★★★★★
Before spraying on furniture and carpets, check a small area to make sure it won't stain. I can't tell you how many thousands of dollars I've spent on topical treatments, pills, shampoos, sprays etc. and nothing worked. Then a friend suggested lemon juice, which did make sense, since it's a key ingredient in citronella candles, horse fly wipes etc. to keep bugs away.
Diatomaceous Earth
★☆☆☆☆
Dish Soap
Salt
★★★★★
I found that salts works like a charm. The finer the better. I use Diamond fine salt just for this purpose to sprinkle on the carpeted steps. Salt dehydrates them, big ones little ones, and the fleas yet to be born. And if a water bug passes by his fate is the same as the fleas.
I put it on my mom's carpeted steps before the hot weather comes in. I might leave it on a few days. Then I sweep it up.
Amethyst
Aloe Vera
Dish Soap and Lamp Method
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous Earth
Your experience sounds spot on - DE makes a huge mess if you do it right, and you do have to sleep in another room while the dust given time to work. If you still are loaded with fleas, you may not have done enough dust, or applied to all the areas that needed it. You might find the lamp trap easier to use and more effective for your situation. Get a small desk lamp and place it on the floor that you want to treat. Put a white plate under the bulb on the floor, and add some water with a few drops of dish soap added - mix it so the soap is dispersed but don't get it all sudsy or full of bubbles. Turn the lamp on and turn the room lights off and then check to see what you have caught in the morning. I find this to be a very effective way to catch fleas and quickly clear out an infestation from a room. I have a lamp trap in each room of my house - they work on mosquitoes as well as fleas and tend to catch any insect. Keep your house well vacuumed, wash pet beds and human bedding frequently, and deploy many lamp traps to help rid your house of fleas. I also find the easiest and most effective way to get rid of fleas on pets is to give them a flea bath followed by a blow dry and flea combing to remove any fleas that survived the bath. Good luck and please keep us posted!
Diatomaceous Earth
★☆☆☆☆
Mothballs in Vacuum
★★★★★
Borax
Per this Pest Management company:
http://www.dodsonbros.com/blog/borax-and-boric-acid-for-insect-control-228.html
This site goes into detail on how to apply borax for fleas:
The above also recommends the floor lamp flea trap which is now my first choice in addressing any flea infestation.
Borax
HOWEVER----->Many pet lovers opt in favor of sprinkling Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth on their carpets since it's an effective natural remedy and safe for all furry critters- even if they consume it (it's also a natural de-wormer). Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth physically destroys the fleas exoskeleton from the outside, causing the little pest to dehydrate. AND because it works on this physical level, they will never build immunity (Yesss!! ).
BONUS: Did you know F.G.D.E. not only annihilates fleas... it efficiently 'snipers' any would-be invaders, like: Ants, Roaches, Bed-bugs, Mites, Ticks, Crickets, Lice...actually THIS AMAZING BAG OF POWDER KILL ANY BUG IN THE ENTIRE WORLD WITH AN EXOSKELETON!!!
ARE YOU FEELING MY EXCITEMENT PEOPLE?!? IT'S AN ENTIRE BAG OF "AWESOMENESS" and its uses are endless!!
How are these flea control companies even staying in business? I will NEVER study another 'flea control' box label to assess my pets health risks after use. It's just not worth it, and my pets agree.----->
"Hey...we totally agree." -the Pets
What...of course they wrote that ;)
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous Earth
Essential Oils
Amethyst
Borax
★★★★★
Diatomaceous Earth
★★★★★
Citrus Peel Infused in White Vinegar
★★★★★
Borax
Borax
I've been spraying a mixture of (equal parts) apple cider vinegar/witch hazel/lemon juice all over the carpet every day and the problem is much better! You have to keep it up though because success seems to come from a cumulative effect, not necessarily an 'on contact' sort of fix. Still looking forward to the light at the end of the tunnel. Good luck!!
Garlic
★☆☆☆☆
Hi it appears that the myth of garlic applies to cats as well as dogs.
I used to make garlic water and then store it in a 500ml glass bottle refridgerated. For my cat I was pulled up approx 0.2ml of garlic water and squirt and mix into his food. No adverse reactions, but remember having to start at a low dose and build up a little ech day. I also used to boil fresh parsley for 3 mins the strain and bottle that water using a teaspoonof that in food, as parsley would help cleanse the kidneys (Dr Hulda Clark).
Not only is garlic good for fleas but I use it successfully on myself and my dog (bitch) for tooth abcess, we both were in a bad way with a leak rendering us from 'normal' to intoxicated within seconds by posion from the tooth seeping out the tooth & down thraot, using garlic, within 24hrs I was 90% better with the next day normal again, a little longer for pugsley as I had a much bigger dosage, both sorted and with out the liver bashing and flora gut masssacre we would have endured taking 'anti-biotics', a wonderful anti-biotic for family, children and 4 legged friends.
All the nay sayers who post here have read a scare story or 2 written by profit making businesses, selling synthetic copies of organic meds, whose profits will suffer when / if garlics healing potential is whole heartedly acknowledged.
Don't you think the holistic vets and also the pet lovers who use and praise garlic hold more weight than a written statement thats regurgitated by a worry wort?? (intentions may be good but really its holding back the truth based on shoddy research quite frankly).
One more thing, Vets have access to extremely cheap medications that are just as good as the top shelf expensive meds.
Some vets will offer euthenasia if 'bills' cant be paid for due to greedy vaccine, meds extortion fees. The vaccine and pharma corps forbid them from offering the affordable meds to lower income pet homes. If they start to dish out cheaper alternatives then EVERYONE will want cheaper therefore massive profit drops!! Also a vet practice will pay little over £1 per vile of vaccine (USA approx $0.80), so a £70 injection is not only toxic un-needed abuse to your pet but also pure profit for vets. Over half a vets annual income is vaccine related-hence the yearly illegal boosters (dont even accept the 3 yearly vaccine) puppy jabs for dogs and cats WILL LAST THEM THEIR LIFETIME!! Vaccine toxicity will show its self 3 months after the injection- which removes the vaccines from accusation coz 3 months is long time but im sure lots of you will be able to marry current illnesses to a start point 3 monts after a vaccine injection.
please see .....http://www.petwelfarealliance.org/
scientific eveidence and the fight to stop vaccine abuse.
also
http://www.canine-health-concern.org.uk/AboutCHC.html
Thanks, Mark
Borate Powder
★★★★★
Borax = sodium tetra-borate decahydrate
CAS-No. 1303-96-4
The most commonly occurring Borax compounds are:
- Borax/ sodium tetra-borate Decahydrate =
(Decahydrate means "10 water molecules")
- Borax/ sodium tetra-borate Pentahydrate =
(Pentahydrate means "5 water molecules")
- Borax/ sodium tetra-borate Anhydrous =
(Anhydrous means “without water”)
All 3 of the above are exactly the same product except for the number of water molecules .
========================
Boric Acid = Orthoboric Acid
CAS-No. 10043-35-3
Boric Acid can also be sprinkled directly onto a carpet or near the infestation of ants, fleas, termites, silverfish or cockroaches as the Boric Acid is abrasive to an insect's exoskeleton.
Boric Acid is an effective insecticide, by acting as a stomach poison in insects (ants, fleas, termites, silverfish & cockroaches).
To prepare poison add 1 teaspoon of Boric Acid and 10-12 teaspoons of sugar to 50ml water. Mix into a syrup and leave syrup near infestation.
To apply the powder, crush any powder that might have clumped up and using a sieve / sprinkle the powder onto carpets, fabrics and upholstery
(If you use a sieve, please do not use it in the kitchen after, as Boric Acid can be harmful when ingested).
Leave the powder down for 1-2 days, this will kill all eggs and larvae, then hover all the powder up making sure none is left.
Mark
Garlic
Just to thank you, Mark, for your post. You said it and yet, people still believe and trust the veterinarian association. Health is a business and disease is desired for profit.
Let us hope these days be shortened.
Namaste, Om
Garlic
Garlic
★★★★★
THE DOCTOR OF NATURAL PET CARE ND, Ph.D. AKA ........'THE EXPERT'
Garlic, the Facts,
by Lisa S. Newman, ND, Ph.D.
Since 1982, Dr. Newman has been a world renowned pioneer in the field of natural pet care. The author of nine books."
"When it comes to your pet's health, do you want to follow facts or fears? Unfortunately, garlic has come under attack. This is primarily as a result of garlic's close cousin onion's reputation for triggering hemolytic or "Heinz factor" anemia (where circulating red blood cells burst) through its high concentration of thiosulphate. With onions, a single generous serving can cause this reaction. Garlic simply DOES NOT CONTAIN THE SAME CONCENTRATION of this compound! In fact, it is barely traceable and readily excreted (not stored in the body).
Despite this fact, garlic is falling victim to mass hysteria spread through the internet. Yes, there are 51,174 sites devoted to warning about the "toxicity" of garlic, this hysteria has even prompted the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center to place a warning on garlic although there is little scientific data to back this claim other than the fact that thiosulphate is also found in garlic. Yet, there are also over 400,000 sites still proclaiming its benefits, many of them from reputable holistic veterinarians who have widely used garlic in their practice for many years! How can an herb suddenly turn so bad?!
There is no doubt that onion, due to its concentration of thiosulphate, will cause Heinz factor anemia. In addition, as stated by Wendy Wallner, DVM, "Onions are only one of the substances which can cause Heinz body anemia. Other substances such as Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and benzocaine-containing topical preparations can also cause Heinz body anemia in the dog." The latter probably accounts for many cases as it is prevalent in creams often recommended for allergy-suffering pets due to its ability to numb the itch. It is absorbed through the skin and builds up in the blood stream. This other substance is likely to have been involved in cases where garlic was suspect.
For centuries, as long as humans have been using herbs, garlic has been a primary remedy turned to in a majority of cases. For as long as people have been using garlic, they have also been feeding it to their animal companions. Its properties have proven far reaching, easy on the body and safe to use. In the past fifty years, during the rebirth of holistic medicine in the United States, garlic has been in the forefront. Every text that I have researched on herbal health which mentions pet care has recommended it, especially for its incredible anti-parasitic and anti-septic properties. In my own experience, garlic has also benefited pets with cancer, diabetes, liver, heart and kidney disease, uncontrollable staph infections and a host of other conditions, as well as been a staple in my recommended preventative protocols. It has been widely used by hundreds of thousands of pet owners with no reported negative side-effects - except its effect on their animal's breath - until now.
This is the point;
garlic has suddenly become a "suspect, " not proven the culprit.
Do not let mass hysteria determine a holistic care program for your dog or cat. Follow hundreds of years of "proven use" rather than recent "suspicions" in regards to this miracle herb, as garlic is known to be. As with anything, do use garlic in reasonable doses, and do know that you can trust history over hysteria. ------
Garlic
http://www.naturalnews.com/021935_pet_health_veterinary_medicine.html
Pet health is now in rapid decline
The result of all this is that our dogs and cats are sicker than ever. Ask any vet who's been practicing for more than ten years: They've never seen such an increase in the rate of liver disease, nervous system disorders, cancers and diabetes. Ever wonder why?
Amethyst
★☆☆☆☆
A dish-soap bath killed all the fleas, but gave the cat a nasty eye-infection when water got in her eye. She was an old cat who always had very bad flea issues. The other 2 cats didn't have flea issues, but this 1 cat got it bad w/ sores...
It seems like she lost the use of her hind legs after the dish-soap bath. It killed the fleas, but, perhaps it isn't the best solution for the long term. She didn't last much longer after I started bathing her regularly. She was comfortable and not scratching all the time. Her skin healed up, but perhaps the fleas were a side-effect of a deeper systemic root-cause. Probably. Too bad whatever that root cause is, this site hasn't seemed to find it yet.
★★★★★
My cat has a horrible time with the fleas in FL. They are unlike any other place I have lived. Frontline doesn't work & just makes my cat sick. The crystal was worth a shot and would cause no harm. Within a week I saw a difference and there were no more new bites. This lasted for about 2 mo. and then the fleas started again. In case anyone is thinking its due to a change of seasons, no that's not the case. There is no down time in FL when it comes to fleas.
I don't believe the stone just stops working but perhaps our pets chemistry changes. Either way I decided to add another stone I had at the house to the bowl. It is blue calcite and once again it worked. It is a complement to amethyst with its metaphysical properties. I was so happy to see it work again, but about 1 1/2 mo. later I was back to square one. It stopped working.
Ok, so this time I bought another amethyst. Yes, now there are 3 crystals in the bowl! I know it's crazy but its working and my kitty is not scratching.
I am going to do as another writer suggested & recharge the stones by moonlight over night. I was doing it by sunlight and I guess that may be wrong in this case.
Anyway, to anyone who says nay, experiment a bit before you give up.
★★★★★
Keep Dryer Lint Filter Clean
A lot of the other ideas on here sound pretty good, another faux pax was the Borax boric acid. Borax 20 Mule Team powder soap Isn't "boric acid". Boric Acid is very toxic as someone else said. Borax is Laundry detergent & heavy duty grease remover hand soap. But it does kill them in your carpets.
A substitute for Diatomaceous Earth is the 'ashes' from your fireplace really well burned down to powder. Not as hard on humans or pets I wouldn't think. (Used in old days in process of making Soap.) Does 'puff' a bit when you mow the lawn.
Lemongrass is the plant that Citronella comes from and trimming the leaves off, then boiling them for 30 minutes and letting the liquid cool and using the liquid as a Rinse for your pet works great. Soothing and the Fleas Flee down the drain. Depending on how much plant leaves you have, I had a 4 qt pot and a 2 qt pot full of leaves that I filled with water on each. Set the water to heat up to boil, then simmer at just barely bubbling 30 minutes. Keep adding water to keep the level at the same as you started. At the end of 30 minutes, or you can do for longer if you want it more concentrated, let it cool then take out the leaves. Pour solution into pour bottles, spray bottles (for bedding, or onto pet - it smells like lemons) or into a 'yard sprayer'. In between baths you can use this to 'hit the hiding spots' and comb through with flea comb in the bath tub. However, the batch I've made is a yellow color, it didn't seem to change her champagne color hair but test it on 'white' pets in a inconspicuous place first just in case. You can leave this on the pet, furniture, carpet, bedding. It will wash out and you can reapply as often as you want or need.
Still fighting the fight! What was Noah thinking letting 2 Fleas onto the Ark???
Dish Soap and Lamp Method
Dish Soap
★★★★★
Diatomaceous Earth
Thank you.
Citrus Peel Infused in White Vinegar
★★★★★
Citrus peels have two organic chemicals called limonene and linalool which kill all stages of the flea's life cycle.
Just pour a 1/2 gallon (or really as much as you want, cause it can also be used for general household cleaning too) - of white vinegar into a large glass, covered container and throw in whatever citrus peels you have - oranges, grapefruit, lemon, lime... doesn't matter which or how much...as long as it's completely covered by the vinegar. Stir or shake it up every once in awhile and give it a week or two. Leaving it in sunlight will accelerate the process.
I use the solution, once a week, as a final rinse (don't rinse it off) after their baths. The citrus chemicals kill any fleas they may have picked up and smell of the vinegar, though not detectable to us, once the dog is dry, repels the fleas for the rest of the week.
The solution can also be put in a spray bottle for occasional spot treatment and it can even be used as a cleaning solution around the house!
Borax
★★★★★