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.
Side Effects From Hartz Flea Powder
Posted by Zookeeper (Sunnyvale, Ca ) on 07/09/2011
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
I was told by my vet to use just plain old mild dish detergent to wash my pet. Honestly, I'm afraid to use any over the counter flea rememdy after my 1 yr kitty got so sick and had seizures. She is an indoor cat and I only let her out for 5 minutes while watering the garden and she got infested. I first used Sargeants squeeze on for cats and kittens and she started bouncing off the walls and was throwing up all night. And on top of that it didn't kill the fleas. So a few days later I went and got some Hartz Ultra Guard Flea & Tick Powder for cats and rubbed her down. The next day she started having seizures and had to be rushed to the vet. I can't tell you how bad I felt and how scared I was. I don't know why they sell this toxic stuff.
I gave the kitty a bath today after a day of rest and just used mild baby shampoo. I hope this does the trick because I will never use Flea Powder or Spot applications again.
Don't use Sargeants or Hartz!! Very toxic!
Amethyst
Posted by Isabella (Raleigh, Nc) on 07/04/2011
★☆☆☆☆
WORKED TEMPORARILY
UPDATE: I'm into my second year and flea season using the amethyst. One thing that has definitely changed - it no longer works for my dog. I've had to treat him twice with Frontline this year (other natural remedies have failed for him); however, I have not treated my cats since last spring - they don't need it. I DO see a flea on a cat from time to time but they do not scratch and chew on themselves as a cat does when it's being bitten. I have five cats and they absolutely have no flea problem - despite being indoor/outdoor and living with my dog who does need flea treatment.
The rock I use is a tumbled amethyst I bought from ebay. The cats drink from a ceramic bowl. I remove the rock only to clean and refill the bowl. If you try this, give it time to work. Good luck!
Lemons
Posted by Joy (Fayetteville, N.c.) on 06/26/2011
Can that be used on cats also?
Baking Soda
Posted by Meems (Apache Junction, Az, United States) on 05/29/2011
★★★★★
I have a beautiful conure, but the lady on the first floor in our apartment building has 3 cats. They must have been loaded with fleas, because I brought them into my own home after they hitched a ride on my feet. The landlord knocked on my door and handed me a "bomb" to kill the fleas. I don't want to expose my little parrot to chemicals so I phoned her vet. I was told to use Arm & Hammer. Get a few boxes and sprinkle it everywhere. The fleas are drawn to the salty taste of it and the next day I could see their bodies were completely flat. They had dehydrated and died. Of course, yours truly tasted like a potato chip, but that didn't stop me from doing it again in one week. After vacuuming up all the Arm & Hammer, I never saw another flea. It worked great, was inexpensive, safe and only caused a tiny bit of inconvenience.
Stash Earl Grey Tea
Posted by Heather (Katy, Tx) on 05/21/2011
I've heard that Stash Earl Grey tea gets rid of fleas in the home from several people now. I haven't tried it yet, but thought I'd put that out there for anyone who needs another idea to try. Open the bags and sprinkle on the carpet. Vacuum up in a few days. Sometimes the pets will even roll in it, which helps keep the fleas off them, as well! For those with very light carpets, please test small area first.... although this tip came from someone with white carpets and she had no problems.
Banana Peels
Posted by Diana (San Marcos, Texas) on 04/27/2011
★★★★★
For fleas in the house, throw banana peels down around the areas where the fleas are concentrated. Leave them until they're black & dried up. They emit something that kills fleas as they dry. Is sounds gross but the peels don't get nasty, they just shrivel up & get hard.
Dish Soap and Lamp Method
Posted by Jennifer (Gainesville, Fl) on 04/19/2011
★★★★★
I've read that you can use the desk lamp and dish wtih soap but I modified this to be more successful at least in my case. I have found that CLEAR containers work much better than opaque. Fleas seem to be attracted to white so under each clear container I have placed either a white paper towel or a white piece of printer paper. The best light source has actually proven to be an LED battery powered lantern (dorcy) and I have placed a small bowl in the clear container with the lantern sitting in it. Then put water in the clear container with a few drops of dish soap. The separate bowl for the lantern keeps it from getting wet but attracts the fleas quite well. I have also had luck with the clear dish and soap with white paper under when I have just used a glow bracelet or stick. Pink or red sticks don't seem to work but those that are white or green attract them like crazy. Using the above methods I have caught around 200 fleas in the last 3 days since I started setting these traps--I set two with lanterns and 3 with glow sticks/bracelets. I am hesitant to use an actual lamp or anythign with a cord since my cats tend to knock things over which could prove quite dangerous. The battery powered LED lanters work better than the glow sticks but the glow sticks are nice in that you can just toss them in the water and they work without risk of damage.
Dish Soap and Lamp Method
Posted by Lynne (Shady Valley, Tennessee) on 02/22/2011
★★★★★
When we first moved to Tennessee, our "new" house had wall-to-wall carpet upstairs, our bedroom shared by the dog of course. We noticed that where the sun hit the rug, there were fleas hatching into yucky little worms. By hit or miss, we came up with a simple and very cheap solution! Get a dinner or sandwich plate (light color like yellow or white) put one drop of dish soap and fill with water. Then place the dish on the floor under a desk light that you put on the floor and aim the light at the dish. In a few hours the warmth of the light attracts the fleas and they jump in the water and drown! How simple and safe!
Neem Seed Oil
Posted by Sassy (Gold Coast, Qld) on 12/20/2010
★★★★★
Hi all, Neem oil is really fantastic stuff. But just I little bit of info, its classed as an insecticide, so using this if you have frontline etc on you animal will actually cause the frontline to stop working. Also, the drop things you put on the back of your animals. These actually work in the natural oils on the skin, so they don't really work until the flea actually bites the animal. Thanks :)
Borax
Posted by Patrick (Deer Park, Wa ) on 12/13/2010
★★★★★
I have two Golden Retrievers that had a serious flea condition. After washing the dogs with flea shampoo and I then went around the entire carpeted house and lightly sprinkled Borax (yes, the 20 Mule Team type)on the carpet. I sprinkled extra on the dog's bedding and areas where they hung out. It was amazing but I got rid of the fleas completely within a week. I later learned that the Borax dries out the flea eggs and they don't hatch. After a week I vacuumed the house and I never had another problem.
Brewer's Yeast
Posted by Blankie (Fajardo, PR USA) on 12/13/2010
★★★★★
For years I have used Brewer's Yeast until now and that is because it has been difficult to find it here in Puerto Rico. I used to buy it at Walmarts and Walgreens Pharmarcy but it has been discontinued. I have always used it for my dog and her hair is shiny, she is quite healthy. She is always outside and she loves to sleep on sand (major factor for fleas and ticks) and she has no fleas nor ticks. I have used it on all the dogs I have had. The ones that died were of all ages (15 yrs) but never due to anything they ate or that I gave them.
Essential Oils
Posted by Dudley (La, Ca) on 12/05/2010
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
PLEASE NOTE::::
Everything I have read says that tea tree oil and lavendar oil among others are very toxic cats... Please be careful and speak to a vet before putting any essential oil on them!!!
Borax
Posted by Bonnie (Torrance, Ca) on 12/02/2010
★★★★★
I had a nasty flea infestation, and the ONLY thing that worked was borax powder. This stuff is amazing! You can buy it at a hardward or gardening store, and it is pretty inexpensive. I take the powder, and sprinkle a lot of it into all the carpets... I find that using a stiff broom to brush it in really helps to get it deep into the carpets. Then wait a few days and vaccuum! The cool part is that borax powder is less harmful than table salt... A win/win if you ask me!
Borax
Posted by Nancy (Boca Raton, Fl) on 11/28/2010
★★★★★
I know the answer: After a long and tough battle with the fleas. I have two dogs and my guy is visiting for two months with his two dogs. Four dogs. We brought the dogs to the dog park and we walk the dogs around a property with lots of grass, trees and a lake. Plus I live across from a Preserve. So, it could be from the community I live or the Dog park.. Not being treated for fleas. Wherever they came from they were extremely hard to get rid of.
I live in South Florida (hot and humid) which does not help. We tried everything. Flea shampoo, washing linens; dogs beds, toys, plus the dogs... Cutting their fur short, vacuuming and cleaning out the vacuum, brewers yeast pills and garlic pills, etc. Finally we did all of the above.. And then I read online... Take Borax, boric acid and sprinkle all over the floor, base boards, etc. Then wash everything in Borax or Chlorox... In hot water. Then leave the sprinkle down mixture down for 1/2 hour or longer. Clean out the vacuum... Then sprinkle mixture inside vacuum bag/compartment..(where the dirt goes). Put pets in an area away from this. Open windows and doors to the room if you can. Then vacuum it up. Cleaning out the vacuum thoroughly when it is done. Then bath dogs, bedding, toys (in hot water if you can) etc. Let shampoo stay on for 20 minutes then rinse. Then spray raid (indoor/outdoor) automatic (in gray bottle) flea and roach spray on your outside property and all along your baseboards of your home( everywhere). Keep pets out of rooms you spray for a half hour. Then vacuum again and air out room during process.. Spray window and outside sliding glass door perimeters as well. Spray dogs with Adam's flea treatment (blue bottle) Douse their fur (do not get near head, eyes, etc. ) Get into skin.. They will not like it but.. For it to work get them somewhat wet.. not soaking just enough so it get them. Bathe again in 3 days or 4 days. Make sure you shower after the whole thing to and wash you clothes and towels in hot borax mixture. Get borax mule 57 or something. It is only about $2.49. Ok, I hope this helps. Bye for now, Nancy;)
Borax, Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Rondamommie (Kansas City, Mo, Usa) on 11/11/2010
I am reading the flea bath for cats suggestions here. Today I only have borax on hand and ACV... I do Not have Hydrogen Peroxide on hand. I have read through Ted's suggestions for remedies. Will it work to give my cats a bath/dip in only a Borax solution? Do I need the Hydrogen Peroxide for it to be effective? Can I substitute ACV or white vinegar and get the same results?
I also wish to treat my yard effectively. Can anyone recommend a solution they have effectively used? I do not have the Hydrogen Peroxide for the yard treatment recommended either. Can I use plain Borax, liquid or dry???, in my yard. Shall I combine it with something else?
I would appreciate anyone's experience with this! Best, Ronda
Garlic
Posted by Mama (London, Ontario, Canada) on 11/09/2010
★★★★★
Our German Sheppard was covered in fleas when we adopted him. His whole belly was full of the little black bloody droppings ugh... I read about garlic and began chopping 2 cloves and mixing it into 2 raw eggs and feeding this to him with his supper. I'm telling ya in the next 2 days I couldn't find a single one!! He stopped itching and was happy. I stopped the garlic thinking he's fine now, and in only a week he was beginning to get infested again. So I now keep up his supper routine of the 2 cloves of garlic in 2 raw eggs and he's been flea free ever since. Good/bad it's quite the controversy, but I'd rather this than the chemicals that are ALL bad. He's never seemed healthier.
Essential Oils
Posted by Jo (Bath, Maine) on 10/27/2010
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
I noticed an article mentions using Geranium, Citronella and Eucalyptus to bath the cat for fleas. I just hope that everyone reading realizes that these are very toxic and poisonous to cats. While I will always go the natural route to aide in matters of health with my cats, you have to become educated as to what plants and essential oils, etc are toxic to our little cat children. There are very good natural cat shampoos that use safe ingredients. And people are getting good results with Diatomaceous Earth. The food grade kind not the Pool chemical kind. This kills the fleas and their larvae without threatening the environment you or your pet live in. I hope that everyone researches carefully what natural means and that not everything that is organic or natural is good for your pet children.
Borax, Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Millie ([email protected], Missouri) on 10/27/2010
★★★★★
My son has a black lab and she got case of fleas. He wasn't sure it was fleas because he treats her monthly with frontline. She was in the process of developing mange, he had her to the vet a couple of times but he hasn't go a lot of money, he lives on disability, so I went on line and found your idea of borax and peroxide. He tried it and she is as good as new. We thank you so much we can't tell you how much. God bless you and your work. He also put cider vinegar on her spots as you recomended.
Borate Powder
Posted by Dr258250 (Johnstown , Oh, Usa) on 10/21/2010
I wanted to let everyone know that I have 4 dogs and suffer from the same thing FLEAS. I have tried so many things on the dogs I'm at a loss so I am excited to learn of the ACV but I wanted to let you know of something I use in my house. The stuff is... RX for fleas plus. I have not tried the yard stuff because I have to much yard. Just wanted everyone to know what seems to work in the house and the great thing about this I only do it once a year. LOVE IT.... Now off to see if the ACV works.
Diatomaceous Earth
Posted by Bb (Atlanta, Ga Usa) on 10/16/2010
★★★★★
FOOD GRADE diatomaceous earth & cedar based product, PCO is very effective at killing fleas in your yard.
