Pure Flea Cures for Pets

I’m all the time on the lookout for the most secure technique to cope with my family’s minor health issues — and that features our pets too! Fleas are a standard concern with cats and canine however typical flea merchandise are chemical-heavy. I wished to discover a safer possibility for maintaining fleas away and coping with infestations after they happen. So I did some analysis and located these pure flea treatments for pets.

How Did My Pet Get Fleas?

Grownup fleas are tiny bugs (no bigger than 1/8 inch) that may be brown or black in shade. They feed on the blood of pets and different animals. Fleas get round by leaping — making it straightforward for fleas to go from pet to pet in your home or neighborhood.

Fleas are most problematic within the spring and summer season when the climate is hotter. They want a number (your pet) to stay their full life cycle however can stay for a couple of days in your house, yard, or native park as effectively. It’s very straightforward for pets who go exterior to get fleas!

Does My Pet Have Fleas?

In case your pet is scratching greater than ordinary and appears uncomfortable, they could have fleas. The simplest technique to inform in case your pet has fleas is to put him on a white towel and brush him. If there may be a variety of dust that falls off, you possible have a flea downside. This dust known as flea dust and is a mix of flea poop and blood. To make sure you’re flea dust, moisten the dust on the white towel or on a paper towel. If it turns purple or reddish-brown, you realize your pet has fleas.

Pure Flea Cures That Work

As soon as a pet has fleas, they are often robust to do away with. They will even infest your private home! Listed here are my favourite pure flea management treatments I exploit when my pets begin itching from fleas:

Optimum Well being

One of the simplest ways to maintain your pets from getting fleas is to optimize their well being so flea infestations are much less prone to happen. A wholesome physique is extra in a position to fend off fleas.

Feeding your pets an entire meals eating regimen is a good way to optimize their well being. I make homemade dog food for our dogs because it’s probably the most cost-effective technique to feed them. However I’ve additionally bought this high-quality (raw and grain-free) dog food and am very pleased with it. In addition they promote high quality cat meals when you’ve got cats in your house.

You too can give your pet probiotics and different dietary supplements that may assist as effectively. I talk about this with Veterinarian Dr. Rob Franklin in a podcast episode the place he provides some methods for optimizing pets’ well being (together with emotional well being too!). Certainly one of my favourite additions to my pets’ diet is coconut oil for high-quality fats that helps assist wholesome pores and skin, coats, and digestion.

Use a Flea Comb

A flea comb has enamel which are carefully spaced so it could possibly take away fleas out of your pet. That is useful to start the method of eliminating fleas however may also be useful in figuring out how infested your pet actually is. Do that exterior if potential to maintain fleas out of the home.

Give Them a Tub

After your pet is combed, a shower is the subsequent step. As with most parasites, fleas don’t like clear hosts as a lot as soiled ones. So bathing your pet may also help. The soapy water may even assist take away and drown fleas. Use a pure flea shampoo or citrus-scented castile cleaning soap (use unscented for cats).

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a go-to in my residence for all the pieces from food poisoning to dandruff. However ACV can be useful in pets. ACV is assumed to assist steadiness the pH in your pet’s physique, which helps repel fleas. Whereas there aren’t any research on this motion, many pet house owners discover that it really works to maintain fleas away in addition to cope with an infestation.

Add ACV to your pets’ meals (not water) to assist do away with fleas. Use ½-1 teaspoon of ACV per 25 lb of physique weight for canine. For cats, use simply ¼ teaspoon.

You too can use ACV in a topical pure flea repellent spray. Combine 1 half water and 1 half ACV in a sprig bottle. Spray in your pet (not of their eyes!) to maintain fleas from hitching a experience. This will not be as useful when your pet already has an infestation nevertheless it does assist hold fleas away.

Important Oil

There are a number of essential oils that assist deter bugs together with ticks and fleas. A few of my favorites embrace:

• cedarwood

• eucalyptus

• geranium

• lemongrass

• peppermint

• lavender

• catnip

• neem

Important oils all the time have to be used fastidiously as they’re extremely concentrated oils. However we have to be much more cautious utilizing important oils with cats. In response to Pet Poison Helpline, cats shouldn’t have a vital enzyme to course of and take away important oils from the physique. This implies important oils could construct up of their physique inflicting toxicity. For that reason, many vets suggest not utilizing important oils with cats.

Nonetheless, cedarwood important oil is probably going protected for cats when used safely and can assist with fleas.

At all times dilute important oils in a provider oil earlier than making use of. You too can add them to the apple cider vinegar spray talked about above.

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a finely powdered pure fossilized type of diatoms (a kind of algae). Due to its microscopic tough edges, it could possibly lower by means of the exoskeleton of the flea, killing it. To make use of DE, sprinkle in your pet’s dry coat.

DE may also be utilized in your home to do away with fleas which have jumped off your pets. Fill an outdated stocking with DE and shake it out across the edges of the rooms in your home. You’ll have a high-quality white powder on the flooring that may kill bugs however won’t hurt your pets or kids. Simply make sure to use food-grade DE.

How one can Get Rid of Fleas in Your Home

In the event you don’t do away with the fleas and flea eggs in your house, your pets are prone to get reinfested. Right here’s what you should do:

• Vacuum all the pieces – Vacuuming will assist get fleas and eggs which are on carpets, wood flooring, curtains, and different locations the place you may most simply clear with a vacuum.

• Wash all bedding – Particularly locations the place your pets hang around. Use sizzling water if potential.

• Use DE – As talked about earlier, sprinkling DE round your private home can kill fleas simply. Depart the DE in your house for a couple of days. Then sweep and vacuum it up (attempt to sweep up as a lot as you may since DE could be robust on vacuum filters). In the event you can’t get DE, salt or baking soda may fit too.

• Create a flea lure – Place a bowl or shallow dish of soapy water (dish cleaning soap works effectively)  in your house close to infested areas. Fleas will bounce in and drown due to the excessive viscosity of the soapy water.

Home cleansing ought to be accomplished as quickly as you’ve got used your chosen pure treatment on your pet. You need to try to reduce the potential of fleas reinfesting your pet from the home or fleas out of your pet reinfesting your private home.

Flea Residence Cures: Maintain Your Pets Protected and Wholesome

Flea infestations is usually a enormous frustration for you and your pets! However these pure flea treatments are easy to make use of at residence with elements you might have already got available.

This text was medically reviewed by Dr. Rob Franklin, a veterinarian with Full Bucket Health. As all the time, this isn’t private medical recommendation and we suggest that you simply discuss with your loved ones vet.

How do you do away with fleas? Have you ever discovered a pure technique that works?