Sadly for pet house owners, fleas will not be solely a summer season downside. The pesky parasites are energetic year-round as long as they’ve someplace heat, like your pet’s pores and skin, to dwell. Frequent flea prevention strategies embrace particular collars, shampoos, dips, sprays, and medicines, however you may complement these with pure cures.
Many vets advocate administering pure cures alongside (not as a substitute of) extra conventional preventatives. Flea prevention and therapy are essential as a result of the blood-sucking bugs can carry life-threatening ailments like heartworm, Lyme illness, and tapeworms.
Listed here are 9 pure house cures for fleas out there for cats and canine. At all times verify together with your vet earlier than attempting a brand new treatment on your pet.
Warning
Keep away from utilizing important oils as a flea treatment. Analysis in regards to the efficacy of important oils is restricted and, based on the ASPCA, important oils shouldn’t be used on pets until particularly permitted by a veterinarian.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Treehugger / Sanja Kostic
Well being meals proponents have lengthy touted the varied advantages of apple cider vinegar, and never only for people. It is mentioned to repel fleas as a result of they dislike its pungent scent and style. This methodology is not going to kill fleas, the nonprofit veterinary group Anicira says, however spritzing a mix of equal elements water and apple cider vinegar might assist forestall fleas.
Apple cider vinegar comprises about 5% acetic acid, an antiseptic. A spritz of this or a moist comb by means of your pet’s coat will relieve itchiness. When taken orally, it might additionally assist stability a canine’s pH as apple cider vinegar is alkaline and pet food is notoriously acidic. Speak to your vet earlier than treating your pet with apple cider vinegar.
Baking Soda
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Baking soda is commonly cited as a pure flea treatment. Nonetheless, analysis has proven that it’s not poisonous to flea larvae. That mentioned, baking soda is protected to make use of on a pet’s coat (it is nice for neutralizing odors) and will be both blended with water to type a paste or added to its common shampoo throughout a shower.
For flea prevention, Anicira recommends mixing baking soda with water and placing it in a dish close to gentle, out of your pet’s attain. Fleas are interested in gentle, in order that they leap into the dish and drown.
Brewer’s Yeast
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Brewer’s yeast is produced from a fungus used for fermentation in beer. As a dietary complement, it will increase vitality ranges and promotes wholesome pores and skin, hair, and eyes. Brewer’s yeast can enhance your pet’s immune system, which in flip may also help stave off fleas and different parasites. Nonetheless, research dispute its efficacy in immediately repelling or killing fleas.
Powdered brewer’s yeast will be given to pets orally. Speak to your vet in regards to the dosage on your pet.
Rosemary Flea Dip
Treehugger / Sanja Kostic
Chemical flea dips will be very caustic. You may make a much less abrasive model by spiking the water with contemporary rosemary at house. Rosemary is a confirmed flea (and spider and cockroach) repellent.
To make a pure flea dip, begin by steeping two cups of contemporary rosemary in boiling water for half-hour. Pressure the liquid, throw away the remaining leaves, and add as much as a gallon of heat water (relying on the scale of your pup). Wait till the brew cools, however continues to be heat sufficient to be comfy. Pour it over your canine or cat, soaking its coat, and let it dry naturally.
Lemon Spray Repellent
Treehugger / Sanja Kostic
Dr. Ashley Geoghegan of the veterinary observe VetNaturally recommends making a twig with contemporary lemons to make use of as one other pure flea repellent. Whereas the citrus hasn’t been confirmed to kill fleas, its scent does appear to drive them away.
First, lower a lemon into quarters and canopy the fruit with boiling water for as much as ten minutes. Then, let the combination steep in a single day. You’ll be able to even add rosemary leaves to the combination for good measure. The next day, pour the liquid into a twig bottle, taking care to pressure the lemon bits out of the liquid first. Spray the lemon water in your pet, ensuring to not get it within the eyes. Attempt to goal the spray behind the ears, across the base of its tail and its neck, the place fleas are recognized to cover.
In case your pet will not tolerate spray, you may rub the juice from a freshly squeezed lemon or orange in your canine or cat’s fur. Ensure to make use of contemporary citrus and never citrus important oil, which will be harmful to pets.
Neem Oil
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This all-natural insect repellent comes from a tree native to India, Sri Lanka, and Burma. It is typically used to repel biting bugs corresponding to fleas and mosquitoes, however there’s little proof that it wards off ticks. Neem oil is protected to make use of on canine and is, in truth, utilized in some pet shampoos. In case your pup’s shampoo would not embrace neem oil, add just a few drops or dilute it with dishwashing liquid for a do-it-yourself flea spray.
Warning
Some cats are extra delicate to neem oil than others. After making use of, look out for any adversarial reactions, corresponding to extreme salivation. Should you see any, cease utilizing the oil instantly and phone your vet.
Nematodes
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Nematodes are microscopic, worm-like parasites that aren’t harmful to people or pets. Some varieties, just like the Steinernema carpocapsae, destroy flea larvae by parasitizing them. They are often bought from backyard shops, blended with water, and sprayed round your yard to stave off pests. That mentioned, this house treatment flea therapy will not assist with an infestation in your own home.
Nematodes thrive in sandy soils, and will not do properly in different soil compositions. They want moisture frequently, so it’s best to water your garden each couple of days to make sure their survival.
Coconut Oil
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Coconut oil comprises lauric acid. When this comes into contact with fleas, it coats their exoskeleton with oil and makes them incapable of transferring. You may give coconut oil to your pet orally (1 teaspoon per 20 kilos of physique weight blended into their meals or given as a deal with) or rub it into their coat, which offers shine and moisture.
Pure Cleaning soap
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Swap out the common pet shampoo and check out bathing your canine or cat with a bar of pure cleaning soap with peppermint or rosemary—each scents fleas dislike.
Why Pets Matter to Treehugger
At Treehugger, we’re advocates of animal welfare, together with our pets and different home animals. The higher we perceive our canine and cats, the higher we are able to assist and shield their wellbeing. We hope our readers will undertake rescue pets as a substitute of purchasing from breeders or pet shops, and also will contemplate supporting native animal shelters.