How Best to Rid Your Dog of Fleas Naturally

If you own a pet dog, there is always that constant strain on your mind that your best friend can catch fleas. Fleas are parasites that feed on animals and humans’ blood and are common in households with pets.

Most commonly, dogs are afflicted by fleas and this small pest, when they bite your furry friend, provokes itching. The bite causes an itching sensation that can turn your canine companion into a scratching machine with endless irritation.

At perfectpuppypal.com, we are not qualified veterinarians or animal nutritionists. The information that we provide is general and educational information only and is not a substitute for professional advice.

Unfortunately, scratching is normally only the tip of the iceberg. Dogs that suffer from a flea allergy can develop many other symptoms such as;

• Redness of skin
• Swelling
• Welts
• Lesions on the skin due to constant licking
• Anaemia

Not only do fleas bring discomfort to you and your dog, but they also produce a lot of eggs within your sofa, your carpets, rugs, chairs, and many other places around the home, making it hard for you to get rid of them. Here we are going to be looking at some natural remedies to help prevent your dog from getting fleas.

Scroll below to learn more tips and advice to naturally protect your pet dog from fleas.

Fortunately, there are many home remedies from which you can choose to prevent a flea infestation on your furry friend. Some of these include combs, dips, collars, and scrubs. Any of these can be used easily to help rid your dog of fleas with minimal fuss.

Flea combs

If you already have a previously purchased flea comb in your home, you have the very first tool to combat the problem. Flea combs are specially designed combs that help remove fleas along with their eggs from your four-legged friend’s coat. These combs are free of any chemicals and are cheap enough so can be bought easily.

Flea sprays with essential oils

Essential oils are a very effective and excellent flea remedy for dogs. Some common essential oils that naturally repel fleas are peppermint, tea tree, rosemary, eucalyptus, citronella etc. While using essential oils, you need to dilute them in 3 to 400 ml of water and use a spray bottle to directly spray the diluted oils onto your pet’s coat. Remember that some oils like the tea tree oil should always be diluted to a 0.1% solution; otherwise, it could be toxic to your dog.

Apple cider vinegar

Due to its acidic pH, apple cider vinegar makes the environment unfavourable for the flea’s survival but healthy for your dog. Like the essential oils, you need to dilute the apple cider vinegar. For that, maintain a 6:4 ratio with six parts of ACV and four parts of water. You also have to add a pinch of salt into it and then spray this mixture onto your best pals coat.

Use lemon bath or lemon comb

Lemon juice is another excellent option to help naturally combat flea infestation. It is a straightforward and easy method. You just need to dip the comb in lemon juice and pass the comb multiple times through your furry friend’s coat. You can also use lemon juice in a pet shampoo after diluting it with water in a 1:2 ratio and mixing it in the shampoo.

Baking soda

Pet owners worried about cleaning and getting rid of fleas from their furniture and carpets can use baking soda as a miraculous household remedy. Sprinkle baking soda on your carpet, after penetrating the fibres, disturb these fibres with the help of a broom by sweeping them side to side.

This will cause the fleas along with their eggs to dehydrate. Letting the baking soda stand on the carpet overnight or so should prove to be effective. In the morning, vacuum all the fleas and baking soda from your carpet to eliminate these pesky critters from your home.

Diatomaceous earth 

The fossilized remains of diatoms are called diatomaceous earth. They are available to find in finely broken down, silica-based white powders. It effectively helps in getting over the flea infestation as when the insects like ants, fleas and ticks come into contact with it, their exoskeletons dry, and hence they die.

You can sprinkle it into those areas where high flea activity is suspected. For example carpets and leave them for at least two days to allow its activity. However, make sure you always use food-grade diatomaceous earth. Otherwise, it can be toxic for humans and animals.

To Conclude

These are some easy-to-follow home remedies that can help you rid your dog of fleas naturally. If you have ever wondered what to do in such problems, try these remedies next time, and you will find yourself at ease and at peace!

References:

https://thebark.com/content/how-get-rid-fleas-dogs-naturally

https://www.jcehrlich.com/fleas/top-8-flea-home-remedies/

https://jetpetresort.com/blog/dog-care/30-ways-to-naturally-prevent-and-get-rid-of-fleas-on-dogs/

Please feel free to leave a comment below if you have anything to add, or if you have previously tried any of the natural flea prevention methods mentioned here with your best friend.