You’ve heard of it happening to others, but you never thought it would happen to you. Fleas! On your dog, in your house, on your carpet, crawling all over you (at least that’s how it feels). When fleas infect your life, you feel desperate and out of control, and your poor pup feels itchy and terribly uncomfortable! You might think a flea fiasco calls for conventional treatments—anything to kill those bugs! But harsh chemicals can wreak havoc on your pet’s already sensitive and irritated skin. Luckily, natural solutions are both gentle and effective. Here are three DIY remedies to help get those creepy critters off of your best friend, and keep them away for good.
Apple Cider Vinegar Flea Comb
You’re probably already clued in to the benefits of apple cider vinegar, but did you also know its taste and smell repulse fleas? They hate it, so we love it! ACV can also help cool and soothe irritated skin. When my Lola had fleas, she enjoyed being brushed with this solution. It was the only thing that kept her from scratching! I found this treatment was easy enough to do every day, and much less of a hassle than a full bath.
Ingredients
½ cup apple cider vinegar, plus extra
2 cups distilled water
1/8 cup castile soap
2 drops of flea-repelling essential oil (like peppermint)
Directions
- In a jar or spray bottle, combine all ingredients. Apply solution to your pet’s fur and gently massage into skin.
- Add extra apple cider vinegar to a bowl and set aside. Run a flea comb over dog’s fur to remove fleas. Rinse flea-covered comb in apple cider vinegar to kill them.
- When you’ve finished, rinse dog in warm water.
Lemon Flea Shampoo
Sticking to the bad-for-fleas, good-for-us philosophy, lemons are another natural item you’ll want to keep on hand because they contain a compound that deters fleas. Bathe your furry friend with this soap once a week to keep fleas at bay.
Ingredients
½ cup castile soap
½ cup fresh lemon juice
2 cups fresh water
Directions
- In a jar, combine all ingredients.
- Apply shampoo to dog’s fur and massage into skin.
- Rinse and repeat, if necessary.
Essential Oil Flea Collar
Certain essential oils (like peppermint, pennyroyal, cedar, lavender, clove and lemon, to name a few) can act as natural flea repellents. This collar helps to keep pests from jumping on your dog. Don’t leave home without it! When using essential oils, always monitor your pet’s response and discontinue use if he has a bad reaction.
Ingredients
Collar
3 drops of cedarwood essential oil
3 drops of lavender essential oil
3 Tbsp. water
Directions
- Combine essential oils with 3 tablespoons of water.
- Using an eyedropper, apply oil mixture to the collar.
- Reapply oils about once a week, or when the smells starts to fade.