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I’m at all times searching for the most secure solution to take care of my household’s minor well being points — and that features our pets too! Fleas are a typical subject with cats and canines however typical flea merchandise are chemical-heavy. I wished to discover a safer possibility for conserving fleas away and coping with infestations once they happen. So I did some analysis and located these pure flea cures 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 simple for fleas to move from pet to pet in your own home or neighborhood.
Fleas are most problematic within the spring and summer time when the climate is hotter. They want a bunch (your pet) to dwell their full life cycle however can dwell for just a few days in your house, yard, or native park as nicely. It’s very simple for pets who go outdoors to get fleas!
Does My Pet Have Fleas?
In case your pet is scratching greater than common and appears uncomfortable, they could have fleas. The best solution to inform in case your pet has fleas is to put him on a white towel and brush him. If there’s a variety of filth that falls off, you probably have a flea downside. This filth known as flea filth and is a combination of flea poop and blood. To make certain you’re taking a look at flea filth, moisten the filth on the white towel or on a paper towel. If it turns pink or reddish-brown, your pet has fleas.
Pure Flea Treatments That Work
As soon as a pet has fleas, they are often robust to eliminate. They’ll even infest your property! Listed here are my favourite pure flea management cures 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 in a position to fend off fleas.
Feeding your pets a complete meals food regimen is an effective way to optimize their well being. I make selfmade pet food for our canines because it’s essentially the most cost-effective solution to feed them. However I’ve additionally bought this high-quality (uncooked and grain-free) pet food and am very proud of it. In addition they promote high quality cat meals if in case you have cats in your house.
You can provide 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 our pet’s well being (together with emotional well being too!). Certainly one of my favourite additions to my pets’ food regimen is coconut oil for high-quality fats that helps assist wholesome pores and skin, coat, and digestion.
Use a Flea Comb
A flea comb has enamel which might be carefully spaced so it could take away fleas out of your pet. That is useful to start the method of eliminating fleas however will also be useful in figuring out how infested your pet actually is. Do that outdoors if attainable to maintain fleas out of the home.
Give Them a Tub
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 will help. The soapy water will 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 dwelling for every thing from meals poisoning to dandruff. However ACV can be useful in pets. ACV is believed 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 may also 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 journey. This might not be as useful when your pet already has an infestation but it surely does assist maintain fleas away.
Important Oils
There are a variety of important oils that assist deter bugs together with ticks and fleas. A few of my favourite pure flea cures embody:
Important oils at all times have to be used rigorously 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 would 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 advocate 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 service oil earlier than making use of. You may also 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 sort of algae). Due to its microscopic tough edges, it could lower by way of the exoskeleton of the flea, killing it. To make use of DE, sprinkle in your pet’s dry coat.
DE will also be utilized in your own home to eliminate 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 own home. You should have a nice white powder on the flooring that can kill bugs however won’t hurt your pets or youngsters. Simply be sure you use food-grade DE.
The right way to Get Rid of Fleas in Your Home
Should you don’t eliminate the fleas and flea eggs in your house, your pets are prone to get reinfested. Right here’s what you could do:
- Vacuum every thing – Vacuuming will assist get fleas and eggs which might be on carpets, wooden floors, 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 scorching water if attainable.
- Use DE – As talked about earlier, sprinkling DE round your property can kill fleas simply. Go away the DE in your house for just a few days. Then sweep and vacuum it up (attempt to sweep up as a lot as you may since DE will be robust on vacuum filters). Should you can’t get DE, salt or baking soda may match too.
- Create a flea lure – Place a bowl or shallow dish of soapy water (dish cleaning soap works nicely) 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 may have used your chosen pure treatment in your pet. You wish to try to reduce the opportunity of fleas reinfesting your pet from the home or fleas out of your pet reinfesting your property.
Flea Dwelling Treatments: Maintain Your Pets Protected and Wholesome
Flea infestations could be a big frustration for you and your pets! However these pure flea cures are easy to make use of at dwelling with substances it’s possible you’ll have already got available.
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 advocate that you just speak with your loved ones vet.
What’s your favourite solution to eliminate fleas?
Sources:
- Benson, Kia. (2020, March 6). Important Oils and Cats.
