Natural Remedies for Fleas on Dogs
Nobody likes fleas, but they are something that nearly every dog and dog owner has encountered at least once or twice. In some parts of the country, fleas are a never-ending scourge.
Fortunately, there are some good home remedies for your dog’s fleas so you and your dog don’t have to put up with them. If you don’t like the idea of using harsh chemicals on your dog, there are some good natural remedies for fleas that really work. Here are a few treatments we’ve tried or heard recommended that can keep the fleas off your dog.
Plant Remedies
Many flea sprays are pyrethrin-based or they use a citrus base. Pyrethrins come from plants like chrysanthemums. You can help keep fleas away from your home and yard by planting chrysanthemums and marigolds. The chemicals in the plants have the same effect as the chemicals in flea spray and you don’t have to spray your dog. (Be careful about planting some plants around dogs if you breed. For instance, do not plant pennyroyal near pregnant dogs or people. It can lead to miscarriages.)
Natural Anti-Flea Spray
Another natural way to get rid of fleas on dogs is by using a homemade flea repellant with citrus. This recipe uses six lemons and a quart of water, but you can adjust the amount. Cut six lemons in half and pour a quart of boiling water over the lemons. Let them sit overnight. Strain the lemons. Pour the lemon water in a spray bottle and use it as a flea spray for your dog. Some recipes call for adding a sprig of rosemary to this recipe, which will help keep fleas at bay.
Homemade Flea Collar
You can also make a homemade flea collar for your dog. To do this you will need either cedar essential oil or lavender essential oil, 1-3 tablespoons of water, a bandanna, and an eyedropper. Cedar oil is known for keeping fleas away. Lavender is good for keeping insects, in general, away. Mix the essential oil you choose with the water then use the eyedropper to place a few drops on the bandana. You can use 5-10 drops of the mixture on the fabric. Rub the mixture into the fabric to activate it and then attach the bandanna around your dog’s neck. You will need to reapply some more of the mixture every week, but this will work to keep fleas away in many places – unless you are simply up to your neck in fleas.
Treating Your Yard
Another home remedy for fleas on dogs is to treat your yard. One of the best ways to keep your dog from bringing fleas into the house is to get rid of the fleas in the yard. You can do that by buying diatomaceous earth at your local garden store. Diatomaceous earth (or “DE” as it’s often called) is inexpensive and easy to find. You don’t need to buy pool grade; you can purchase agricultural grade DE. Spread it lavishly over your backyard. DE is the fossilized remains of little marine creatures in a powder form. Under a microscope you can see their jagged edges. When it comes in contact with a bug like a flea it rips their exoskeleton off and dries out their body, killing them. The fleas are helpless. Use as much as you like over your yard. The powder is harmless to people, animals, and plants. In fact, it is used on crops and it can even be used as a livestock wormer.
Shampoos and Rinses
There are several other home remedies to get rid of fleas on dogs. One of the best is to bathe your dog regularly, using a small flea comb to remove any fleas you see. Whether you use any special shampoos for your dog is up to you. Some dogs may need shampoos for dry skin or allergies. But one key to washing your dog and killing fleas is to let the soap remain on the dog for a full five minutes. Sometimes it’s not special ingredients that kill fleas but keeping them in the soap for an extended period of time.
You can also rinse your dog with a citrus rinse. You can use a quart of water with 1-3 drops of citronella essential oil, for example. Or use a quart of water that has been steeping overnight with lemon peel and rosemary.
Treating Your House
If you prefer natural remedies then it’s also important to vacuum your house often. Keep fleas from laying eggs and hatching to start a new cycle every few weeks. Be sure to vacuum on and under furniture, under cushions, on and under drapes, inside closets, under beds, and anywhere else fleas might hide. You will also need to wash bed linens and dog beds in hot water regularly to kill fleas and any flea eggs.
People who use other forms of flea control have to do many of these same things but it’s especially important if you are using natural flea control. Just one flea can lay hundreds of eggs over the course of a few weeks. Once fleas have infested your house, it becomes very difficult to get rid of them.
If you have carpet, another home flea treatment for dogs you can try is borax. Most people are familiar with borax because it’s a laundry powder (20 Mule-Team Borax). Sprinkle the borax all over your carpet and let it sit there overnight. You can use a broom to work the borax into the carpet for better coverage. After about eight hours you can vacuum the borax up. It dries the fleas and kills them.
Other Natural Remedies
Many people swear by this odd home remedy for fleas on dogs: garlic. While it may be true that fleas don’t like garlic, you need to be careful about giving your dog garlic. Garlic is a member of the onion family and onions are dangerous to dogs. They can lead to a form of anemia which can be deadly. Still, lots of people do give their dogs a little garlic in their food as a way to keep fleas away or for other reasons. If you want to give your dog some garlic as a flea preventive, keep the amount very small.
You can buy brewer’s yeast with garlic to give to dogs to keep fleas away. Brewer’s yeast is a nutritional supplement that is supposed to be good for a dog’s skin and coat. Some people claim that it helps keep fleas away.
Another supplement that many people claim keeps fleas away is apple cider vinegar. The kind of apple cider vinegar recommended is the kind that still has the “mother” or foam in the jar. Supposedly just a spoonful per day is enough to change your dog’s pH so fleas don’t want to bite. Apple cider vinegar is supposed to be good for lots of things, not just for dogs but also for humans. This article suggests applying apple cider vinegar to your dog’s coat as a flea repellent. But be careful because it’s yellow or orange and can stain the coat of a light-colored dog.
Alternatives to Natural Dog Flea Remedies
In many places these home remedies for fleas on dogs may be effective. However, if you live in the deep South, Florida, or other places where fleas can be a serious problem, you may need to talk to your veterinarian about other methods of flea control. Even if you don’t like the idea of using chemicals on your dog, the important thing is to make him comfortable and keep the fleas away. If your dog has a flea allergy, you should see a veterinarian for help. Trying to treat a dog flea allergy by home remedy could make your dog much worse.
* This article is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the knowledge and experience of a trained veterinarian. We do not support the self-diagnosis and treatment of your pets without first seeking advice from a professional.
