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 Virginia (Ponca City, Ok) on 08/03/2014 ★★★★★
I came home from work one day and my legs were black from the knee down with fleas. Somewhere I heard I could spray ACV full strength all over my carpet and anything else in the house. It was hot in Los Angeles at the time so I shut the house up, turned off the A/C and let it bake for three days while I was gone to work. I continued spraying for about 3 days just to be sure they were all killed. Amazing how this works, but it does!
Grease cutting blue dish detergent works for bathing my dog. Also, I have used diluted ACV which works too.
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 feel you need to add ACV to your pet's water then that is what you should do.
You might also want to bathe him if he has fleas on his body.
Another way to combat fleas and itching is to alkalize your dog's drinking water; put 1 teaspoon of baking soda into 3 liters of water and have that as your dog's only drinking water for 1 day; increase to 2 spoons per 3 liters for the 2nd day; on the 3rd day add 3 teaspoons of baking soda to 3 liters of water -and do this for a total of 5 days. After 5 days drop it down to one half teaspoon of baking soda per 1 liter of water - this is an ongoing maintenance dose. This helps to change your dog's PH so he is not so attractive to fleas. You can add the ACV to this baking soda water when it is at the maintenance dose.
Also there are mobile vets now - you can have the vet come to you if you have no transport:
Posted by Suseeq (Sydney, Australia) on 07/25/2014
Just put some vinegar in a spray bottle and spray dog every day until fleas are gone. Only needs about three days, then spray when necessary, I haven't sprayed my dog for over 6 months.
Posted by Daisy (Los Angeles Ca) on 02/23/2014 ★★★★★
I had just about had it with my dog trixies scratching. I felt so bad for her, she would scratch and bite her vagina. Her hair was shedding like crazy, creating black marks and her belly was red and dry. I thought maybe it was the detergent, smog, house cleaners, or her love of swimming. I've never seen a flea on her so I never suspected it to be fleas.
Yesterday I poured half ACV and half water into a spray bottle and sprayed her down. Half an hour later I bathed her with Dr bronners baby shampoo. It worked!!! Thank god for earth clinic!
Posted by Lynnie (Columbus, Ohio, Usa) on 10/06/2013 ★★★★★
Went online this morning to research a "natural" remedy to rid my Miniature Schnauzer of a few fleas. She currently is on flea medication from the vet, but it just wasn't working, also was very pricey. Found this wonderful site & used the 50/50 Apple Cider Vinegar in a spray bottle. As soon as I sprayed her, the fleas came to the surface of her fur and died. She was so relieved, she laid down for a nap. So nice to have my baby dog not scratching & chewing herself raw. Will also start adding to her water. Thank you so much!
Posted by Mrsg (Jupiter, FL, USA) on 06/13/2013 ★★★★★
I have a 10 month old Maltese. I add ACV to my dog's food and water, also use it as a rinse after shampoo and I think I helps keep fleas and ticks away.
I can tell you... yes, your cat can go into hiding and act scared (at one time, it took me 2 hours to find him, he was under the basement steps hiding in a flap top box and managed to get the boxed closed!) One of my cats did last summer after an infestation. Once I took care of the problem, bathed both cats and applied advantage, he was a happy cat again. I was looking at the site to see if I could find home remedies as flea season is coming up, and also, for him deciding not to want to use his litter box (this happens a few times a week).
In response to Montica from Portland, Oregon, I think probiotic enzymes might be your answer. I have a Shepherd/Husky mix who started getting what I was told was a skin allergy when he was about 11 years old. I had the vet do an allergy workup and was told he was allergic to everything and would need allergy shots for the rest of his life. I was told there was no cure. Not buying the "no cure" mantra from anyone, I went to another vet for a second opinion. This vet told me that fungal infections produce effects that mimic allergic reactions and treated my dog with a prescription anti-fungal. It worked, but about two weeks after my two-month supply was gone, the itching, scratching, red skin, dry/black skin started returning. My vet told me it was not a good idea to keep my dog on the anit-fungal treatment consistently. I did tons of research over hours and hours, days and days, and even had my dog on a completely natural meat diet with vegetables and supplements. This helped, but he still had the problem. Then I gave him probiotic enzymes. I bought the people-grade, multi-enzyme probiotics from Wal-Mart for less than $5 a bottle. As long as I give him a probiotic enzyme pill with each meal, he does not have any more itching, red, raw, or dark-colored skin. His skin is perfectly healthy. He is 15 now and doing well. I found that yes, it was a fungus in the body. Fungus is caused by a yeast overgrowth in the body. It can have many symptoms, including itching skin. The enzymes create more good bacteria in the system which doesn't allow for yeast overgrowth. It's the same concept as women taking probiotics or eating it in Activia or other yogurts to deter yeast infections. For anyone who has gas, acid reflux, hives and a number of other afflictions, often yeast overgrowth in the system is the culprit. Take probiotic enzymes and the problem goes away. I've spent years researching this and other health issues, and have found the most amazing results by going the natural route. I thank Earth Clinic for taking me down this road in the first place a few years ago. This site is a true godsend. For you naysayers who discount this site, try what's working for others. You'll change your tune in a heartbeat.
Posted by Melissa (Budd Lake, Nj) on 09/25/2009 ★★★★★
I came upon this site while looking for a home cure for fleas for my kitten and I can't be grateful enough. We adopted a kitten that was found in the woods and after we had had him for 3 weeks, my husband one day noticed what he thought were fleas. I looked online only to find Apple Cider Vinegar as a primary cure when used with water. So we gave him a little bath -- actually, we gave him 3 baths in 2 days with warm water and the ACV. The first instance, we saw fleas, as many had claimed, jumping for higher ground -- the head. So in the 2nd bath, we put some ACV around the key areas (everywhere on the head but the eys and nose) and sure enough, when we bathed the rest of him, those fleas had nowhere to go but into the bathwater - straight to their demise. The last bath we gave him -- there was NOT A SIGN of a single flea. Nothing jumped off our kitten whatsoever. It might have helped that we took some ACV that 1st night and dabbed it on his fur to ensure that if we had missed any, they might abandon ship throughout the night. Looks like ACV is a great first resort for the critters, not to mention that it's safe!
Posted by Cheesetazmallyshadow (Chicago, Il) on 09/29/2009
I just tried the acv bath and the smallest little sucker fleas just started falling off, so many I had no idea how small they could be. I tried it on my two 10 yr old cats and my two pups one 3yr old 20lb guy and one 7yr old 35lb fella. My dogs did very well with it but I my cats stomach turned and they started throwing up. If anyone can help it would be great. They've stopped now and its better than when my dog threw up blood after I used a toxic spray, so I'm not too worried but if someone could tell me if 1/2 avc to 1/2 water is too much should I cut it more? Thanks now off to wash the floor with avc too!
I have a yorkie and just found out she is 4 weeks pregnant and also found out she has fleas. I have never had this problem before and my vet had advised us not to use any chemicals to get rid of the fleas. So I found this site and was wondering if this would be safe for her to bath in and to add apple cider vinegar to her water???
Posted by Suseeq (Sydney, Australia) on 07/24/2017
listerine the brown one 50/50 water in spray bottle, brewers yeast internally and garlic work well together you can rub brewers yeast into coat. Fleas hate yeast
I don't think it is a good idea to put vinegar in a pet's water. This is disgusting. If you wouldn't drink it why would they? You will make the pet not want to drink water and then they will have kidney trouble.
HEY CAROL.....I DO DRINK THE ACV MIXED W WATER EVERYDAY...LOL....HALF BOTTLE ON MY WAY TO WORK AND HALF ON THE WAY BACK.....IT'S GOOD FOR SO MANY THINGS AND JUST GENERAL HEALTH FOR HUMANS AND FURKIDS!!! GET THE UNFILITERED ONLY!!....USUALLY FOUND IN HEALTH FOOD STORE.....WON'T GO IN TO ALL THE BENEFITS BUT JUST GOOGLE AND YOU WILL BE AMAZED!!! I GOT IT ORIGINALLY FOR MY PETS BUT AFTER READING ALL THE BENEFITS STARTED TAKING IT MYSELF!! YOU JUST PUT IN ABOUT A TEASPOON TO A BOWL OF WATER....TASTES LIKE LEMON WATER!
My partner and I both drink unpasteurized ACV all the time, and am looking forward to giving my cats some & bathe them to get rid of the fleas!! They never drink water, and it is a problem.. I'll also report if their typical chronic persian cat eye/nose gunk problem clears up. Thanks!!!!!! and i think I'll use DE for the carpet!!
Posted by Jennifer (Reynoldsburg, Ohio) on 05/27/2009
I was so happy to find your site! Not only does it give the possible solutions with home remedies, but gives warnings (which are important!) and negative comments as well. I will not use chemicals on my dogs if at all possible and use white vinegar for all of my house cleaning. I found the ACV solutions very helpful and will try this for my dogs' Summer itching and flea prevention. Thanks so much!!
My dog has the same problem with tearing up the backs of his legs, behind and his tail. He has spots that are really red and look raw. Also his tail is the worst he just naws at it all the time and it has sum broke skin and is raw and he doesn't want me touching it. Anyway reading about the acv has got me VERY excited and happy that it my help my baby because I feel so sorry for him. One flea bite for him is like 100 at once. I want to try the acv but my concern is will it burn or sting, I don't want to hurt him. The itching and allergies are bad enough. So does anyone know if it will burn?
EC: Yes, apple cider vinegar will absolutely burn and sting on raw skin if not diluted with water 50/50!
So I have a question?? if ACV works so well on pets themselves would it work on carpet and furniture??? I have a dog and 2 cats.. And I found one flea and now all 3 have them.. Not completely infested but I don't wanna be either. Please HELP!!!
Look up " Reel Raw " dog food and feed your dog species appropriate raw food. Prescription foods are named that to make you think they are medically necessary. They are low grade foods sold at twice the price and have nothing to do with medical prescriptions. Just another scam perpetrated by your unscrupulous Vet and the dog food companies, like heartworm medication and flea and tick topical treatment which are all NEUROTOXINS which will eventually ruin your dogs health If you wouldn't give it to your child, don't give it to your dog . Please, look these things up, the danger of all the shots and toxins your friendly Vet wants to sell you. Love my dog Amber, Robert
I have just started putting ACV in my dog's water and food. I mainly wanted to stop some tear stains that were happening, but I am also hoping it will keep fleas away this season. As I was reading this site, I was getting concerned when I read it can help with weight loss...my dog doesn't need to lose weight. How much would be too much to feed to a 15 lb. dog? I am currently putting 5 eyedrops of the ACV on his food, twice daily, and then 1 tbs. per a 5 cups of water. His dish holds 2 cups and right now that takes him about 2 days to drink. Is this too much or too little? Or is it an ok amount? He seems to be tolerating it just fine. I know it is way too soon to see results for either issue I am trying it for. But I am hoping and praying it works.
This is Lisa, from Central Point, OR again. I had forgotten I had put up a question here, about ACV and pets, back in 2009. I wanted to give an update. Ever since that time, I have been putting approx. 1 tsp. A day, in my dog's homemade food. There is a lot of water content in it, and my dog's don't mind it in their food, but really don't care for it in their waterdish. Anyway, I have been using ACV for several years now and I have yet to see a flea or tick on them. I still have to treat our yard and home, once in awhile, but no fleas are ever on the dogs, when using the ACV. One of our dogs, we had put on kibble, forgetting that they were not getting any ACV, and within a few weeks, had a flea on them. So put him back on the food with the ACV and once again, no fleas. Eyestains are better but not completely away. I recommend ACV for flea and tick prevention.
Posted by Romana (Chaparral, Otero County) on 02/10/2009 ★★★★★
I would like to Thank you for having this web site!! For those who have no idea how ACV works wonders on cats .. I use it for a flea spary and non of my pets have ever had fleas or ticks . Thanks R.L.W & kitty crew Chaparral N.M
I have been giving garlic to my dogs for years. 3 are over 10 years old. In moderation it it not toxic. I've used brewers yeast with garlic tabs for flea control in the past. All dogs are alive and well.
Posted by Aprilluvv (Los Angeles, CA) on 08/23/2008 ★★★★★
Borax in the carpet for a few days before vaccuming works and the ACV does work in the house but it will make you house stink. I didn't care, I had GHETTO FLEAS FROM HELL for 2 months. ACV works well on your body too.
Please be careful with rosemary and dogs. Some dogs react badly and have seizures from ingesting rosemary (if you spray your dog with this and he licks it).
Posted by Linda (North Bend, Oregon) on 08/17/2017
Those don't work tried all that - Bathed them put pennyroyal on the collars and still fleas. The best way I have found is a good flea comb and a once a week bath.
I just have a question that I'm hoping someone can answer. I have both dogs and cats in my home. They all have fleas and we have been using the flea control stuff from the vet and it isn't working. I find this site and was wondering what's the difference between OACV and ACV? I have a bottle of ACV and I'm wondering if the ACV will work just as well as OACV on my pets to get rid of fleas. Thanks
EC: Hi Crystal,
OACV - organic apple cider vinegar. Most people on this site use organic acv for themselves or their pets if they can find it.
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.
You might consider a basic flea trap. Make a trap by using a small desk lamp with a regular watt bulb placed on the floor in the pet area. Put a white rimmed plate or dish under the lamp. Add water that has some dish soap added to it. Turn the lamp on over night and see what you catch. If you are infested you will see many black specks. This type of trap can clear out an infested room if you use it every night.
Patricia, have you tried salt for fleas? Sprinkle over carpet. Also we have flea bombs here. Not sure if you would have them there. You set them off in house and they fumigate while you out they work great.
Posted by Barbara (Aiken, South Carolina) on 07/18/2016 23 posts
I am in a similar predicament as you. I have a multi cat household and for the first time in fifteen years my kitties and little house are infested. I have no carpets or rugs.
I am using cedar spray on floors and baseboards and organic apple cider vinegar/water spray on cats and white vinegar/water spray on stuffed furniture and floors and baseboards. I too have to get under furniture and in closets. The veterinarian said vacuuming is a major part. He sold me pyrithrine house spray, but after reading the label, there is no way I could use it safely.
Washing cats in pure soap liquid and organic apple cider vinegar. Spraying OACV/water in between.
Just set out one plate and light trap. I only see living fleas on cat bedding.
I have always been hesitant about spot on treatments and I use them, but they stopped working suddenly. Used now they do absolutely nothing.
Going to try the OACV in drinking water.
This is alarming.
How are you using baking soda? Do you use salt and borax in crevices?
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 have no experience with using baking soda, salt or borax in dry applications, so cannot comment there. I just wanted to agree with your vet - vacuuming daily is key to staying on top of an infestation, as well as daily washing of the bedding. Also, place those lamp traps in the heavy traffic areas and by the kitty beds. Please report back!
Barbara, when you vacuum, put a flea collar inside cleaner in dust compartment or sprinkle a little borax to kill fleas so they dont escape, because they can.
Posted by Patricia (Downsville, New York) on 07/22/2016 42 posts
The borax didn't work because the flea trap has at least a dozen fleas each day.
She went under the deck today and came back with more fleas. I sprayed her with Cedarcide and combed her tonight and she looks like I might have gotten them.
Are there any bombs that won't leave a residue that my cat will lick off her feet?
Patricia I suggested salt, when I was a kid my mother used this and it seemed to work and its cheap, now flea bombs if you dont make a habit of it works real good but you need to leave with your animals for a whole day, I have had cats in the past I have used it probably half a dozen times over the years no bad outcome, but don't forget fleas are not good for health either, I used a bomb when we had cockys in car and they never came back again
How long does it take for the fleas to die after spraying? I sprayed my dog with 50/50 apple cider vinegar and water. He went outside after he came back in he still has live fleas. I haven't seen any dead ones.
Posted by Marilyn (West Monroe, La.) on 04/10/2016
For the raw place on the pets leg from itching and fleas, try baking soda on it. On humans it will even help erratically poison ivy and oak as well as red bugs (chiggers.) Baking soda is so versatile and helpful.
You should check with the vet on the amount of Claritin. My little dog who weighs 13 lbs. only needs 1/2 tablet every 24 hours. Check with your veterinarian.
I have used an equal amount (cup for cup, not by pounds) of baking soda and salt on my floors for years, It worked great when I had dogs, cats and people in the house.
Patricia, just an afterthought - after you have sprinkled salt over carpet, leave overnight. Keep animals out of area, vaccuum in morning and make sure you empty vaccuum straight away as salt has a little moisture in it. I think my mum swept it out if I remember rightly.
Posted by Patricia (Downsville, New York) on 07/24/2016 42 posts
Theresa,
Wow! Thank you for that DE process. The downstairs of this house is one large open space except for the bathroom and a bedroom that is stuffed with boxes so I couldn't shut off a room at a time. I'd have to move out.
The flea trap I have been using is a hockey puck shaped light hanging down from its cord over a glass pan filled with Dawn dish soap. I try to remember to change the water every 24 hours.
I have read so many people talk about their success with organic ACV that I started treating my cat with it yesterday. I then sprayed the area around the flea trap (its a rug) with the raw ACV. I had been getting about a dozen fleas in the trap every 24 hours and I just checked the trap after the ACV spray and there are 0 fleas. I think that may mean that the fleas around the trap were killed by the ACV. Is that correct?
Does the light at the wall have to be bright or hot to draw the fleas?
I know this is probably a stupid question but do you have any idea how far from the light will the fleas travel? I mean will they travel from the center of the room to the light on the wall?
I didn't think that the trap would eventually get them all, but maybe with the help of the ACV, I am wrong in my belief. Do you continue the use of the traps after your whole house DE, borax or salt treatment?
Posted by Oldwhatshisname (Usa) on 06/18/2015 ★★★★★
I have 10 dogs and 4 cats and yes, I live on a farm. The outdoor dogs are infested with fleas and I have tried everything to get rid of the fleas but with so many animals I can't afford the popular vet prescription brands. I read about apple cider vinegar and tried it in a 50% dilution on one of the medium sized, short haired dogs. After about a minute, the fleas started moving to get away from where I applied the solution. I then wet her down all over and used a flea comb to get what I could see off her. So there's one down and nine dogs to go.
I will try adding ACV to their water bowls and see how that works.
1. For cleaning your countertops, toilet bowl, mirrors, you can use white vinegar.
2. For your own health or for the health of your dog, ONLY use organic Apple Cider Vinegar (also known as OACV). This is because the OACV contains nutrient-rich sediment called "the mother" at the bottom of the bottle. Just shake the bottle before using.
For your own health, put 2 Tablespoons of OACV into a 16-33 ounce bottle of filtered or distilled water, and add a 1/4 teaspoon of Baking Soda.
For your dog, add 1 Tablespoon mixed in with dog food at each meal. If you feed your dog dry food, you might want to add a tablespoon of canned dog food to make the meal more enticing to your dog.
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.
Are you sure it is fleas you are dealing with? If they won't leave your dog alone, are you being bit? If you have seen fleas, are certain it is in fact fleas, I would set up a simple flea trap in each room using a small table lamp set on the floor, and under the bulb place a white plate and have dish soapy water in the plate. Just turn it on at night and then look for black specks in the water in the morning. The lamp trap is an effective way to eliminate a flea infestation in your home or dog area.
If this were my itchy dog I would first consider diet; if any of the first 5 ingredients on the ingredient label on the dog food are corn or grain, it is time to upgrade to a premium grain free kibble.
Changing the diet helps immensely but the results take time. In the mean time I would alkalize my dog's drinking water by adding baking soda - 1 teaspoon per 1 liter of water and this as the only drinking water available. After 1 week I switch doses to 1/2 teaspoon baking soda to 1 liter of water, and after another 7 days switch to 1/4 teaspoon baking soda for another week or as a long term maintenance dose.
Does your dog smell funky? A yeasty smelling dog would warrant borax in the water per Ted's borax protocol for dogs.
For the itchy skin I would use either Ted's mange remedy, or Ted's Anti-fungal/Anti-staph dip; this brings immediate relief that lasts about 24 hours, so must be repeated frequently. After bathing you can mix up the second remedy and keep it in a spray bottle to spot treat particular areas.
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.
Hi, my dog Peddie scratches so much, I need to get some more ACV and I need to be putting it in his water. He is 3 years old. I don't have transportation to take him regularly to vet. Please, tell me what can I do. I love my dog, he's been a life saver for me.
Posted by Marilyn B (Vancouver, Bc) on 11/24/2011 ★★★★★
Hello to ALL: Regarding the apple cider vinegar..... Am a skeptic to start with... Nothing ventured/nothing gained.... My wee 3 lb 9 yr old chihuahua, had his first flea EVER!!! Did the dawn dish detergentX2, washed all the bedding and now the apple cider bit..... Well, after bathing him, and rinsing him with water in the kitchen sink, I finished with the appe cider... 2 tsp to 1 pint of warm water, in a spray bottle... His fir looked oh so funny, but AIR DRY ONLY, so that the apple cider seeps into the pores... No harsh chemicals used... I spray him also every time he comes in from the outside.... Also wash all his bedding, and spray 50/50 solution around the living areas..... 50 apple cider and 50 water in a spray bottle. I did this every 12 hours for 2 days!!! ... I also put apple cider in his drinking water, and guess what....... He did NOT even detect any difference!!!
For the drinking water, I used 2 tsp to a pint. Keep it in the fridge... I also find he is drinking way more!! Than without the apple cider and finally...... I find the appe cider is GREAT for his bowels... Take for instance, in the mornings at 7AM, he always did the pee pees... NOW... He does the peepees and the bowels at the same time.... Before he did the bowels at 11AM... The apple cider is definitely a natural laxative...... So bathe your pet regularly X1 weekly, use the rinse with apple cider, a everynd the drinking water also with the apple cider, and spray him 2-3 X daily... He is a happy little man, coming 10 yrs in Feb. And he thinks that I am GREAT! .....
An inexpensive way to control the fleas without a vet trip..... Ps by spraying him X2 daily, apparently, the fleas DONOT like the taste of the apple cider on the outside skin OR coming through his pours on the inside, by way of his drinking it.... Just make sure, you spray the carpets, and mop the hardwood flooring every day... When using the vacuum, try to seperately bag the used bag so that any fleas donot jump out... OR seperately bag the used bag and put it in the freezer, which will kill the fleas until you use the bag again. Donot use the vacuum bag more than twice.... Hope this info helps!
Posted by Tiffany (Los Angeles, California) on 08/25/2011 ★★★★★
I have a small dog who was miserable with fleas I bathed him with dawn dish soap and rinsed him with a 50/50 mix of Apple Cider Vinegar and water after, he was dry I massaged organic olive oil in his skin which was red and inflamed. He finally stop scratching! And the fleas are gone for now I'm sure I will have to repeat this process until all the fleas are gone.
Posted by Dianec (Los Angeles, California United States) on 07/14/2011 ★★★★★
My dog Maggie a chihuahua/terrier mix had a problem with FLEAS! And her body would smell like a fish. After a bath is the only time she smelled good. The next day she would smell bad again. Well I read that dogs with this condition have too much alkaline in their system.
And that about 1 cup to 1 cup and a half of Apple cider vinegar in a pail of warm water might help.
I bathed Maggie using commercial dog shampoo and rinsed her in warm clear water and then I used an apple cider vinegar rinse, WELL IT WORKED! Maggie no longer has fleas and she doesn't smell bad. I also dip her in the apple cider vinegar rinse about twice a week. In the past even with Frontline she would have a few fleas. And her skin would get pink to red.
She is now normal. And no fleas! For me this apple cider vinegar rinse was a miracle.
You must be logged in to this post! Please sign in:
Please note that we use cookies necessary for the functioning of our website, cookies that optimize the performance. To learn more about our cookies, how we use them and their benefits, please read our Privacy Policy
