Fleas can be hard to control. Fleas cause irritation and itching which can also lead to secondary problems such as tapeworms, dermatitis, and plaque. It is important to know how to get rid of fleas naturally before trying any chemical flea products that may be harmful to your pets and humans. This blog will teach you how to get rid of fleas naturally.
Getting rid of fleas on your pet is not going to treat the overall problem of fleas. You are still going to need to get them off of the carpet, yard, dog bed, etc. I will have specific instructions on these areas in other blog posts.
Dog Diet
The most overlooked factor to keep fleas off of your pet, is their diet. If your dog or cat has a severe flea problem, it is probably because their health isn’t as good as it should be. Many commercial pet foods are not nutritionally acceptable and contain harmful additives and by products. By feeding your animals high quality natural food products or raw food, you are dramatically reducing the risk of them getting fleas. A healthy animal is not attractive to fleas in taste or smell.
Brewer’s Yeast
Fleas also dislike the flavor and smell of yeast (brewer’s yeast or nutritional). Simply add this ingredient to your dogs food diet. Doing this will make your dogs blood very unpleasant to fleas.
Use about a teaspoon of natural or brewer’s yeast for dogs under 50 lbs. For dogs heavier than 50 lbs, use 1 tablespoon.
Wash Your Pet
Wash your pet often with an herbal shampoo. Non-medicated shampoo also kills fleas. Never use flea shampoo on your puppies or kittens, use dish soap instead to help repel fleas instead. I would even be careful to use any flea shampoo that is not natural at ALL. Traditional flea killing products are toxic and can be harmful to your pet and even yourself.
Neem Oil Shampoo
I recommend you try Neem Oil Shampoo. It is a very safe and effective way to kill fleas on your dog. You can buy a mixture of it or you can find Neem Oil at any health food store.
- Mix an ounce of Neem Oil with 4 to 6 ounces of water and 2 or 3 ounces of white vinegar.
- Cover your dog with water then apply the mixture.
- To spread the neem oil further, you can brush your dog.