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A Natural Approach
To Flea Control |
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A collection of useful tips found while researching
natural alternatives to the popular Spot-on products found in pet stores, super
markets, and those prescribed by many veterinarians. |
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Internal
strategy: Diet |
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Fleas prefer
weaker, less healthy hosts and very young puppies and kittens with
undeveloped immune systems. Boosting your pet's health and immunity is the
key. |
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thiamine (vitamin B1) |
Found in brewers yeast can be added to
food as a daily supplement. 1 mg for every 5 lbs of body weight. |
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apple cider vinegar |
1 tsp daily in drinking water |
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Zinc |
Use chelated (key-lated) zinc: 10 mg
daily for cats |
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External
Strategy: Skin and coat |
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Regular grooming and inspection of your pet's skin
and coat will alert you to an existing flea problem. For long-hair cats, this
will also help reduce your cat's ingestion of hair-balls and reduce the
possibility of infecting the digestive system with tapeworms. |
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Bathe regularly |
Use baby shampoo or very mild soapy
water. |
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Lemon rinse |
(if visible skin condition is apparent) Slice
one whole lemon and drop (peel and all) into pint of hot water. Allow to steep
overnight, then filter pulp. Sponge onto pet's skin and air-dry (don't towel).
Treatment is nontoxic, can be repeated daily until the skin condition
improves. |
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Inspect pet's stool |
Look for signs of tiny worm-like
particles which indicate your pet has ingested flea eggs that have hatched
into larva. |
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Neem oils sprays and
shampoos |
Will help sooth and heal irritated skin.
Avoid use of essential oils on cats which can be toxic. |
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External
Strategy: In House |
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Most of
the flea population lives and develops in your house and yard, not on your pet.
Treating the environment is essential. |
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Plug-in traps |
the kind that use sticky pads, place
under a warm night-light near pet hang-out areas |
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Vacuuming |
Vacuum daily if possible. Dispose of bag
immediately or vacuum up some flea powder to kill fleas in bag. |
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Wash bedding |
Frequent washing is essential, tumble
dry wet bedding in hot dryer. |
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* Diatomaceous earth
or powdered pyrethrum |
Both of which can be found at herb
outlets or lawn-and-garden shops (or check with your veterinarian) should
then be sprinkled on the clean pet bedding, as well as on carpets and floors,
and worked in with a broom. |
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** Boric Acid (powder) |
Work into carpet, flooring, furniture,
and bedding. |
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External
Strategy: Outdoors |
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A
majority of the fleas and larvae will be within 50 feet of your companion's
favorite spot to rest, so focus on those areas. |
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* Diatomaceous earth
or powdered pyrethrum |
Spray yard with a hose sprayer, repeat
after rain or watering. |
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*** Beneficial
Nematodes |
Spray onto yard with hose sprayer or
watering can. |
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Maintain yard |
Rake leaves, cut grass, water often,
eliminate shady or damp areas. Fleas
can not survive in direct sunlight. |
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* Diatomaceousearth (Flea
Away) is a
type of fossilized algae that resembles chalk dust. The fine, sharp-edged
particles attach themselves to and penetrate the waxy coating on a flea's
shell-like exoskeleton, causing them to dehydrate and die. It can be used on carpeting, on the
pet's bedding, on furniture and on hard floors. It is a very fine
powder similar in consistency to talcum powder, so it gets into cracks and
crevices on hardwood and linoleum floors easily. It acts more quickly
than boric acid products a difference in the flea population can be
noticeable in 24 48 hours. Diatomaceous earth, however, does not last
as long as the boric acid products. Monthly applications are
recommended, especially during the height of flea season. |
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** Boric acid products, such
as Fleabusters and Fleago work
in a similar fashion to the diatomaceous earth by dehydrating the
fleas. When applied correctly, they offer protection for up to a year
or more as they remain deep in the carpet fibers. Fleabusters may also
be used on hard floors as the powder is fine enough to reach into cracks and
crevices well. Both products may be used on furniture. All
visible powder must be worked into the carpet, floor or furniture well with a
broom or rake, and any remaining visible powder should be vacuumed up.
Boric acid kills flea larvae, but is not as effective at killing the adults,
so you may not see the results for 2-6 weeks while the adult population dies
off. During the initial weeks after application, it is helpful to
vacuum frequently to kill the adult fleas. |
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*** Beneficial Nematodes are
a natural flea parasite. They are microscopic worms that prey on both
adult fleas and larvae. They are nontoxic and can be applied with a
hose sprayer or, on a smaller yard, with a watering can. Some garden
centers and nurseries carry them or can order them for you, as well as some
of the natural pet stores. Buy 1
million nematodes for 300 sq ft of yard area. |
Information Sources: |
Kansas City Infozine - http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/15723/ |
Mother Earth News - http://www.motherearthnews.com/Livestock-and-Farming/1985-05-01/Natural-Flea-Control.aspx |
Healthy Pet Journal - http://www.healthypetjournal.com/default.aspx?tabid=19241 |
EarthEasy - http://eartheasy.com/article_natural_flea_control.htm |