Mom’s Soap Box

It’s that time of year again. Spring has sprung and the bugs are coming. That makes this the perfect time to review natural flea remedies.

First let’s talk about a couple of ways in which we can prevent flea problems for our pets altogether.

Many people recommend adding apple cider vinegar to your pet’s water (quarter of a cup to 5 gallons of water) or food. The dosage I use is 1 tsp. for small dogs and 1 tbs. for medium-large dogs added to each meal. Start with only a little, so they will get used to the taste. You can also try giving your pet Black Walnut Hulls that come in a capsule form at many health food stores which will repel not only fleas but also, ticks and mosquitoes.  Keep in mind that none of these solutions will work overnight and may take about four to six weeks before they are effective.

Flea-Repelling Plants

One natural way of controlling fleas is to put plants in their garden or yard that ward off fleas. It sounds weird, but many plants have natural pesticides as a defense mechanism, and there are a few that you can use to keep your yard and garden flea-free.

First is lavender. Lavender actually got a reputation in the middle ages as a cure for the plague. This was simply because it kept fleas away, and it was used as a scent on clothing. So the people who used it didn’t get bitten and didn’t catch plague from the fleas. Lavender is generally not toxic to dogs or cats.

Second is eucalyptus. If you can, plant eucalyptus, fleas and ticks will avoid any areas where eucalyptus grows. You can often get the branches at craft stores if you don’t want the whole plant.

Third is mint. This is traditionally considered a way to get rid of fleas, and it is safe for cats and dogs (it’s related to catnip).

You should know that putting these plants in your garden or yard may deter fleas from coming in, but it isn’t a cure-all. It won’t keep them off your pet or out of your house, so you’ll have to do something else about that.

If you suspect that your pet does have a flea infestation examine the animal closely by separating the hair on the animals back or flank area.  You want to be able to view the skin of the animal as well as possible.  During your search you might actually be able to see a flea scurrying by, but more likely you will see the evidence that the flea has left behind.  Flea dirt (or feces) will appear as small, black pebbles in the fur and on the skin.  To determine whether or not what you see is actually flea dirt, take a wet paper towel and wipe it over areas where the dirt is most prominent. If the wet paper towel turns red, then you can bet that you are indeed dealing with a flea problem.

Now let’s get down to bathing your flea infested friend.

Use an herbal shampoo that contains a combination of any of pine cedar, bergamot, rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus, citronella, tea tree, juniper or geranium oils.

(Cat owners take special note: Cats should not be given any essential oils, period.

The use of essential oils with cats is a potentially volatile combination. Cats do not efficiently metabolize essential oils and their use can lead to symptoms of toxicity. In addition to essential oils, cats have known metabolic sensitivities to certain herbal preparations and allopathic medications. Because the cat’s body does not efficiently excrete essential oils, they can build up to toxic levels. Symptoms of toxicity include vomiting, dizziness, clumsiness, lack of appetite, lack of energy and shock. In addition, cats have very thin, delicate skin. Essential oils are absorbed rapidly into their skin and enter the bloodstream, overwhelming their systems. Cats dislike strong odors and generally keep away from strong scents — even highly diluted essential oils. Many people find that they can use essential oils on their cats with no obvious adverse effects. Although one or more applications of an essential oil product or blend may not cause immediate harm, the effects of essential oils can be cumulative and manifest themselves at a later date in the form of toxicity for which owners and vets often can find no attributable cause.) source

Before you wet down your pet, here’s a handy trick to ensure that you are successful in killing all of those nasty fleas.  Know going into this process that as soon as you wet the animal down, those fleas are going to run for higher and dryer ground; this means they will flea (no pun intended) to the head area.  You should never douse your pet’s head with water and certainly not soap, so in order to prevent the fleas from escaping make sure that you first pour a thick layer of the shampoo all around the head and neck area; as close to the top of the head and underneath the chin area as you can get.  Pour small amounts of water with your hand onto the soapy area and spend some time building up a thick, soapy barrier that will kill the fleas that attempt to pass through it.  Proceed by wetting down and lathering up the rest of the animal’s body while frequently returning to massage and re-lather the neck area.  Fleas are very difficult to kill and it is better for your pet if you can handle the problem with one good bath rather than several of them, so be sure to leave the shampoo on for at least 15 minutes or more while continuing to massage the soap deep into the animal’s fur.  Rinse the animal thoroughly and dry it off well, especially during cold weather. You can rinse with Apple Cider Vinegar, but only if the animal’s skin is not broken. ACV will work as a flea spray, as well, just make sure the animal’s skin is not raw or broken. Vinegar in an open wound is not a good idea.

Household Flea Infestation:

Here’s a great way to get rid of the problem.  Mix four parts of Borax with one part of salt, and sprinkle over your carpet. The mixture gets down amongst the fibers, and dehydrates the fleas and eggs, and prevents them re-hatching. This works great, and it is much more effective and cheaper than “flea bombs.” The borax and salt work by absorbing the moisture of the flea and make all of those cracks and small areas that they might find to live in your home much more undesirable.  You can use the mixture by sprinkling it throughout your home onto carpets and into those harder to reach areas.  Allow the mixture to sit and then vacuum it up thoroughly.

Use ¼ tsp. of Eucalyptus Oil in a 8-10 ounce spray bottle. Fill with water. Put the sprayer on a fine mist. Spray your house with the mist. Spray the carpet, furniture, car, pet’s beds, and everywhere you think may have fleas. Fleas hate the aroma and run for the door. Do this 3 times a week. It leaves a fine mist that dries almost instantly. Spraying your pet is also a great idea. It doesn’t hurt them and it helps keep fleas away. Do this recipe all year, but especially do this routine in the summer months when fleas are at their peak. Vacuuming is also important for picking up eggs.

Fleas are a health risk for people as well as pets, so let’s do all we can to defeat the little bloodsuckers.