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.
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.
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Borax from the laundry aisle will work on roaches, as will diatomaceous earth. However consider doing a google search for "mason jar roach trap" or check out this video on how to make an effective trap at home:
I give my dogs brewers yeast and garlic tablets.1 tablet for every 5 lbs.They love them,eat like treats.I have mini dachshunds from 3 months old to 2 years old. No fleas or worms. Garlic kills the worms and brewers yeast is good for the skin.
Posted by Dvillekat (Douglasville, Ga) on 07/26/2012
I would like to know how to dilute the cedarwood oil so it can be applied to the skin as a repelent for fleas and mosquitos. Also what is the mixture of cedarwood for spraying the carpet.
I have noticed that the brand of dish soap used to help rid animals of fleas is blanked out.. But I have found that the specific brand is the only one that works on my dogs.. It makes the fleas just pop to the top of their fur and u can rinse them off easily.. So please allow the brand to be mentioned.. Dawn dish soap has been an animal saver in more ways than just fleas.. They have saved animals in oil spills and so much more...
Posted by Karen (Philadelphia, Pa) on 08/23/2009 ★★★★★
I'm using the ACV on my cat and my dog and so far it seems to be working. However, to treat the infestation in my house I found an easy economical fix. First place 2 drops of dish detergent in a bowl of water then sit the bowl on the floor under a lamp overnight.Each morning I awoke to a bowl full of dead fleas. I continued the process until I no longer saw any fleas. Apparently, the warmth of the light attracts the fleas to the bowl and the solution kills the fleas instantly.Of course you need to remove your pet from the room you are treating to insure their safety.
Posted by Lilu (Southern California) on 06/20/2026
PLEASE DON'T USE just ANY essential oil, ESPECIALLY on CATS!!!! Check & re-check with ASPCA & other organizations before using even the smallest amount on ANY PET. Peppermint essential oil (just like most other mints) is highly toxic to cats. PLEASE Be CAREFUL!!!!!!
Posted by Kathy (Watsontown, PA) on 04/16/2009 ★★★★★
I've used brewers yeast[debittered powder] for fleas successfuly.I sprinkle it on my cats food every day[like cinnamon toast].they like it & their coats are very nice too. does anyone know if "nutritional" yeast flakes work for fleas too? ? it's a little cheaper.
Posted by Jerry (Chillicothe, Illinois/usa) on 03/13/2009 ★★★★★
I have had dogs as pets for more than 50 years and they are inside pets, but are let out to a fenced area constantly during all year and I have found that at spring before the first mowing. I will go to Walmart and get 2 large 0.5 cubic ft bags of cedar chips or bedding and sprinkle it throughout the areas where the dogs will be. I do this before the first mowing and after I mow the yard it will scatter the chips even better and finer. I never have fleas and to check occasionly, I will fill small bowls with water and a few drops of dishsoap , place them under a wall outlet with a nightlight on overnite and in the morning if there were any fleas in the house, they will be dead and in the bowls. I always do this ritual every year faithfully and never have a flea problem in my yard.
Posted by Brenda (Columbus, Ms) on 01/27/2009 ★★★★★
I was told about JOY dish soap for fleas. I have used it several times on my dogs and it worked great. During bath time, I found dead fleas in the water. I haven't noticed any drying of the skin. I only used it 2 times for one week. You can also use lavender oil to keep fleas off your pets and their bedding. Just rub a cotton ball with lavender oil down their back. This works for me and it smells nice too.
question, on the coconut oil do you mix it with water or just put it on them with a cotton ball, I also have chihuahua's and one has a really bad alligery to anything to do with flea stuff.
The pet store near me sells a flea spray that contains peppermint oil. The clerk said the fleas hate peppermint oil. Or you can make a spray with 1 drop peppermint oil and water in a spray bottle and spray it on your bed and around the rooms in your house.
This is just a hunch--but buy a bottle of Peppermint essential oil. Put a few drops on some cotton balls. Place in a small ramekin or in paper bowls around the house in the corners, under the beds, etc. You can even put some in the air returns (if you have the right kind). It should kill them. It got rid of some pesky bugs we had and they are the toughest to get rid of. I think it will work. Also, there is a pesticide that's natural that contains peppermint oil called EcoSmart or something like that. Good Luck!
Posted by Tangie (Jefferson City, MO) on 11/13/2008 ★★★★★
I have a Chow German Shepard mix & a Lab both are outside dogs. In the summer months we had a problem with the biting flies, which causes bad sores on my dogs. I used (ACV/Water)1 cup of apple cidar vinear to 2 cups water sprayed my dogs every other day and it helped a lot. Don't spray on open wounds.
I also have 2 small dogs and a cat inside the home that have fleas I use 70-90% full strength rubbing alcohol put it in a spray bottle and spray the carpets and all cracks and crevices of floors (carpets and tile) not good on wood. Not good around birds, I saturate one room, close the door and then go to next room.
Important:
* Put birds in a room that isn't being treated.
** Do not stay in the sprayed rooms leave until carpet/floor dries.
Once I had a flea my arm and ankle I spritz the area with the alcohol and the flea died instantly.
Posted by Celine (Pine City, MN USA) on 10/22/2008 ★★★★★
I came to this site looking for a remedy for the three cats we have. For the first time in two years of having them they have acquired fleas. I know I had allergy reactions to the Hartz formula for dogs so I switched to switched to frontline and no longer let the dogs on our bed. But keeping the cats off the bed wasn't going to happen so I needed a remedy that I wouldn't react to so I went to search for a natural one. After all fleas have been around for ages. I found this site to the answer to my prayers and my animals. I first tried dish soap. The cats didn't seem to mind it. I used a flea comb to make sure they really got lathered up with it. I started at the very top of the neck with just the dawn, as a contributor suggested. Because the fleas will move upward to where they can go where there is no soap. Then I wet the cats down. Then I lathered them up real good. The dish soap killed them! The cats have no fleas. I'm going to spray them down with Apple Cider Vinager to make sure they stay off of them before I let them outside. (The dogs are inside with no fleas) I will report back how well the ACV works at keeping them off but I'm confident it will. Thank you for having this site!
Posted by Stephanie (Ft. Worth, Texas) on 10/16/2008 ★★★★★
We just tried the ___ Dish Soap method for getting rid of fleas. It appears that it worked like a charm. In the past, when using standard over the counter flea shampoos, we would see them crawling and have to pick them off by the dozens. With the Dawn, there were NO crawling fleas--only dead ones. And...the best part of all is that the cats didn't seem to mind it nearly as much. My guess is that it didn't sting them like the other shampoo.
Thank you very much for giving us a better and safer alternative for flea removal.
We have used the ___ in a dish with the light for home flea removal in the past. Thanks for the reminder of this "forgotten" rememdy as well. We are about to try it today as well.
I have been happy with a mixed approach, using soapy water flea traps, sticky lighted flea traps, baths for cat & dog, having them on a Program & diatomateous earth in the carpet. One thing no one mentioned is flea combs. I have found that my cat seems to enjoy the attention and will sit for a long time in my lap while I flea comb her (and pet her ears, which she loves), dumping the fleas into slightly soapy water (and drying off the comb on a rag). It gets a little messy, but it is worth it. I comb my dog, too, but she is not happy about the proceedure. It works, tho, for those fleas that either escaped the bath treatment, or jumped on later. I have also spent time each day catching fleas on my feet & lower legs, & putting them in soapy water. My husband prefers very sticky tape to get them off of him. We are still fighting them, but sooo much better!
Posted by Holly (Bellevue, Ohio) on 09/26/2008 ★★★★★
We had an absolutely horrific flea infestation on the entire second story of our house (which is uncarpeted, thankfully) and were disappointed by the 20+ flea bombs that failed to kill them, so having heard this from my mom, we filled spray bottles with straight Rubbing Alcohol (just the regular, cheap stuff from any store) and went crazy. We soaked the floor and about two feet up the walls. It worked great, and I mean, GREAT!!! You could watch them die within seconds. Just be sure to open as many windows as possible to provide lots of ventilation while you work; we didn't think it would be safe to use it on our cats or let them (or anyone) in the area for a few weeks until it aired out really well. Oh, and we also laid out ALOT of duct tape (sticky side up) to catch any survivors, of which there were very, very few.
Dogs and fleas........ Give raw garlic daily. Half to one clove, depending on dogs size. Also, DE. = Diatomaceous Earth. Must be food grade. Mix in probiotic yogurt and feed. DE can also, be used around the house etc.
Posted by Nancy (Plant City, Fl) on 09/09/2008 ★★★★★
My pomeranian can get a sigle flea bite, and itch really bad, my vet gave her predisone, and an antibiotic, also said to use childrens benadryl for her itch, please use according to their weight, just like a child, my pomerain is about 8 pounds, I give her around a l /2 tsp, it is a temporary fix for the itch, believe me, they are in pure torture,
I had a skin problem, I itched for four months, inbetween taking medicine such as benedry, and applying cortozine. You can also apply cortozoine for itch to your dog, really rub in it will temporally releive their itch, and also give them the benedryl. Take to a vet, use flea prevention, I just saw a web site that says use vinegar (diluted), and dawn dish soap. The little animals can't help this skin condition, please do all you can to help them. Remember, we have to speak for them... I know my little dog would do all she could for me.
Posted by Amanda (Trenton, Ontario) on 08/08/2008 ★★★★★
I was reading your site as my cats were going crazy. I didn't have any of the things you recommend to hand. but after reading your shampoo advice, I realized I did have some lavender essential oil so I tried that and a few drops rubbed into their coat did bring immediate relief.
NO MORE FLEAS. To keep fleas off my 70 lb. dog, I juice fresh raw garlic and add 1/8 teaspoon of it to a raw egg yolk. He eats it joyfully. NO MORE FLEAS. Fleas hate the smell of garlic. I may carefully increase the amount of garlic juice some in the future because he is 70 lbs. He eats his food joyfully. He also loves greens such as Alfalfa powder, Wheatgrass powder, Barley powder, etc. Dogs need greens too!
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