How to Get Rid of Fleas Naturally
Having a dog around the house is great, but sometimes, it can be a pain in the neck because of fleas. You can try using chemicals, but there are also ways to get rid of these pests naturally.
What You’ll Need:
Cleaning materials
Vacuum cleaner
Vinegar
Natural doggie diet
Natural food supplements
Flea shampoo alternatives
Diatomaceous Earth
Flea comb
Clean Your Home
If your home is always dirty, it becomes a fine living area for fleas. Make it a routine to clean your home at least three times a week. Wipe surfaces, sweep the floor, and use your vacuum cleaner to suck fleas from every nook and cranny. Pruning your yard also helps, exposing larvae to sunlight. Make sure that while you clean, your pets are confined in a locked room.
When you’re cleaning, focus on:
Humid and cool spots, especially those that aren’t exposed to sunlight
Upholstered furniture
Baseboards and cabinet crevices
Spots where you find flea debris and dried blood
Get rid of the vacuum bag as soon as you finish the chore. Another tip: use a steam cleaner along with your vacuum cleaner. The high temperature of the machine can kill fleas in all life cycle stages.
Wash Your Pet’s Bedding
You’ll find a large flea infestation on your pet’s bedding, since he’s always lying down on it. If you don’t clean it regularly, the fleas will just keep clinging onto him and coming back. Wash your pet’s bedding on a daily basis, using hot and soapy water. Not only his bedding, but also other fabric where he likes to lounge on, such as the throw rug or the sofa covers. After washing, let it dry using your dryer’s hottest heat setting.
Change His Diet
Your dog’s food intake also affects his risk of getting fleas. Make sure you feed your pet a high-quality and natural diet free of preservatives and additives, to protect him better from flea infestation. High nutrient levels and a strong immune system will deter insects. Along with the natural diet, consider adding these natural supplements.
Brewer’s Yeast - The potent nutrient thiamine can make fleas go away. Add a milligram for every five pounds of your dog’s body weight. You can mix it into his food.
Garlic - Mix one to three fresh, pulverized cloves to your pet’s food everyday.
Chelated zinc - It gives your pet a healthier skin. 20 mg for big dogs and 10 mg for smaller breeds.
Vinegar - Add four to six teaspoons of natural white vinegar to a gallon of water and give it to your pet as their drink.
Use Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous Earth, or DE is a safe and all natural substance made from a fossilized, hard-shelled algae that won’t harm your pets. It works like shards of grass that cut through insects’ bodies, dehydrating them. Just sprinkle it all over your home. You can buy it from local health food stores.
Use Flea Shampoo Alternatives
Chemical flea shampoos are available today, but if you’re worried it might harm your pooch’s skin, you can try natural alternatives. Some people use gentle soap and water. A paste made from terramin clay or bentonite and water also works well. Other natural products you can use include:
Neem oil - This plant’s bark and leaves have anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antiviral and antifungal compounds. Mix an ounce of it with four to six ounces of water and two or three ounces of white vinegar. Drench your dog with water then apply the mixture. To disperse the neem oil further, you can brush your dog.
Red or white vinegar - It’s germ-killing properties works great on dogs, and it’s very safe to use. Just add four cups to your bath water. Make sure it doesn’t get in your pet’s eyes, though.
Other Tips
A flea comb works great to remove fleas.
Bathing your dog frequently also helps remove unwanted fleas from his body.
If the flea infestation is too much that wounds appear and fur starts to fall from your dog, take him to the vet.
Unwanted fleas can harm your beloved pooch or kitty, and also your family. Follow these tips, and make sure both your home and pet are free from flea infestation.