Effective Natural Remedies for Flea Control in Pets
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.
I have a French Bulldog and I fight yeast infection and hair loss every year. I decided to take him off flea chemicals but having a tough time finding a cure for it. I have been bathing him with baking soda then tree oil shampoo and finally a organic apple cider vinegar rinse. So far it has been been working. I also give him a teaspoon of Diatomaceous Earth every evening in his food. Anyone have any better cures?
Posted by Michelle (Clarksville, Tn ) on 08/25/2016 ★☆☆☆☆
I sprinkled DE all over my carpets. It was a powdery mess. The dust from it was overwhelming. I had it in my daughter's room & she has asthma. She could not breathe in there. (It said to keep on for a day before vacuuming up, so she had to sleep in another room.) It took forever to get it all vacuumed up. It made a mess of my vacuum internally. All that work & I noticed no change in the fleas. Putting it on the pet too was about impossible. How do you get dry powder to stay on a dry pet that won't be still??
For fleas - set out a shallow pan of water with dawn dish liquid (few drops mixed in) place a table lamp over it in a dark room, A night light works too. The fleas are attracted to the warmth of the lamp and jump in.
Posted by Marcia (Costa Mesa, Ca) on 02/19/2015 ★★★★★
I use apple cider vinegar in their water, but also citrus peel infused white vinegar topically, for flea control.
Citrus peels have two organic chemicals called limonene and linalool which kill all stages of the flea's life cycle.
Just pour a 1/2 gallon (or really as much as you want, cause it can also be used for general household cleaning too) - of white vinegar into a large glass, covered container and throw in whatever citrus peels you have - oranges, grapefruit, lemon, lime... doesn't matter which or how much...as long as it's completely covered by the vinegar. Stir or shake it up every once in awhile and give it a week or two. Leaving it in sunlight will accelerate the process.
I use the solution, once a week, as a final rinse (don't rinse it off) after their baths. The citrus chemicals kill any fleas they may have picked up and smell of the vinegar, though not detectable to us, once the dog is dry, repels the fleas for the rest of the week.
The solution can also be put in a spray bottle for occasional spot treatment and it can even be used as a cleaning solution around the house!
Posted by Phyllis (Tuscumbia, Alabama) on 01/23/2015
Hello Carol,
Artemisia Combination from Nature's Sunshine will make your dogs bodies an extremely unfriendly environment for fleas. I've been using it for my 4 Boston Terriers and haven't seen fleas for 2 years. I split one capsule between them once a month in winter and once a week during the warm months.
Posted by Ann (Miami, Florida) on 01/14/2015 ★★★★★
Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth is the best thing invented!!!!!!
I had a bed bug problem and tried everything. I have kids so I had to keep sleeping in my bed or risk bedbugs following me to their room. A real horror story until I found out about food grade Diatomaceous earth and tried it. There gone! I put it everywhere in the electrical sockets and to this day their still gone! I recently had a little flea problem and now mix some of the earth into my dog food and dust the dogs to keep the fleas off. My sister in NY had bedbugs I sent her some earth and it worked on her house too! I purchase a 5lb bag a year ago when I had the bedbugs and I still have 3/4 of the bag left since it doesnt take much when applying. When I first found a bedbug I called an exterminator and he quoted me at $450 to treat and that he would come back as often I needed. Once it took me 1-2 weeks to figure it all out and I invited him back he was astonished and asked me what I used ;)
Before you put pesticides and pay those high bills try it. I went a little crazy by applying it while opening all windows. Once I sprinkled everywhere with a mask on I vaccumed and put on baseboards ...etc . amen they're gone. I still apply the earth underneath bed and places you can't see just for peace of mind. I hope this helps someone.
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.
The mange remedy will kill fleas on your dog during the dipping process, but you will also need to eliminate fleas in your pet's environment as well. If you are infested in the house, you might try a simple flea trap using a small lamp placed on the floor over a white tray or white plate filled with dish soapy water. Leave on over night and check for fleas in the morning. This trap is very effective at removing adult fleas and when used regularly can remove all the fleas from your home -and thus avoid reinfesting your dog.
I had that thought too but couldn't find a 'recipe' anywhere for the right mix for Borax water. Then I finally came across something that said Borax that gets wet loses effectiveness because it's actually the physical properties of dry Borax that kills fleas...therefore wet Borax is completely useless! That said, dry Borax didn't do me much good but I'm pretty sure it's because my berber carpet didn't allow the powder to go deep enough to reach the eggs down there...seems to work well for everyone else though.
I've been spraying a mixture of (equal parts) apple cider vinegar/witch hazel/lemon juice all over the carpet every day and the problem is much better! You have to keep it up though because success seems to come from a cumulative effect, not necessarily an 'on contact' sort of fix. Still looking forward to the light at the end of the tunnel. Good luck!!
I found one of the very best inexpensive tick and flea repellents. I put small amount of peppermint oil and part lemon juice and the rest with water. All this summer we had absolutely no ticks/fleas or anything. I sometimes spray right quick around the area where they go out to go to the bathroom, but as long as they are covered not important to spray outside.
A year ago. I feed my 2 dogs tons of food grade diatomaceous earth for 2 months. I have seen how they detox. I mean at some point I can see a piece of leather(I don't know how to explain in other words.) will fall off from their skin. and I saw some gunk in their stool. And then I noticed after 2 months both dogs are alot calm. one of my dogs used to chase his tail alot. Guess what? comepletely stopped. After this experience. I give my dogs DE at least once a week. Other supplements are extremly difficult to feed them. I just mix big 2 table spoon with organice whole milk. They absolutely love it!
I rub into their ears too. this will go to their internal and also kills the bugs. I highly recommend DE for anyone who has pet. It is a must!
I tried the amethyst stone in my dog's bowl and my cat's bowl. I've had it in there over a month now and it doesn't work at all. My amethysts are large and still part of the rock itself so I know the quality is good. Time to try something else.
Posted by Minkxy (Brooklyn, Ny) on 08/01/2013 ★☆☆☆☆
I just tried the amethyst stone for fleas. Although a nice idea, 2 weeks in and nothing. Stone bought off of new age store on ebay. 1 inch in width, unpolished in stainless steel bowls.
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.
Sue posted in June, so in case she doesn't see your request I will offer some advice.
Amethyst comes in different grades, the highest being a jewelry grade with the deep purple color and clear with no milkiness in the stone. All grades of amethyst *should* work for repelling fleas. That said, out of the responses in this topic I counted 13 - including you - who have tried the remedy; it worked for 8 folks, though did seem to wear off on their dog the second year, and for 5 folks it didn't do a darn thing. It doesn't seem to matter if its the 'raw' chunk of crystals or a nicely polished high grade stone. Drat, I say, for those it didn't work for, as it does seem too good to be true to toss a crystal in your pet's water bowl and be able to forget about fleas!
Now, for your kitten - no need to get rid of your cat because of fleas, just give that kitty a bath!
Extensive directions on how to check for fleas and treat your home for fleas as well as bathe your cat are in this post, if you scroll through it until the end [ignore post title, it covers fleas I promise! ]:
For those trying the amethyst just in case this might apply, in using stones to help in healing, every so often you have to recharge the stone, to do so set it outside all night in a full moon. Myself I don't understand it all but the moon has been proven to be like a strong magnet. The energy in stones can become depleted so give it a try won't cost you anything but the time to walk outside.
Hello, I've been reading alot about flee control, and I'm seeing that giving my dog (LabPit mix 4months old) a bath in DAWN dish soap or adding garlic to her diet (sprinkling power over her food or cutting cloves) helps, or by bathing her and/or rinsing her with VINIGER works. Could I try the combination of these things?
Dish soap bath
Vinigar rinse( or add a little to her drinking water)
Garlic powder or cloves to her diet.
I have been bathing my Sapphire with Adams plus for animals, it works for that day, killing ever stage of flea, tick, and lice, but I want something that will save money, more natural, and that will keep the pests off my baby girl. Ive been reading people see good results from trying one of these methods, how about the combination?? How much garlic or Vinigr should I use? Please help!!
Posted by Paul (Jacksonville, Florida) on 12/12/2012 ★★★★★
For fleas - rub your pets with waxed mrytle leaves, then throw some small branchs of leaves behind furniture and in front of your return air handler. Fleas, mosqitoes and ticks do not like the smell and will find their way out of your place. It is a wild evergreen that can grow to 18-20 foot. Some people will have a skin rash if they touch it. It has a light evergreen smell but does not look like an evergreen tree it has leaves. It grows along ditchs and in dry areas. If you crush the leaf in your hand and it smells evergreen you found it.
All the more reason to remove ALL lint from the lint trap after using the dryer each and every time! And, one could also clean the lint trap in white vinegar. I also have been adding Eucalyptus liquid soap to my wash which kills fleas. And, it smells good! (The smell does not stay on the clothes).
Posted by Max (St-pascal, Quebec, Canada) on 12/22/2011 ★★★★★
Based on what I read here, I decided to mix up different solutions for maximum effectiveness.
I used ACV, Yeast and Sea salt (about 2 tbsp acv, 2tbsp yeast and 1tbsp sea salt) in 500 mL spray bottle, and used on my cat once a day. It was dramatically effective!! My cat stopped itching herself all the time and was flea free, but we didnt take care of the eggs so she became re infected... we will re-do the treatment with eggs in mind soon.
Interesting side effects is that her hair became completely nice and soft, and prior to that had been filled with hard hairballs all of her life! She also got a very improved mood, more energy, and became more sociable!
I believe the nutrients from the high quality Brewer Yeast (used Lewis Labs brand), and the ACV did wonders for her health! As soon as she would be all wet with the mix she would try to lick it all up, so she ended up eating quite a bit of it... (a reason why NOT to put too much salt in there..)
Just wanted to say - I saw several people mentioning to take care to dispose of the coconut oil before it goes rancid. I was wondering if anyone saw it go rancid - because coconut oil supposedly does not go rancid.
Posted by Pest Control (Atlanta, Usa) on 12/09/2011 ★★★★★
You can try using Dawn Pure Essentials dish soap on your pets and around the house for pest control
For Pets:
-Get a flea comb:
-Fill a large bowl with hot water and some dawn dish soap
-Dip the flea comb in the water solution and brush through pet
-Dip the flea comb back into the water;continue this pattern
For house infestations:
-Leave a few bowls with hot water and dawn dish doap around ares such as beds, couches, carpet for a few hours. The fleas will be attracted to the warm water and the soap will stick to them making them stuck in the water. They will die.
Posted by Melissa (Vancouver, Bc) on 09/07/2011 ★★★★★
I find that diatomaceous earth works well for flea control. I have used it on my cat and both my dogs and have not had any problems since!
It is all natural, easy to use and much less expensive than other alternatives.
Just sprinkle the DE throughout your animal's fur, especially on their backbone. The diatomaceous earth will kill the fleas by lacerating their exoskeletons and dehydrating them.
Both pure DE and brands containing calcium bentonite or montmorillonite will have the same effect.
Garlic is still being disputed as a safe food for pets. There are conflicting results on a cat's ability to break down the chemical compositions in the garlic, remember their liver isn't as powerful as ours and even the pollen of an easter lily is enough to cause liver failure. Until there is more evidence of garlic being safe, I would recommend each reader to do their fair share of research to make that call, as there are reports of garlic (in any form) being highly toxic to both cats and dogs.
Also, Diatomaceous Earth is a great product if used properly. Readers need to learn of ALL the precautions on how to properly administer as a pet/home flea prevention method. Using it on carpet gives easy access to the pet's eye causing severe irritation and harmful damage. Since their face is constantly inches from the carpet, breathing the stuff in will happen. This can cause severe lung irritation.
I buy FOOD GRADE Diatomaceous. I use it as a de-wormer for my pets. But this "food grade" is HUMAN food grade and I use it as a supplement for myself (no, not as a de-wormer lol). It has great benefits for us, just research it before you use it, but is does some remarkable things.
When I use it in my carpets, I don't use enough to make a dust when I walk. I do it when my pets are out of the house (outside on porch or getting groomed, at the vets). I don't let them back in until it is settled in the carpet and wiped up, off the counters and floors.
When bought packaged as a human supplement (high grade, pure DE), the package clearly states "Keep from eyes and DO NOT BREATHE". This applies to our animals too. I would recommend not applying it directly on their skin, as some may suggest.
When using natural oils, again be sure to get food grade, high quality essential oils. DO NOT apply it directly to their skin, as they have a different PH than we do, and they often cause severe skin irritation. Even we humans use carrier oils when applying it directly to their skin.
Again, a cat's liver can often not handle many of the essential oil and have a hard time processing them. Their liver is just not as strong as we seem to think. AND YES! They do absorb the oils through their skin, which eventually gets processed by their liver. WE HUMAN DO THIS TOO. Anything that is absorbed by the skin gets processed by our organs. Skin is the largest organ we have. Nicotine patches work by being absorbed through the skin. Normal flea treatment works like this. After it is absorbed, it gets into the blood stream and viola! It's in. So do your research. There are conflicting reports when it comes to your pets ability to handle essential oils.
So be careful what you put on your animals.
I know I sound like a downer, but I'm just trying to inform people to do their research and decide for themselves. When there are conflicting reports, one needs to take precautions.
Fleas are a pain. I know. I have 5 long haired cats and a dog. It's a constant struggle. So far, there is no one answer. Good luck to you all.
I've heard that Stash Earl Grey tea gets rid of fleas in the home from several people now. I haven't tried it yet, but thought I'd put that out there for anyone who needs another idea to try. Open the bags and sprinkle on the carpet. Vacuum up in a few days. Sometimes the pets will even roll in it, which helps keep the fleas off them, as well! For those with very light carpets, please test small area first.... although this tip came from someone with white carpets and she had no problems.
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.
You must be logged in to this post! Please sign in:
Please note that we use cookies necessary for the functioning of our website, cookies that optimize the performance. To learn more about our cookies, how we use them and their benefits, please read our Privacy Policy
