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I’m at all times searching for the most secure method to take care of my household’s minor well being points — and that features our pets too! Fleas are a standard difficulty with cats and canines however standard flea merchandise are chemical-heavy. I wished to discover a safer choice for retaining fleas away and coping with infestations once 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 coloration. They feed on the blood of pets and different animals. Fleas get round by leaping — making it straightforward for fleas to cross 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 reside their full life cycle however can reside for a number of days in your house, yard, or native park as nicely. 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 regular and appears uncomfortable, they could have fleas. The simplest method to inform in case your pet has fleas is to put him on a white towel and brush him. If there may be plenty of dust that falls off, you probably have a flea drawback. This dust known as flea dust and is a mix of flea poop and blood. To make sure you’re taking a look at flea dust, moisten the dust on the white towel or on a paper towel. If it turns crimson or reddish-brown, your pet has fleas.
Pure Flea Cures That Work
As soon as a pet has fleas, they are often robust to eliminate. They’ll even infest your house! Listed here are my favourite pure flea management treatments I take advantage of 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 capable of fend off fleas.
Feeding your pets a complete meals food regimen is an effective way to optimize their well being. I make do-it-yourself pet food for our canines because it’s essentially the most cost-effective method to feed them. However I’ve additionally bought this high-quality (uncooked and grain-free) pet food and am very proud of it. Additionally they promote high quality cat meals in case you have cats in your house.
You can too give your pet probiotics and different dietary supplements that may assist as nicely. I talk about this with Veterinarian Dr. Rob Franklin in a podcast episode the place he offers some methods for optimizing pets’ well being (together with emotional well being too!). Considered one of my favourite additions to my pets’ food regimen is coconut oil for high-quality fats that helps help wholesome pores and skin, coats, and digestion.
Use a Flea Comb
A flea comb has enamel which can be intently spaced so it may well take away fleas out of your pet. That is useful to start the method of eliminating fleas however can be useful in figuring out how infested your pet actually is. Do that exterior if doable to maintain fleas out of the home.
Give Them a Bathtub
After your pet is combed, a shower is the following step. As with most parasites, fleas don’t like clear hosts as a lot as soiled ones. So bathing your pet can assist. The soapy water can 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 meals poisoning to dandruff. However ACV can also 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 homeowners discover that it really works to maintain fleas away in addition to take care of an infestation.
Add ACV to your pets’ meals (not water) to assist eliminate fleas. Use ½-1 teaspoon of ACV per 25 lb of physique weight for canines. For cats, use simply ¼ teaspoon.
You can too 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 trip. This might not be as useful when your pet already has an infestation however it does assist hold fleas away.
Important Oil
There are a selection of important oils that assist deter bugs together with ticks and fleas. A few of my favorites embody:
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cedarwood
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eucalyptus
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geranium
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lemongrass
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peppermint
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lavender
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catnip
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neem
Important oils at all times must be used rigorously as they’re extremely concentrated oils. However we must be much more cautious utilizing important oils with cats. In keeping with Pet Poison Helpline, cats should not have a vital enzyme to course of and take away important oils from the physique. This implies important oils might construct up of their physique inflicting toxicity. Because of this, many vets suggest not utilizing important oils with cats.
Nonetheless, cedarwood important oil is probably going secure for cats when used safely and can assist with fleas. Learn extra about Pure Cat Care & Holistic Alternate options right here.
At all times dilute important oils in a service oil earlier than making use of. You can too 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 may well reduce by way of the exoskeleton of the flea, killing it. To make use of DE, sprinkle in your pet’s dry coat.
DE can be utilized in your home to eliminate fleas which have jumped off your pets. Fill an previous stocking with DE and shake it out across the edges of the rooms in your home. You should have a high-quality white powder on the flooring that may kill bugs however won’t hurt your pets or youngsters. Simply make sure to use food-grade DE.
The way to Get Rid of Fleas in Your Home
When you don’t eliminate the fleas and flea eggs in your house, your pets are prone to get reinfested. Right here’s what it’s essential do:
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Vacuum all the pieces – Vacuuming will assist get fleas and eggs which can be on carpets, wood flooring, curtains, and different locations the place you’ll be able to most simply clear with a vacuum.
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Wash all bedding – Particularly locations the place your pets hang around. Use scorching water if doable.
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Use DE – As talked about earlier, sprinkling DE round your house can kill fleas simply. Depart the DE in your house for a number of days. Then sweep and vacuum it up (attempt to sweep up as a lot as you’ll be able to since DE could be robust on vacuum filters). When you can’t get DE, salt or baking soda may match too.
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Create a flea entice – Place a bowl or shallow dish of soapy water (dish cleaning soap works nicely) in your house close to infested areas. Fleas will leap in and drown due to the excessive viscosity of the soapy water.
Home cleansing ought to be accomplished as quickly as you may have used your chosen pure treatment in 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 house.
Flea Dwelling Cures: Hold Your Pets Protected and Wholesome
Flea infestations could be a enormous frustration for you and your pets! However these pure flea treatments are easy to make use of at residence with components chances are you’ll have already got readily available.
Extra Pet Well being Posts
This text was medically reviewed by Dr. Rob Franklin, a veterinarian with Full Bucket Well being. As at all times, this isn’t private medical recommendation and we suggest that you just discuss with your loved ones vet.
How do you eliminate fleas? Have you ever discovered a pure technique that works?
