Smart pet parents are questioning what they feed their dogs and how we treat fleas and ticks. With all those scary side effects on the packing of many flea and tick remedies, is there not a safer way?
Flea powders, collars and sprays are also toxic and yet less effective.
So What Can You Do?
Fleas can be a nightmare. I grew up on a farm and saw our dogs scratch them selves crazy in the summer. When I grew up I vowed never to let my dogs suffer like that. I’ve given my dogs flea drops for many years. I try to only give them drops when the fleas become an issue and not just because the packaging tells me to apply them once a month. If my dogs aren’t scratching, they don’t get drops.
There Are Natural Cures For Fleas That Really Do Work
A lot of people don’t realize that there are non-toxic ways to eliminate fleas and the suffering they bring, from your home. I didn’t realize this before, but I’ve been trying them out.
Herbal Treatments You Can Buy
If you’re not the DIY type, Dr. Karen Becker has created a product for fleas using herbs. She talks about it in this video and you can purchase it below if you want to try it out.
Here’s a link where you can buy this and a few other non-toxic flea and tick controls. See if one of these sounds right for your precious pup.
For those who love the DIY…
Don’t be afraid to make your own. I’ve been trying out a solution that mixes apple cider vinegar with baking soda and so far, I haven’t had any scratching thus far even though temps have been in the 90s for several weeks here in California.
Homemade Flea Spray Recipe
8 oz apple cider vinegar
4 oz. warm water
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
First you put the dry ingredients into a spray bottle and then slowly add the liquids. You’re going to get a reaction, so do it over the sink. Be sure not to get this in your pets eyes, it would sting. No good. Be sure to note the shelf life of your apple cider vinegar so you can mark the spray bottle with your own expiration date. Store it in a cool, dark area. Spray your pup once a week and work the solution down into your pets skin.
Here is a link to two recipes for homemade flea spray: One is vinegar based and the other is lemon based.
Diatomaceous Earth As A Flea Treatment
Food grade diatomaceous earth is also an effective flea treatment for your home and garden. Read up on how you can safely use diatomaceous earth to treat fleas in your home and garden.
Tea Tree Oil
Some people use tea tree oil to treat fleas but it’s not for everyone. You can read more about tea tree oil as a flea treatment HERE. Some like to put a few drops in their dog’s shampoo or create a spray using one tsp of tea tree oil mixed with one cup of warm water (mix well and spray – do not spray on or near your dogs face = OUCH IN THE EYES.)
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is good for your pup in many ways and some swear by it’s effectiveness as a flea repellent. You can read more about that HERE.
Do Your Research
Get online and do your research. Talk to your Vet. Learn about your enemy! Find what works for you and your pup. If you live in an area where there is lyme disease, you may not be able to get around using spot on treatments. You should definitely talk to your vet about the risks involved and figure out what is best for you and your pet.
Now that we have information and know how harmful flea drops can be to our pets, it’s our job to try to find other solutions if appropriate. You may need to still use spot on flea treatments but you will find that you are using less. Others have found that they no longer have a need to buy spot on flea drops at all. It’s really about doing the research and finding the best solution for you and your pets.
Share Information
Do you have any homemade flea and tick remedies for pups? Please share them in the comments below. We can only learn and grow as a pet community with your help! It takes teamwork to raise our pups and keep them healthy and happy. Sharing is everything.
