NATURAL FLEA CONTROL

(Page 2 of 2)

July/August 1987
By Diane Downs 
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While all this activity is taking place, your canine or feline friend needs some immediate attention too. Cat or dog, a bath is in order, followed by a rinse water cooled to lukewarm—and you could add a few drops of a safe herbal flea repellent oil to that rinse. When your pet is dry, a thorough brushing, combing or even vacuuming (if the process is not too terrifying to Puff or Fido) is in order. (Pick up a special flea comb from a pet store. It not only removes fleas, but helps monitor the extent of your flea problem.)

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Outside the House

To permanently eradicate outdoor fleas requires both immediate and long-term activities. First, sprinkle garden-grade diatomaceous earth over the lawn, under bushes and in shady areas. The effectiveness of this natural product (made from the shells of tiny sea creatures called diatoms) comes from its ability to scratch the fleas' exoskeletons and cause the insects to dehydrate and die. Reapply seven to 10 days later.

OTHER WEAPONS IN THE FLEA WAR

Over the years, MOTHER'S readers have offered their own nontoxic means of flea control. Here are some popular remedies.

Feed your dog or cat one clove of garlic a day. In addition to discouraging fleas, it will prevent some types of worms. Don't, however, give garlic to pregnant pets, because it sometimes causes spontaneous abortion.

Brewer's yeast (also called nutritional yeast) is available at most health food stores. Give large dogs one tablespoon once a day mixed into, or sprinkled on top of, their food. Try one teaspoon for cats and small dogs. Some animals love it. Others take a while to develop a taste for the yeast, but most end up begging for it.

A touch of vinegar in your pet's water is touted as a control for both fleas and mange. With all of the above, however, it's best to start such dietary programs long before the flea season hits.

You can also try a saltwater dip to discourage fleas. If you live near the sea, your dog might learn to love swimming in the ocean. Some especially energetic dog owners go so far as to provide small saltwater pools for their dogs to romp in.

Finally, our readers recommended putting a light six inches over a bowl of water containing a little dishwashing detergent. The heat attracts the fleas, which fall in the water and drown.

Since fleas are such persistent and prolific creatures, we recommend you combine all these natural remedies in your war against them.

—Sara Packer

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Comments

  • C. Thomson 10/1/2009 10:49:52 PM

    This past year, I tore out my lawn to replace with raised beds and walk on bark. I have a flea infestation, either from all the dirt or it came with the bark. It started in July, temps were over 100 and has continued unabated. I have tried everything in way of natural flea killers. My dog can't walk around the block without getting new ones. The only thing that seems to work is a natural product from EcoPure Naturals, called Flea and Tick spray. It contains only oils from thyme, oregano, rosemary, cloves, etc. Very strong but it does seem to kill the fleas. It is about 8 bucks for 4 oz and you have to saturate the hair. My dog comes to me when she itches to get sprayed now because she knows it will make the itch stop. Says not for people so I am still being eaten alive. Any remedies would be appreciated. Dog is inside and outside dog, hence fleas in house too.

  • Kim 7/25/2009 10:07:55 PM

    Ok now that I've read the other comments, and accidentally posted one of my own twice, I'm wondering if this article shouldn't be revised or removed due to inaccuracies. At least four different suggestions for flea control are at most potentially fatal, and at least simply false...like fleas that drown in soapy water.

  • Kim 7/25/2009 10:05:16 PM

    I'm sorry, but fleas simply don't drown. They don't even drown in bleach. I left 7 of them in a glass of non-chlorine bleach for over an hour and they were still swimming around. Not trying to be mean, but its 11pm on a Saturday and I'm here on the net in utter frustration reading about garlic juice and drowning fleas, in a desperate attempt to control the health of my animals, and I'm just not buying it.

  • Anna 3/8/2009 10:47:09 PM

    This article lists pennyroyal as extremely toxic for dogs and other animals and says specifically that pennyroyal should not be used to prevent fleas on animals for that reason.

    http://bitsandbrew.com/warning1.htm

    I don't know anything about the website's credibility, but the citation for the toxicity seems legitimate.

  • Erica 12/14/2008 1:35:29 PM

    this site is rather helpful :)

  • Anderson 2/9/2008 12:40:33 PM

    Garlic given to cats can be fatally toxic and should really be
    avoided. Small amounts to dogs is ok, but these animals do not have
    the proper digestive juices to handle garlic and we recommend none
    to cats at all and small amounts only to dogs. We have studies on
    Sheep on our website - garlic is tremendously effective on
    expelling worms from sheep/goats and only 1/6th of an o0unce of
    garlic juice every 3 weeks during the pasture season (9 months
    long) is enough. Sincerely, Wm. Anderson, Garlic Research Labs,
    Inc. website: www.GarlicBarrier.com

  • Maggie 2/7/2008 8:52:53 PM

    Our "Mother Earth" Natural food store sells a new product called
    simply "Orange Guard". It is totally from citrus and can be sprayed
    (or other ..see instructions) on bedding and around the house or
    outdoors. They do not recommend it ON pets as it has not been
    tested for this yet. It is known to kill fire ant hills which is
    amazing in the South, as they are so difficult to eradicate. Do
    check their web site...just Google Orange Guard. It can also be
    used to spray flying insects such as mosquitos. We never used ANY
    commercial sprays because of the over-all danger to all creatures
    as birds and lizards, so this has come as a welcome.

  • Beth 9/4/2007 1:00:52 PM

    I've read both your articles on natural flea control and they offer
    a number of great ideas. However, I think you should be cautious
    recommending diatomaceous earth as completely safe. While it is
    completely natural it is a know to cause lung cancer when
    airbourne. One only has to do a web search to find many MSDS sheets
    for it and info at the CDC on this fact. As I have small children
    who play on the floor I won't be using it.

  • Ronda 8/5/2007 8:47:42 AM

    I have found that sprinkling 20 Mule Team Borax works like
    diatomaceous earth. I went through the 'traditional' chemical flea
    eradication with my cat and nothing worked until someone told me to
    use the Borax. It worked and now my dad is using it for their
    earwig infestation. It's working for him as well. We sprinkle it
    around outside several times a year as well as sprinkling it in the
    house. This is the first time I've heard about the Pennyroyal. I'll
    have to find some and plant it. Thanks for the good information.
    Ronda

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