5 Solutions for Natural Flea Control

With a scratch, scratch here and a scratch, scratch there… Warm weather is returning and with it come the fleas. Those nasty little buggers could drive a dog to drink but pumping their blood full of prescription medication (aka harsh chemicals) or using harsh soaps and sprays hardly seems like a pet lover’s answer. Below are some all-natural solutions that will have your dog itch-free in no time.

1. Rosemary Flea Dip
Steep two cups of fresh rosemary in boiling water for 30 minutes. Strain the liquid, discard the leaves and add up to a gallon of warm water depending on the size of your dog. Wait until it cools but is still warm and pour over your dog until he’s soaked. Allow your dog to dry naturally. Works especially well on hot summer days.

2. Lavender Essential Oil
Wash your dog thoroughly and towel dry. Apply a few drops of lavender essential oil to the base of the tail and another at the neck.

3. Brewer’s Yeast
Add a small Brewer’s yeast tablets to your dog’s food. Much like prescription meds (but much healthier), this is excreted through Fido’s skin making him less attractive to fleas. Check with your veterinarian for the proper dosages depending on weight.

4. Apple Cider Vinegar
A spoonful of this stuff added to your dog’s water makes their skin more acidic and not-at-all tasty to fleas. If apple cider vinegar is not your dog’s cup of tea, you can dilute it 50/50 with water, pour into a spray bottle and use as a repellent.

5. Lemon Spray Repellent
Cut a lemon into quarters, cover with boiling water and let it steep overnight. In the morning, spray all over your dog, especially behind the ears and around the head generally (be careful of his eyes), around the base of the tail, and under your dog’s legs.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Sandi C.

1:19PM PST on Feb 6, 2012

THANKS FOR SHARING, I USED BREWERS YEAST ONCE HIS FUR STARTING GETTING A YELLOW TINT TO IT SO STOPPED

send a green star

Sophie F.

6:46PM PST on Jan 24, 2012

This is guaranteed to work. Sorbolene cream, tea tree oil and lavender oil. Mix about 300ml of Sorbolene cream (about 1 1/2 yogurt tubs worth), to three capfuls of tea tree oil and two capfuls of lavender oil. Mix and apply to your dog or cats fur fairly thickly. Test patch first to make sure there are no reactions. It works.
Just for fun catch a couple of fleas and put them into a drop of the mix on a spoon to what them die! Die fleas die!

Andrea A.

1:30AM PST on Jan 14, 2012

Thanks.

Danielle I.

12:33AM PST on Jan 1, 2012

I think I have tried every alternative I can find to flea medication for my animals but none of them seem to be particularly effective. Best thing I have found is to use flea combs or nit combs are even better and getting them off daily that way. Its very time consuming though and is ok for the dogs as they love it but the cats won't have a bar of it. Not patient enough to sit that long :)

Kate F.

8:08AM PDT on Nov 2, 2011

Aloe Vera gel can help if your dog has "hot spots." In addition to antibacterial properties which disinfect the wound, and the immune stimulant acemannan, Aloe also has an anesthetic effect. Applying the gel regularly can soothe the itch and relieve your dog's need to constantly tend to the wound. For more info, check out http://www.aloeplant.info/aloe-for-healthy-dogs-cats-and-horses/

Patricia W.

10:47PM PDT on Oct 1, 2011

Any info on flea treatments for cats?

Darice M.

5:56AM PDT on Sep 19, 2011

This is wonderful
thanks

Mary L.

8:12PM PDT on Sep 9, 2011

I appreciate the information but it is ok to use on cats?

Joy J.

3:41PM PDT on Aug 31, 2011

Awesome :)