcohol can discolor certain wood stains and some paint. We used it and it left streaks on our woodstained doors and walls. Test it out on a small area before you spray the whole floor!
Cedarwood Oil
Posted by Maxine (Havana, Arkansas, USA) on 11/13/2008
★★★★★
Not allowed to mention brand names. Do a search for cedarwood oil, there is a company in Texas and that is all they sell is Texas cedarwood oil. This stuff is a God send. It even kills bedbugs, headlice, fleas, ticks on contact. I have used many natural products for fleas , this is safe for even the youngest or pregnant animals. This stuff is only toxic to pests. Completly safe for humans. It smells good too. Got tired of toxic stuff on my 4 yorkies. It is all natural. One of there products is for soldiers in iraq , kills sand fleas. Also bugs can not get immune to this, unlike chemical products, bugs develope defences to. This is the only product I use for pests. I am not afilliated with this company in any way.
Cedarwood Oil
Posted by T=Bone (San Fran, CA USA) on 07/24/2009
The above-mentioned product, food grade aromatic Red Cedar Oil is combined with melted Quartz Rock, and comes properly and proportionally pre-mixed and needs no dilution, additions, or calculations. The company also sells spray bottles and fogger machines (or look for 2nd hand on online auction sites or local garden stores) for treatment of large indoor areas (this product apparently not good for plants or gardens). They provide suggestions as to how much is needed for covering the square-footage you wish to eradicate of fleas - I usually get a little more to have on hand for incoming fleas from the outdoors or other people's pets as well as to use as mosquito repellent for myself. It is anti-bacterial and non-toxic to humans and pets of all ages. I find the smell is great BUT pretty pungent, so your human and non-human cohabitants may not wish to be present during application or for several hours after; ventilation helps reduce the intensity allowing all to return later that same day to the now flea-free area! I am not in any way affiliated with this company but endorse their product fully.
Cedarwood Oil
Posted by Mar (San Diego, Ca) on 10/12/2012
Just so you know.. "melted quartz rock" is actually petroleum distillates. Ie: paint thinner. I bought this product back in 2010 only to find this out when it arrived & I read the label. "Ingredients:10% Cedar Oil, 90% Petroleum Distillates. " Needless to say I was beyond disappointed.
Cedarwood Oil
Posted by Crq (San Diego, California) on 11/23/2012
For the past two years I have been using a wonderful natural insect repellent for my dogs. It is a completely natural product using Lavender, Cedarwood, Rosewood, and Patchouli essential oils in an organic base of olive oil, shea butter, and beeswax. The product is excellent and smells great.
Dish Soap
Posted by Sherri (Houston, TX) on 10/16/2008
★★★★★
I TOTALLY agree with ___ Soap for killing fleas! It worked so well that fleas seem to "run away" from the suds -- I'd started sudsing my dog's back around the shoulder blades, then washed his neck. Next I was going to start on his ears, but when I lifted one of his long floppy ears, I was mortified to see hundreds of fleas lined up next to each other to escape the soap. It looked like small brown fish scales at first, they were so close together; it actually nauseated me a little to see it.
I poured out a LOT of ___ onto a washcloth and went to work on the fleas in his ears, then rinsed them under the tub spigot to make sure they rinsed off. But I never bathed him in that order again -- I came up with a much better system over time:
I wrapped a soft washcloth around my index finger, then applied a generous dab of ___ to the end. I carefully worked in the soap around his eyes, nose, and mouth area, being careful not to get any soap too near the sensitive areas. I made sure to work the area under their chin too. Then I got the inside of his ears sudsy to prevent the fleas from escaping to that area when I worked the rest of his body. I continued down until I reached his neck area, and all around the neck zone.
Next I did his privates, then tail, then hind legs -- I didn't want the fleas to escape to his private parts like they did in his ears the last time! Finally, I could work the rest of his body in any order I chose to, because I had put up a suds barrier to all the escape areas.
Sherri
Dish Soap
Posted by Heather (Monticello, IN) on 10/09/2008
★★★★★
I used ___ dish soap on my cat and watched the fleas drop off of her instantly. I used it also on my dog. The ___ is worth it.
