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Effective Home Remedies for Fleas
While there are a lot flea products, there are also plenty of home remedies for fleas that work just as well. Find out how to keep your pet flea-free without introducing any toxic compounds into your household…
Various products are available to get rid of fleas and, in general, they are safe and work well. Sometimes, they produce undesirable side effects, like weakened immune system. Home remedies, on the other hand, are a lot safer and will cost less too.
Before I show you some home flea remedies, let's take a closer look at fleas and then go over some general guidelines to make your home unattractive to fleas…
A Closer Look at Fleas
A flea is an external parasite that lives off blood of its host. In most cases, fleas are just a nuisance, but some animals and people (yes, fleas can be a problem for humans too!) suffer allergic reaction to flea saliva.
Fleas are excellent jumpers and can easily attach themselves to your pet, even when he is not stationary. Fleas don't actually live on dogs – they just hop on when they are hungry.
Have you ever seen a dog violently scratching or biting himself? Most likely it's a reaction to a fleabite.
There is another way how you can detect flea presence in your dog…
Stand your dog on a white towel and run a comb through his hair. If small dark flecks fall off, wet them and see if they turn red. If they do, they are what's called flea dirt – dried up blood and flea excrement.
Flea Proofing Your Home
When dog owners think of home remedies for fleas, they immediately think of products they can use on their pet. But fleas can be anywhere – inside your house, your backyard, etc.
To keep your pet free of fleas, make your home "unattractive" to fleas.
Start off by thoroughly vacuuming your carpets and rugs (steam cleaning is even better). Apply a flea-control product in such areas as…
- Along the baseboards
- Around the perimeter of your house
- Under the deck
- Inside your car
- Doghouse / kennel
Products that contain pyrethrin or andpyrethroid, such as Bio Spot Carpet Powder, are the safest because they act fast but don't remain in the environment for too long.
Fleas like hot, humid and moist environments, so try to keep areas where your dog likes to play dry. Clean your yard off leaves and other debris. Don't let the grass grow too tall.
Home Remedies for Fleas
A lot of people don't want to use commercially available chemicals around their homes and on their pets.
The reason?
There are actually 2 reasons. These products can be quite expensive. They also introduce toxic compounds to your household.
The following home remedies for fleas are cheap and safe…
- Non-toxic powders that contain borax or diatomaceous earth kill fleas. Sprinkle some on your carpets, rugs, along baseboards, etc.
- Wash your dog with non-toxic shampoos formulated to kill fleas. Look for any shampoo that contains Pyrethrin.
- There is no scientific proof that this home remedy for fleas works, but a lot of dog owners feel that adding some Brewer's Yeast to their dogs' diet keeps fleas away. Try it.
- I read that cedar chips will repel not only fleas but also ticks and ants. Put some chips around dog's bed, in his doghouse, etc.
- Periodically wash your dog's bedding in hot water.
Flea & Tick Dog Shampoo kills not only fleas but ticks too.
It also ends snarls and tangles, and leaves pet smelling fresh and sweet.
(OK, it's not really a "home remedy", but it works!)
Finally, here is one of my favorite home remedies for fleas…
- Researchers at the University of Florida in Gainesville have found that Avon's Skin-So-Soft, a bath oil, is an excellent flea repellant. Soak your dog with a solution of 1 1/2 ounces of Skin-So-Soft to a gallon of water. In tests, flea counts dropped 40 percent in just one day.
Many dog owners have used the above home remedies for fleas with great success.
Try some of them for yourself and you may be able to get rid of fleas on your dog, as well as in your home, without resorting to products containing dangerous chemicals. And in the process, you will save some money too!
If you would like to find out more about commercially available flea medicines and their safety and track records, visit flea medicine page.
I hope you will find this information useful and it helps you to recognize some common health problems your pet may be experiencing. However, if you suspect your pet is ill, immediately contact your veterinarian. He or she will be able to help you decide the best course of action when it comes to caring for your pet.
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