The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Posted by Denise B (Georgia, US) on 08/18/2014 ★★★★★
White vinegar for fleas.
I just had my pug and toy poodles dipped for fleas last week. The pug is already scratching again, rubbing his back on furniture, chewing his tail, and keeping me up all night with his whining. A friend told me about vinegar killing fleas, but I wasn't sure, so remembered to check this site.
I combed the pug out and found a couple of fleas, so I grabbed a spray bottle and filled it with white vinegar. I soaked him down, spraying him from his neck to his tail.
It hasn't even been five minutes, and he is now laying calmly at my feet! Tomorrow, I'll spray the poodles, the bulldog that lives outdoors (that sleeps inside on the sunroom), and the house. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
I have sprayed ACV from a spray bottle for the last 3 years around the baseboards of my house and I have yet to see a flea in or on my dogs or cat. I mentioned this to the veterinarian and he replied with only a flat gaze. I am thrilled to have found something so natural and good not only for my animals but for me, my family and the environment and at such a low cost. I spray maybe once a week, just a gentle mist on only the first floor of my 2nd floor home, along the floorboards. You can do this outside too, along the foundation of your home. It also seems to be working with other insects, but especially fleas. It doesn't smell the greatest for a while but it is well worth it! Had to let everyone know!
Posted by Shawna (Bakersfield, Ca) on 01/07/2012 ★★★★★
I started washing my dog with Lavender baby shampoo and rinsing her in diluted ACV 3 days ago and she has completely stopped scratching. Her fleas were so bad she has open sores all over from scratching. I put a little bit of it in her drinking water but know my kitten won't drink it so today I started misting them both with the diluted ACV. It cured the problem quickly so hopefully it will keep them away as we haven't noticed any around the house yet. Good luck to everyone searching for solutions, it's nice to see so many people who want to use only natural products!
Posted by Rebecca (Oxford, Mississippi) on 08/02/2009 ★★★★★
I just got a tiny Chihuahua puppy that was covered in fleas. There has been a major flea infestation this summer here in Mississippi. I already had a German Shepherd, Chihuahua, and 2 cats who are also infested. I just took the puppy and dipped her in a bowl of half water half white vinegar, THE FLEAS ARE OFF OF HER! I left the bowl sitting so that I can put any fleas I find in the bowl and let them die. I am about to dip my other Chihuahua and then spray down the German and the cats. Fleas really scramble and HATE this vinegar. I would rather smell the vinegar than have the fleas. I am also going to start putting it in their water. This is an amazing, cheap remedy. The Advantage, Advantix, Frontline, nothing worked...thank God for vinegar!
Posted by Haley (Schenectady, Ny, Usa) on 09/07/2009
It's totally safe and healthful to use apple cider vinegar in a pet's water, as long as you buy the slightly more organic brand available in, say, the natural section at your local grocery store. Start with just adding a capful to a bowl of cold water, and mix it up a little. I haven't had one feline refuse - in fact, the water goes faster. Animals love salty tastes, that's why they lick us so much, and you can increase the amount if the flea infestation is very bad. This will also clear up any black gunk around a cats eyes or nose, and make their fur shiny and soft. As a cat owner for more than 20 years, always with multiple cats, I've never had a problem with water refusal due to vinegar as long as you buy organic apple cider vinegar. In contrast, I've had cats foam at the mouth when given drop flea treatments - which would you prefer?
Posted by Doby girl (Ozark, Al) on 07/15/2009 ★★★★★
I have been using ACV on my doberman for fleas for a monoth and it has worked. I take a cup of vinegar and a cup and a half of water. Just smell to see if it is too strong and it has been working. I have tried it with my lab but she will not let me spray her so I have continued using the K-9 with her. I have also used speramint oil for flies. I use 15-20 drops in one of the big spray bottles that is half full. It works great. This is a great site.
I have 3 Yorkie's, a Maltese and two German shepherds and have been dealing with fleas for years. I absolutely adore my dogs like children and am very careful about what I give them to ingest, topical flea treatments are also a form of ingestion since it goes through the skin into the body. As a nurse I always felt the flea medications were very dangerous, and when I researched them I found they are in fact Neurotoxins. That's all I needed to hear, there was NO chance I was using any of them again.
I've tried many natural over the counter pet meds and none worked, so I've resorted to flea combing and that only irritates the skin more, I'm at my wits end with fleas. I am SO excited to have stumbled on this wonderful page so I can try ACV, I do believe after reading from all of you and the research on this page that it will work. I'll be out tomorrow to purchase it.
I came on here originally because my GSD has a very red inflamed ear and I don't want the Vet's usual toxic drugs prescribed which will only treat the sickness short term, if their body is not in homeostasis/ balance, it will return. I am going to give this a try for her ear as well and pray!
The reason I am posting prematurely to trying ACV is that I did find after changing their diet, the skin allergies have minimized drastically and their coats are looking healthier, I thought I'd share this with all my fellow dog lovers here as it has helped my dogs. I was feeding what I thought was good food as it claims but was unaware that grain is just a cheap filler that can cause severe allergic reactions. I researched a wonderful site to find a reasonable priced grain free food,
I now give them a combo of "Taste of the wild" grain free kibble, Alaskan Salmon oil, eggs and chicken livers/fats cooked. They not only lick their dishes into the next room, but they are noticeably healthier and it's only weeks since the change. I know when I go off my regular vegetarian diet w/no sugars etc, I feel pretty bad for days. It never occurred to me the same was happening to my dogs. Grain is not part of their natural diet in the wild, and is actually Very unhealthy for them. There are some reasonable brands, even BJ's Berkley and Jensen is grain free and a 4 star choice on a budget. Good luck to all, Happy holidays! I will re-post with an update after I try the ACV.
When I give my dog a bath and then sponge her with ACV should I dilute it? Also if I use it in a spray bottle should I use full strength or dilute, if I dilute how much. Thanks
I use ACV in my rescue dogs' food twice a week and give them diluted ACV rub downs with a wet sponge or rag about every 10 days. There are no fleas on these dogs at all, which I think is a result of the ACV. I also use it full strength for ring worm and seem to be having some good luck with mange.
Posted by Sgt. B (Folsom, Louisiana ) on 09/23/2020
I also use products from springtime for my animals, bug off garlic is great for them, either the tablets or the powdered garlic, plus I buy joint tablets and also use them for our horses, springtime products will send you a catalog or you can purchase online as well.
Posted by Suseeq (Sydney, Australia) on 07/18/2016
What a resistant lot of fleas you have: tea tree eucalyptus or penny royal oil, add to shampoo and bathe once a week, a tea made from lemon, lime, pour one pint boiling water over them, put a lid on leave overnight and spray on animal and let dry. You can add lavender as well if you want. Please report back
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
If the fleas are impervious to the smell of the ACV, you might try a cedar oil spray or other insect repelling essential oils.
Ideas:
Apple Cider Vinegar – The smell of vinegar alone, is enough to repel a mosquito, but apple cider vinegar is more than just a repellent. It is a natural conditioner to the skin and hair. It is also great for adding shine and luster to the coat. A really great way to utilize ACV to repel bugs, is to steep apple cider vinegar in rosemary, lavender, neem leaf, and/or other bug repelling herbs for two weeks, shaking the jar daily. Strain herbs from the ACV and spray onto your dog. Allow to dry and do not rinse! Works great on people too and is safe on and around children as well.
Essential Oils – There are many essential oils that help repel all sorts of bugs and are safe to use in dog sprays! You can substitute these essential oils into your dog's homemade Flea & Tick spray, based off of what you have on hand. PLEASE REMEMBER – dogs should be thought of like babies when it comes to essential oils and the amount to use. Not only do they have sensitive noses but they also have smaller organs than we do. Some of the essential oils you can safely use on dogs for flea and tick prevention are: lavender, lemon, citronella, sage/clary sage, bergamot, cedarwood, lemon eucalyptus, lemongrass, peppermint, geranium, sweet orange, and rosemary.
Treating with an equivalent of Frontline for 2 dogs and a cat. Bought from PetSmart store. The flea cycle does not seem to be breaking. We had a lot of success years ago with Frontline but not this time. I am seeing baby fleas all over...particularly hitching a ride on my socks! I am going to try some of these ideas. My husband bought ACV last week to make a spray but I really want to kill the cycle. Will ACV help?
Posted by Patricia (Downsville) on 07/15/2016 42 posts
I purchased a hockey puck size light with a cord attached and hung it from the wall outlet over a glass oven pan with Dawn dish soap. Someone said that the fleas can swim but the addition of soap makes them sink. I am presently sprinkling borax mixed with salt on the rugs and in the cracks of the wooden and vinyl tile floors. I am in the country (woods) and I've tried everything, diatomaceous earth (stopped when I found out it was not food grade - didn't want to have my little one eating it), baking soda, Cedarcide spray for a year now and still have fleas.
HOW DOES one get rid of every stinking flea when they lay sixty eggs a day and then they don't hatch right a way either?
The latest attempt is the borax. Will see what happens. And a new approach to combing: every time I see my little love scratch in an area (she has taken over the window sill over the sink so I have a mug of water handy on the counter and can quickly get the comb back into the water hopefully before a flea can jump and they do) I take the comb out of the Dish soap in water and comb there in that spot. That is my latest combing plan. Seems like it could work.
She would run from the comb so I started this approach and I think now she knows I am trying to stop the constant scratching. She I scratching less.
Posted by Kirstie (South Carolina) on 03/23/2016 ★★★★★
I just found this site this morning and I just wanted to add that for fleas I use a few drops of apple cider vinegar in their water once a week and have had no problems since moving here...and the previous owners said they had a problem with them.I have 4 small dogs and I foster every now and then. I also use the coconut oil for ear mites and dry skin patches works great! Hope this helps.
Posted by Suseeq (Sydney, Australia) on 04/09/2016
Yes it does 50/50 in spray bottle, don't get in eyes every day for a week then top up once or twice a week. I have been doing this for over ten years and I cant remember when I last saw a flea on my dogs.
Put 5 tea bags in 2 cups hot water with 5 aspirin set overnite and strain in am use in spray bottle for any wounds and it will heal in 3 days ..Tannin in tea dries wound and aspirin soothes and cures open wounds fast..I use this on my Golden that gets hot spots and they are better within 3 days ..
I'm so clueless but what's one part ACV and Water? I want to get it exactly right two dogs and one is suffering so bad and he has issues with wax and shakes his head and scratches all day everyday. The vet ear cleaner is $20!! Help!
EC: One part of each means equal parts of each. For example, 1 cup water plus 1 cup ACV.
Posted by Marianne (Toronto, Canada) on 10/22/2014 ★★★★★
Hello!
I was given your website by an employee of Global Pets here in Toronto Canada. I have a Shih Tzu who has had a terrible summer of scratching due to fleas and allergies. She specifically mentioned using Apple Cider Vinegar to help rid the fleas. I have used it on Max for the first time today, but wanted to contact you to say how happy I am to have found your site! I'm sure I'll be visiting it often as I really don't like to give Max anything that has toxins/chemicals and am always looking for a natural way of curing his ailments.
Thank you so much for the info and don't ever stop what you're doing! Cheers.
Posted by Sandee (Huntington Beach, Ca) on 08/19/2012 ★★★★★
(YEA) My Husband & I came home from a two week vacation to a unhappy flea infested cat and house... Yikes... We had our two Scotty's with us and they showed no signs of fleas till our return... It was misserable for all of us, we were ready to go to a hotel... We took both dogs and our cat to the groomer to get defleaed (with Frontline) while our home was being sprayed... It did not solve either problem... Still we had fleas... For three weeks we treated our dogs & cat with flea shampoo and pest control, still fleas... By now our dogs have soars on them one was getting an ear infection... Yikes... I took the advise of ACV put it full strength into a spary bottle sparyed everything in the house (including pets with 1/2 Water 1/2 ACV solution) no more fleas! I will continue with this natural remedy from here on... Yeaaaaaaaaa! :)
Posted by Flourshoppe (Houston, Texas, Usa) on 06/17/2011 ★★★★★
We are having one horrid heat spell as you all are aware, and no rain so the fleas want to live inside with us because we have air conditioning!!! I've used Frontline 2 times on my little dog (3 weeks apart), vacuum everything every day, and spray full strength Apple Cider Vinegar all over everything... Bed, pillows, floors, sofa... Anywhere she "hangs out"... Including, I spray her because fleas do NOT like vinegar. I've never had a flea problem like this and others have complained about the problem this year too... it has taken a few weeks, but Miranda has no fleas finally not to mention, the house is always fresh smelling once the vinegar small disappears.
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
If you are taking the ACV internally, the most effective kind is the one that is raw/unpasturized and unfiltered/contains the active culture or the 'mother'.
The best way to make sure you have the right kind is to read the label and look at the contents - the *right* stuff will be cloudy with sediment at the bottom of the bottle.
Posted by Suzanne (Harrisburg, PA) on 10/06/2008 ★☆☆☆☆
WARNING!
I used organic apple cider vinegar in the past in my dogs water, but lately I have gotten a flea infestation. One of my dogs is allergic to fleas and has lost hair and had open sores on his body because of his biting. I just wanted to let people know who use the apple cider vinegar NOT TO SPRAY THE DOG WITH OPEN SORES WITH THE VINEGAR. Some people may know this and some people may not. I had flea bites myself and put some on the bites and about cried it burned so bad. So please if your animal has open sores don't spray them with this. I would rather put it in the water.
The apple cider vinegar that is being discussed here is NOT the cheap stuff you get at the grocery. They are talking about raw/unpasturized vinegar. I learned this the hard way. When I changed to the "good" stuff, the fleas did go away, just as advertised. Please check into this and try again. It *does* work!
It truly works for eliminating fleas from dogs. Just a few drops in the drinking water each day BUT it does take about six weeks.I have also sprayed the dog's beds and cleaned rugs and floors every day so it is an ongoing chore to for the six weeks but I am now on top of the situation.I run a Poodle resort so I have quite a few dogs and to have solved the flea problem is an enormous relief.
I was told by my local SPCA that Frontline and other topical treatments are completely ineffective in the flea battle this year. The fleas are immune to them. Was told that revolution is working but I am afraid of that one. I heard that cats were having seizures and some died....so I am trying the vinegar for my animals.
Posted by Patricia (Downsville) on 07/16/2016 42 posts
Yes. Diatomaceous earth, baking soda, cedarcide and still have fleas.
I read the instructions for the borax remedy from a link found on earth clinic. A second link she gave said that boric acid doesn't kill fleas and the larvae.
I am right in the middle of stripping the living room and closets and under all the furniture and leaving the borax over night.
Going to vacuum up tomorrow. the only thing I didn't do was the closet last time. Hope to move the computer table tomorrow too.
Problem is if there is just one flea left on my cat then I lose the fight.
Maybe the diatomaceous earth or baking soda do work because I was never as thorough as what I am doing now.
Also I found out the DE I was using wasn't food grade and I stopped because I didn't want it to get into my cat.
I started spraying apple vinegar on my white dog for about a week now and his fur is turning black, only on his neck though. Is that normal? Should I still be using it? I did ratio 50:50 apple vingear and water into. Spray bottle.
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
Please set out a few lamp traps to catch any fleas in your environment; this will keep the fleas off both furkids and skinkid.
If this were my dog I would take him to the vet to rule out a skin infection that might require antibiotics. If that is out of the question you might consider hitting the pet section at your local farm supply/Fleet Farm - you can find topical wound creams in the farm animal section as well as the pet section. I often find the same name antibiotics used for dogs in creams or salves for the larger animals and the larger animal products are often more cost effective.
One other thing to consider is alkalizing all of your pets drinking water with baking soda; this helps make them less appealing to the fleas and also has a calming effect on the skin.
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
I LOVE your posts! I just wanted to clarify on 'the mother'/'nutrient rich sediment'.
In unfiltered ACV you have a nutrient rich sediment - this is NOT the 'Mother'. The 'Mother' can often be seen as a strand or stringy thing, and it quite literally is a strand of enzymes and connected protien molecues. Some purists will recommend you do NOT shake the Mother or scramble it up when you are pouring from your bottle of ACV.
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