Table of Contents
Natural Flea Remedies
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DISCLAIMER
* Our readers offer information and opinions on Earth Clinic, not as a substitute for professional veterinary prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your veterinarian before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your Veterinarian can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your pet's unique needs or diagnose your pet's particular medical history.
15 YEA
2 WARNINGS!
1 QUESTION
[YEA] 11/07/2007: Laura from Umatilla, FL writes: "For your pet, Fill your kitchen sink with 1/4 body temperature water. Add ___ dish soap, white vinegar and baby oil together to form a bubble bath. Have a baby shampoo ready for their head.
Ease your small dog, or kitten/cat in the bath (use rubber gloves so you don't get scratched) Immerse the body and not the head!
Pump some baby shampoo on to your hand and rub on their neck and between the ears across their head. The fleas are Dead!
For your HOME: Use ___ dish soap in a glass pie plate with water 1/2 inch deep at several sunny places in front of a door and/or window. The fleas jump in and die. Change the water every day and in less that 1-2 wks ALL fleas are gone. A guy for a pest control company wouldnt charge me because of my little kids and the risk of inhalation of his chemical. I stuck to his intruction and WOW I was flea free! Its cheap too! The ___ dish soap and a hose water sprayer kills bugs off my bushes in Florida (I love dawn dish soap!)"
08/08/2008: Paul from Oakland , CA replies: "Hi...I really want to try the glass pie plate with ___ liquid and water near the windows..but how do you keep the cats from drinking out of it?..... I'm trying to get the monthly flea med on the cats and they sense my anxiety and they are overdue and scratching ---I can't take it. Paul in Oakland."
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[YEA] 07/19/2006: Robin from Mansfield, OH writes: "We have two dogs and four cats. Needless to say, fleas are a major problem in the summer. Upon searching for a flea killing product, we were told by a local store employee to try ___ Dishwashing liquid. She had used it on her animals and claimed that it worked. We were desperate and would try anything reasonable. Sure enough it worked!!. While bathing the animals, we saw the fleas literally running from the soaped areas. We scrubbed the animals throughly with a brush while bathing them, making sure that the soap was completely throughout the fur. We reallly found dead fleas in the water and on the floor after the bathing was done. Wash your animals once a week with this product and the fleas will not be a problem."
07/05/2008: Kathleen from West Columbia, South Carolina replies: "I am also going to try the D.E. and, thanks to your post, I will buy it from a garden store. I just wanted to thank you so very much for your very important and vital information about the D.E. from the pool stores.
Also, I am going to try bathing my dogs in the ___ Dishwashing Soap along with baby oil and white vinegar and use the baby shampoo for their heads. I really pray that this will give them some relief. It hurts to see them suffer and we are suffering also. The fleas are in our house too and I am always scratching. It is horrible.
Thank you and I hope you have a wonderful upcoming week."
[QUESTION] 01/26/2009: Mary from Birmingham, AL replies: "Do natural dish soaps work as well, or is it something specific to Dawn dish soap? I use seventh generation dish soap and my kitty has fleas. thanks!"
[YEA] 09/03/2009: Casper from Port Crane, Ny replies: "Any dishwashing liquid will kill fleas. The ones containing lemon will work even faster. Fleas have an oily surface to them that keeps them alive. Mess that up with a little soap and they suffocate. You can always kill a few fleas taking your four legged friends for a swim. FLEAS CAN'T SWIM AND WILL ONLY DROWN IF IMMERSED IN WATER! I have black labs that swim most every day and fleas are never a problem."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 10/15/2009: Joni from Lorimor, Ia writes: "I tried the candle in a pan of soapy water to kill fleas and It really works!!! Every night I catch about 20 of the little devils. I am going to attempt to bath my cats with ACV. This should be interesting!! Thanks for the suggestions."
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4 YEA
[YEA] 08/23/2009: Karen from Philadelphia, Pa writes: "I'm using the ACV on my cat and my dog and so far it seems to be working. However, to treat the infestation in my house I found an easy economical fix. First place 2 drops of dish detergent in a bowl of water then sit the bowl on the floor under a lamp overnight.Each morning I awoke to a bowl full of dead fleas. I continued the process until I no longer saw any fleas. Apparently, the warmth of the light attracts the fleas to the bowl and the solution kills the fleas instantly.Of course you need to remove your pet from the room you are treating to insure their safety."
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[YEA] 11/09/2007: G from Buffalo, NY writes: "Please Post. After having my house INVADED with fleas...I used the flea bombs, shampooed my rugs, threw any thing I could in the dryer (rugs, bedding, clothes that the kids had left on the floor, etc.) on high heat. The dogs and cats were dosed with the flea medicine that is put on their necks that I bought on line (also available at the vets, but you don't have to take your animal in to have them checked first and only takes about 2 days to receive in the mail..costs the same)..I could tell that the fleas literally fell off on my cat! I sprayed the rugs with a spray (more than once, but supposed to last for 6 mos.) that I bought at the pet store. I also went to the dollar store and bought nightlights to fit into any socket I could get to in all the rooms infested. Under the nightlights, I placed WHITE bowls of water with just a few drops of dish soap (mix it around, doesn't matter what kind/color). The soap covers the fleas and makes them sink to the bottom of the bowl. The light colored bowl allows more light to be absorbed, attracting the fleas. Even after everything I had done previously, I was still finding fleas in the bowls (a couple every day or so.) for a few weeks. But, I believe that keeping my pets on the 3 monthly dosage of the flea medication is what finally ridded our house (but, remember, my house was infested) because it kills the fleas on bite, no time to lay eggs. If I found a flea on me, or one of my animals, I would just get a small glass of water, add a few drops of dish soap, place my fingers under the water and release the flea...it sinks...it can't breath, and dies. (works for ticks also.)
This "light colored bowl of soapy water" also works great when placed next to candles outside to attract mosquitoes!!"
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[YEA] 10/13/2007: Brenda from Princeton, Kentucky writes: "Dawn Dish Soap in water helped my son to get rid of some fleas in his home. I came across your website to see if I could find something to help his flea problem. I told him about the use of a low bowl with water and dawn dish soap placed in the corner of a room with a desk lamp turned on at night. He tried it except he used a nightlite. The next morning, a lot of fleas were floating in the water. He is having better success with this method than any other he has tried. Thank you very much for your website."
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[YEA] 10/26/2006: Nicci from Midland, MI writes: "This is a remedy my grandmother used. It is safe for the pets, and easy to do. Just take a little dish saucer (one that sits low to the ground), fill it with water and add two drops of dawn dish soap. Place it on the ground in the corner of a room along with a desk lamp. Turn the lamp on and let it sit. The water may need to be changed every couple of days. This remedy works well especially at night because the fleas are attracted to the heat of the lamp, so they jump in the water and the soap weighs them down and the drown. Very effective on minimal flea problems."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 02/01/2010: Emily from Boonies, Somewhere writes: "I don't know why people keep putting stuff on their pets for fleas, all they need to do is use a flea comb, water, with a few drops of ____ dish soap (not concentrate) and keep going over their pets until they are not on them anymore, then rinse them off with warm NOT hot water. Wash the dog in the tub with the dish soap, and get all the fleas off, when you pick them off put them in a bowl of a little dish soap and water. Wash any flea down a hot sink drain and keep the water running so they can't crawl back up. Do not let the pets back in the area where there are fleas!! Which mean that you FIRST had to clean up a room to put them in after you are done with the flea combs and baths. To treat the room first vac really well, repeat and repeat! Burn the bag! Don't keep that bag in the house or anywhere they can crawl out! Use a carpet cleaner with very hot water and vinegar, go over everything and under any cushions and under furniture! Once dry go over the carpet and under any cushions and furniture with the vac again, repeat and repeat..Burn that bag too! You will need to keep going back and using the flea comb, water and dish soap on the pets to make sure you got every last one, which means to do it after a few hours again. Repeat the flea comb the next day and keep using your vac. I got rid of the fleas in my home and off all of my cats and dog doing exactly this! It works, but you can't allow pets back in an area that has fleas, they will only hop back on your pet!"
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1 YEA
[YEA] 08/04/2008: Sherry from Wilmington, DE writes: "I had used Frontline on my two dogs in the past and they would both run and hide as soon as they saw that tube come out. Both of them had lowered red blood cell counts and the vet said that he didn't know why. After having read somewhere else that the prescription flea treatments were causing lowered red cell counts, I discontinued it. when the fleas started up again, I read some of the remedies on this website and decided to try the Dawn detergent first to get rid of them. GONE!! Worked like a charm. Since then, I've put a little garlic in their food and have been applying lemon juice to their coats (they don't run from the lemon juice!). I have had not flea one and their red blood cell counts are back up where they should be. I wonder how many more years have been added to my dog's lives by using natural methods? Thank you so much!"
09/12/2008: Connie from New Liberty, Iowa replies: "i too used to be a frontline user. until this year. not only did the fleas still run all over my poor old girl but she got a major flea allergy on her pink skin from front line not working. i called them and they tried to tell me i was not doing something right lol . i have worked with dogs for years. used to work at an animal shelter. i live on a farm i think i know. i tried lemon joy last night and dawn before and both killed the fleas. now if i can find something to keep them from jumping on her and ideas out there. have a great day =]"
09/13/2008: Janice from Seminole, Florida replies: "To Connie: I live in Florida which has a huge flea problem and I have two cats that go in and out at will. I use Neem shampoo initially, which kills all existing fleas and their eggs organically. Then I follow with a ACV and water mixture as a final rinse which I do not rinse off. I let 'em loose and no flea problems whatsoever. If it works on my cats, I see no reason why it wouldn't work on your dogs. I have not seen ANY fleas on either animal and I do this every 4 to 6 weeks."
10/16/2008: Jamie Lopez from Lansing, Michigan replies: "i was just woundering about the lemon remedy that you put on the pets can you also use that to spray on your furniture too?please help i am in need of help bad .thank you."
05/15/2009: Jami from Largo, Fl replies: "What is the mixture for the lemon juice spray. Where can I get the Neem shampoo, oil"
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DISH SOAP, LEMON ESSENTIAL OIL
[YEA] 05/15/2009: Stacy from The Woodlands, Texas writes: "We just bathed our 5.5m old puppy with a mixture of Dawn, Joy Lemon and three drops of lemon essential oil. I mixed about 1.5 tablespoons but prob only used a couple of teaspoons. The fleas were jumping off of him onto my dress as I bathed him. We dried him on a white towel that became full of dead fleas. We scanned him and all but one of the fleas we found were dead on his body. He is a very tiny chihuahua, weiner, schnauzer mix and prob doesnt even weigh 5 lbs. I doubt it took longer than 5 minutes to totally bathe him."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 10/01/2008: Don from Southwest, Michigan, USA writes: "Before vacuuming, pour a half-cup of moth crystals onto an area of flea infestation and then leave the crystals in the vacuum bag until it is full. It will kill fleas and any insect vacuumed.
I buy a bag of the lavender moth tablets at any discount store. They have two tablets in individual packets. I put a packet in my vaccum everytime I change bags to kill any critters I vacuum up. The lavender oil smells good too.
You can make a terrific flea repellant if you steep a quartered whole lemon in a pint of boiling water overnight then spray lightly on dogs back, hind quaters and on belly between front legs. You could probably also make it with two tablespoons lemon concentrate and one quarter tsp. citric acid to a pint of water."
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6 YEA
1 WARNING!
[YEA] 07/20/2009: Fraizer from Venice, Fl writes: "I too have been searching for a natural remedy to rid my 2 cats of fleas. I tried the Vinegar and some home remedies, but none of them worked for me. I refuse to put any pesticides or chemicals on my pets because they are really harmful to them, and my cats have had bad reactions to them. I will not mention brand names, but I finally found success with a store bought product. Go to your pet store and look for a natural flea powder or spray containing natural oils (peppermint, cloves, etc.) that will kill fleas. They are more expensive, but are non toxic to humans and pets and WORK GREAT! My girls are no longer biting & scratching. Be sure to spray or sprinkle the powder over your entire house as well. My cats smell like TEA BAGS but are no longer FLEA BAGS!!! Please do not put poison on your pets. Find a natural remedy."
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[YEA] 12/06/2008: Laura from Cambridge, Ontario, Canada writes: "Skin Allergy Remedies for Pets
Lavender Essential Oil Spray.
This works so well my dogs actually ask for it! I just use about a 1/2 oz of pure lavender essential oil in a spray bottle filled the rest of the way up with water. In the summer, my bichon and lab both get 'hot spots' on their paws and seem to become a little obsessive about chewing on them, especially at night. When it gets to be too much they will walk over to my night table and whine until I open it and give them a squirt or 2 of this mixture and they calm down, stop itching and go to sleep. Lavender is a natural bug repellant too, and is also great as an antihistamine. There have even been times when my lab will go get the bottle and bring it to me... can you believe it!"
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[YEA] 08/08/2008: Amanda from Trenton, Ontario writes: "I was reading your site as my cats were going crazy. I didn't have any of the things you recommend to hand. but after reading your shampoo advice, I realized I did have some lavender essential oil so I tried that and a few drops rubbed into their coat did bring immediate relief."
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[WARNING!] 07/08/2008: Nancy from Long Beach, CA writes: "I was referred to your site by someone in the discussion of flea treatment, specifically cats.
The information you provide re: garlic and lavendar, rosemary, etc., is in direct contradiction with my knowledge and what was posted on other websites. My understanding is garlic and essential oils such as lavendar and rosemary are toxic to cats. I've included an excerpt from one site for your info.
"http://eartheasy.com/article_natural_flea_control.htm
Cats should not be given any essential oils, period.
The use of essential oils with cats is a potentially volatile combination. Cats do not efficiently metabolize essential oils and their use can lead to symptoms of toxicity. In addition to essential oils, cats have known metabolic sensitivities to certain herbal preparations and allopathic
medications. Because the cat's body does not efficiently excrete essential oils, they can build up to toxic levels. Symptoms of toxicity include vomiting, dizziness, clumsiness, lack of appetite, lack of energy and shock. In addition, cats have very thin, delicate skin. Essential oils are absorbed rapidly into their skin and enter the bloodstream, overwhelming their systems. Cats dislike strong odors and generally keep away from strong scents -- even highly diluted essential oils.
Many people find that they can use essential oils on their cats with no obvious adverse effects. Although one or more applications of an essential oil product or blend may not cause immediate harm, the effects of essential oils can be cumulative and manifest themselves at a later date in the form of toxicity for which owners and vets often can find no attributable cause. (source: www.aromaleigh.com)"
What's your response?
Thanks,
Nancy"
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[YEA] 04/15/2007: dmpuppyove from Harrisburg, PA writes: "I am allergic to fleas really bad. I am also in rescue & can have as many as 10 dogs in my house (and on my bed) at a time. So I cannot afford to have fleas as I break out in hives. For 20 years this is what I have been doing. First I use a baby castle soap that I get at the health food store that has either tea tree oil, lavender or eucalyptus in it. Then every week I spray them outside with this- (I put 1 inch of Avon skin so soft bath oil in a quart bottle & fill with water) I have also sprayed my house now & then with a mixture of water & peppermint oil . I never have fleas. I can't afford to- my health will not tolerate it. And this also repels the mosquitoes & ticks."
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[YEA] 08/23/2006: Maryanne from Savannah, Georgia writes: "ESSENTIAL OILS, LAVENDER AND EUCALYPTUS, A FEW DROPS OF EITHER ON BEDDING OR THE BATH WATER GIVE GREAT RESULTS. IT CURES FLEAS AS WELL AS BITES OR CUTS AND SCRAPS. THE LAVENDER IS A HEALING AGENT. NOT TO BE GIVEN ORALLY BUT IT WORKS ON MANY PROBLEMS. I DO DOG RESCUE IN MY CITY AND I ALWAYS HAVE MANY IN MY HOUSE. THIS REMEDY IS VERY HELPFUL FOR ME AS I LIVE ON A FIXED INCOME AND ENOUGH TO GO AROUND IS ALWAYS AN ISSUE. IT TAKES VERY LITTLE OF THE OIL (I ESPECILLY LIKE THE LAVENDER BECAUSE IT SMEELS GOOD AND SEEMS TO BE CALMING AS WELL. THANKS FOR YOUR SITE, IT IS VERY HELPFUL TO ME. GOD BLESS "
[YEA] 11/05/2008: Alison from Houston, TX replies: "I am so happy I found your site! I read your suggestion for bathing your pet in essential oils such as lavender, bergamot and cedar. I went on line trying to find a product with these ingredients and found something called Wondercide which you spray on your animals fur - and it is working! I have an older Mastiff who suffers from major flea allergies. Her rear and tail were raw and hairless. All I did was spray the stuff on her and now she is doing great. Her hair is back, she smells better, she is free of fleas, and she is no longer incessantly licking and biting herself. I also sprayed her bed with the product and use it in my home and yard. Our home and family are now finally without fleas. BTW I live in the flea capital of the world - Houston."
11/12/2008: Sarah from Portland, OR replies: "Be careful with essential oils like lavendar, tea tree, eucalyptus and others around pets. They can act as endocrine disrupters and are toxic to pets."
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1 YEA
1 QUESTION
[YEA] 05/15/2009: Fran from Eastland, Texas, USA writes: "I am new to these itchy horrible things. While I am cleaning up my environment I tried something that I remembered cleaned the smell of skunk off of my dog and left her so clean.
I mixed 1 cup Real Lemon Juice concentrate, 1/2 cup baking soda, and 4 Tablespoons of First Generation perfume free dish liquid. Place in a large plastic bowl because this foams up immediately. I put the foam on my body from head to toe and left it on for several minutes and showered it off. This can sting the skin and is drying but it cleaned out the pores of my skin so well and the bites were reduced in half of their size almost right after. I dried off and put Tinactin antifungal powder over my crotch area, under my breasts, and underarms, anywhere skin might be damp or folds. It all seems to dry them up and makes the itching go away for sometime. The lemon juice mixture makes you feel cleaner than you ever have. A little water can be added to the lemon juice before mixing with the soda soap mixture if it is too acidic for you. I was able to use this on my face and even closed eyes as they were getting into my eyes. Today I felt much better. I am still in the process of cleaning up my home and using the 365 day killer of fleas for the carpet. Hope all these things will work. Praying for all of you."
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[QUESTION] 03/05/2009: Kathy from Chicago, IL. USA writes: "have a question and didnt know how to ask. my house was infested with fleas. i got many bites on my legs. everywhere i was bitten is now a brown mark. flat not like scar tissue. is there any way to get rid of the marks or does anyone know why they would turn brown. my legs look horrible. just discovered your site. its awesome. started the oil pulling. all i had was olive oil and i have noticed no difference. will try with sesame oil when i go to store. for those having reactions to coconut oil you may be allergic so try a different oil. thanks for any help"
EC: Here's one website that may help: http://www.all-pets-info.com/fleacontrol/Flea-Bite-Treatment.html
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1 YEA
[YEA] 09/29/2008: Lea from Columbia, MO writes: "I have been happy with a mixed approach, using soapy water flea traps, sticky lighted flea traps, baths for cat & dog, having them on a Program & diatomateous earth in the carpet. One thing no one mentioned is flea combs. I have found that my cat seems to enjoy the attention and will sit for a long time in my lap while I flea comb her (and pet her ears, which she loves), dumping the fleas into slightly soapy water (and drying off the comb on a rag). It gets a little messy, but it is worth it. I comb my dog, too, but she is not happy about the proceedure. It works, tho, for those fleas that either escaped the bath treatment, or jumped on later. I have also spent time each day catching fleas on my feet & lower legs, & putting them in soapy water. My husband prefers very sticky tape to get them off of him. We are still fighting them, but sooo much better!"
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09/27/2009: Robin from Toledo, Ohio, United States writes: "There is a flea in my little dog's ear. After I put her "monthly flea medicine" on her two days ago, I am POSITIVE a flea went up and crawled in her one ear. (no smell, started 15 mins. after I applied the flea meds to her back nape of the neck).
I have tried a dropper full Vitamin E oil with no luck. I did not have any baby oil or olive oil to drop in it like I had read on several home remedy sites or I would try that.. I have tried I light mixture of a drop or two of peroxide and water, I have tried wiping it with a cotton ball, exploring a gentle look with a Q-tip and a flashlight and I have tried a few drops of vinegar & water like I read at a self-help pet site for ear mites(that was yesterday).
I don't have a car to just run to the store and buy something so I want to try anything I might have at home before I have to walk several blocks in the rain to buy some mineral oil or eardrops. ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! I love my minature pinscher so much, and she keeps shaking her head and scratching the back of her ear and fake-yawning and I feel so bad for her! It's gone on 2 days now - I have to solve this TODAY. I will respond immediately after I have tried something that works to help others, as I see no posts about a flea in a dog's ear rather than ear mites..Thank you xoxo"
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1 WARNING!
1 SIDE EFFECT
[SIDE EFFECTS] 06/23/2009: rocketmann80 from Blytheville, Arkansas USA writes: "my coment is about the Vet's advice, and how bad my cat was harmed by ME, taking my cat to the vet., and how frontline failed. It can cause some serious side effects, if used all the time. Also never let your cat get dipped, I have photos of the torture my best friend went through, I will blame myself forever, for not asking,WHAT IS A FLEA DIP, AND WHAT DO YOU DO TO MY CAT DURING A FLEA DIP! IF YOUR SITE, ( which i have already fell in love with) would like to hear my story, and even see photos, please let me know. I will not name names, just don't want this to happen to any animal, ever. Thank you, Janet"
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05/16/2009: Sheri from Wylie, Tx writes: "I just want to warn those of you that still use the veterinary obtained or medicinal (internal, spray, or spot drop) flea / tick repellents: I recently read about someone, that really touched my heart with his story of killing his dog by using such items on it. These products can cause cancer to your pet. It is a chemical, it is toxic to the fleas and you are putting it on your beloved pet and using your pet like a flea magnet so when the they get bit the flea dies, think about what is running through your pet's body, veins, bloodstream and organs that is so potent to kill fleas and the eggs. I used them for years and never had any animal die with cancer but I will tell you what he said makes sense; animals are a magnet for fleas, so by pumping their bodies full of toxins / chemicals that kill fleas if they bite them, what are we doing to our pets, and what does this say about us as a human race. I am in no way judging anyone...just wanted to share!"
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[WARNING!] 04/22/2008: Bev writes: "Hi, My dog when she was 2, ( a golden retriever/lab mix) was started on Program the one with flea control and heartwomer. She developed ITP. A autoimmune problem with her platlets. She had to be put on predisone because her platlets were so low. She had a bone marrow biopsy, an ultrasound and many blood tests. She is finally went into remission and has been very good for many years. So I know that it was not her but the medication. If it was her it would have stayed not gotten better when she was taken off of it. I know other dogs have actually died because of this drug. they went into the same autoimmune except it attacked the red blood cells instead and the dogs died. Just thought you should add this to your problem meds. thanks Bev B."
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09/29/2009: Jiminiecricket from Houghton Lake, Mi writes: "Has anyone heard of freezing the bedding of cat (or dog) and other small items your pet uses to kill fleas? I read this somewhere online."
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