I live in Florida. There is no where I believe that fleas are any worse than here. My poor Sophie has been eaten alive since we have moved here. I want to know some home remedies that can work for this problem. I can not afford the costly items. I use Frontline and it seems to have stopped working. I am bathing her at least twice a week now to help keep them from driving her crazy. We have carpet which I know is a problem. I need help.
I have had many dogs in my lifetime and the best way to attack fleas is to go to the main source, which is the dog. I have fed my dogs garlic, that's right, fresh garlic, and they love it. You'll never have to worry about having fleas again. I do a lot of canning of dill and garlic pickles also, and my dogs love the garlic from these jars. Who knows, maybe because vinegar is added. But garlic is the best. I give it to them about once a week or whenever I open a new jar of pickles and, bingo, it works. As for fleas in the house, can't help with that one, haven't seen a flea in over 30 years and that was due to cats coming into my house that my ex wife brought with her. I ended up bombing the house with those flea bombs, 3 on every floor. (12/28/2007)
By JOHN F.
I work at a vet office and I have seen so many animals sick or with bald spots because of these chemicals. They are NOT good for your animals (especially cats). Also, if you ever notice your animal acting a little strange after applying any flea stuff, like if they start to shake or act lethargic, wash them immediately. (12/30/2007)
By Sara
Before you use garlic, check with your Vet. Garlic is on the Animal Poison List of the ASPCA.
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc_poisonsafe
My poor old dog is going through chemotherapy and I wanted to put garlic on her food to get her to eat, and her oncologist said NO.
Jennifer, Northern Virginia (12/30/2007)
I have heard that you should not use Borax if you have cats, as this is poisonous to them. And if you ever apply topical flea medication on your pet and they start having some kind of a reaction, ie; swelling around the eyes, face, vomiting, acting lethargic, etc., immediately wash them well and then get them to a vet asap. I used to work at a vet clinic and I have seen many cases of adverse reaction to flea medication. (01/12/2008)
By Kathleen
Rosemary oil works great as well. If you take a few drops each day and rub it through out the fur you will see that it will kill the fleas. Also, if you use shampoo that has rosemary in it, this will also help kill them while you are bathing your pet. It is also good for the fur! (02/05/2008)
By Angie
Please do not use Borax or pine oil or garlic- and for the people that are giving out advice- please don't. Always check to make sure a "homemade remedy" is safe for your pet before taking the word of someone on a blog.
Please use only all natural and safe products on your animals- if you wouldn't use it on your child- don't use it on your pet. (03/07/2008)
We are fighting the fleas bad from our two cats. I placed a candle in the middle of a dinner plate with dish soap and water in my girl's bedroom floor. Keep the kids and animals away from it. I use the candles that are in glass to be a little safer. We got hundreds overnight. It works! (03/19/2008)
By Ronda
I'm hoping this picture will work. This is TJ. He is a victim of a Hartz flea and tick collar. for more information,go to http://www.hartzvictims.org/
By chelsea
My vet and two others told me:
A) Anything you can do safely to a child you can do to a cat or dog.
B) Use regular (non BLEACH form) DAWN DISHSOAP to wash your pets
It's inexpensive and works, plus it isn't going to hurt you or your pet. I just wouldn't suggest letting them eat too much of it, my Pug's stomach didn't like it too much. (04/24/2008)
For the home, we have found that "horse apples" or "crab apples" cut in half and tossed around under furniture got rid of the fleas. I am currently trying to find out the best and least expensive way to get them off of our pets. We have ten dogs and three cats! I cannot afford expensive oils and herbs. Any ideas? Thanks! (05/12/2008)
Will seven dust hurt to put on pets for fleas?
(b)Editor's Note:(/b) Not good for pets! It is only meant for outdoor use on plants:
http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/facts-slides-self/facts/gen-pubre-sevin.html
(05/16/2008)
By deloris
You should try Diatomaceous earth. It's natural and doesn't harm the animal, like chemical products do. And it works. (05/19/2008)
By kristy
I tried the salt and it worked. It looked like the beach with all the salt on my tile floor but who cares. The fleas are gone and the vacuum cleaned up the salt and dead fleas. Thanks again to whoever came up with the salt idea. (05/27/2008)
By mark
Apple Cider Vinegar. Rub it all over puppies and the fleas fall off. Make sure to rub their neck area and noses to make sure the fleas do not run to their head. The vinegar makes their coat soft. (05/27/2008)
By froginpond
A very effective and old remedy is to put fresh branches of walnut trees around your home. Fleas will leave. Hence one reason why barns were often made of walnut wood. (06/06/2008)
By Cinda
I have the same problem and there are a few things you can try. Dawn soap works good. Give your animal a bath in dawn soap the original kind. You can also mix dawn soap in a spray bottle and spray your carpets and pet beds. If this does not work you can try a flea spray called rid a bug flea and tick killer room and pet spray this will kill them all it is in a purple can and is about $3. Yes, you spray it on your pet and it does not leave a bad smell. These are things that work that won't break the bank. (06/15/2008)
By Melisa
I have used Brewers Yeast powder and that works. I sprinkled it in the carpet and we rubbed it in the dogs coat. Brewers Yeast can be purchased in the health food store.
Check out our animal health care program: http://www.greatmoney.zurvitacaresaver.biz (06/15/2008)
By jewell
You could try using tea tree oil. May I inquire about the general health of your pet? That might be part of the problem. It has been my experience that fleas tend to go after animals in poor health. I hope these suggestions are helpful. (06/21/2008)
By butterflymoon
I tried using Frontline flea drops on my shih-tzu for his flea problem and it almost killed him. He had a severe allergic reaction and his lungs filled up with fluid. I spent hundreds of dollars on vet bills because of it. Be careful using these products and watch your pet closely if you decide to put it on them. I later put Advantage drops on him and they worked great. (06/23/2008)
By tamara
Although most of your remedies sound good, I just use baby shampoo and the kitchen sink sprayer to blow the fleas right off. (07/07/2008)
By heather
It's 2:30 am and we are up, and just finished vacuuming the borax! I'm still getting bit, and found some tea tree oil. I rubbed it on my feet, and it's really helped.
Tomorrow, I will get more products, this is awful. I might just try the earl grey tea before I go to bed! (07/25/2008)
By tracy
Not sure if you have ever heard of this, but Dawn dish soap also kills fleas. It removes the wax coating causing them to dry out and get constipated and die. It takes a week or so, but I recently got a really bad infestation in North Texas. I bombed using the Flea specific bombs from the vet at 10$ a can, I still had fleas biting me when I aired out the house from the bombing, and the next day there were double the amount.
Tonight after being frustrated I covered my legs and arms (exposed areas) with Dawn.. They jump on me and quickly off me not a single bite. Good luck! Also my father says that kookabarrel (spelling) plants in every corner works. I am trying that and salt at the moment along with Dawn. I will post my findings from this "experiment". (07/25/2008)
By Charley
I have Shih Tzu and my groomer recommended that I put a bit of vinegar in his bath water. I have tried now the collars for the 2 cats which in turn got infested by the dog and it seemed to have reduce them on them but not sure they are all gone since they are long hair cats. As for the dog I have given 3 bath with flea and tick shampoo and its not working so I will try some of the home remedies will try to salt and dawn soap and will let you know how it went. (07/28/2008)
By Johanne
(sent in by email)
Frontline, I think works very well, even though it is quite costly.
Evan (07/31/2008)
By ThriftyFun
I have two poodles and the best thing I have found is the CHEAP strawberry shampoo by suave. My mom found this in some home remedy book she was reading and after using it on my poodles, I do not have a flea problem. (08/04/2008)
By sam
I am no expert in this but recently they gave me a 1 month old kitty with fleas. I am so paranoid when it comes to bugs so I decided to do some research over the internet and found out that feeding dogs/cats garlic takes about six week to kick in (keep in mind that animal are different of course there going to be some with allergic reaching to some things.)
I also found out that lavender shampoo helps to kill fleas but you have to put tick layers of shampoo in order for the fleas not to escape and message them well between the head, neck, around hard to reach places (and really message those places because usually those places is were fleas are hitting) that way you have dead fleas in about 15 minutes and you have to rinse with cold water.
I also found out that salt helps to kill fleas it sounds ridiculous but the larva eats it and it kills it. You have to leave the salt for a week or so and then vacuum clean it or swept it away. Also you have to keep a clean house clean all around house let light in you're house and fix those liking pipes. I know it is frustrating and I share my frustration with you all I hate bugs my self. There other alternatives keep in open mind to everything be patients and very tidy and do some research before trying things we are all in this fight together and I hope I gave some that I useful information to you all stay Flea free.
(08/09/2008)
By kittylessons101
Just so you all are aware, there are some fruits/veggies that are actually TOXIC and in some cases FATAL to your pet! Be careful what you give your pet, I read on here someone was recommending GARLIC and that can KILL your pet over time! Please check with your vet before giving your pet anything orally. A lot of food that we eat regularly, "people food" can KILL your dog or make him/her VERY ill. I work at an ER vet and we see it all too often. PLEASE be careful. Love your pet. Ask your Vet. (08/09/2008)
By Bea
Bathe any animal in Dawn dish soap. A heavy coating to kill fleas instantly. It works! (08/09/2008)
This works for cats and dogs. Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water and put in a spray bottle. Spray your pet and rub it into the fur. Then boil 3-4 orange peels in about 1 quart of water. Allow to cool, blend. Spray on your pet. The vinegar will repel the fleas (which you can use while you borax your carpet and pet bedding) then spray with the orange peels - which will kill anything left (it dissolves their exoskeleton). Dawn dish soap works, but only for about a week at a time. This will work if you keep it up every couple of days for about a week. I have no fleas in my home and my kittens were 8 weeks when I used this method. (08/11/2008)
By Tried and True
a. Citrus repellent:
You can make an effective flea repellent from lemon by cutting it into quarters and immersing it in boiling water. This is then steeped overnight to get you the repellent. By spraying this all over your pet, especially behind the ears and generally around the head, and also at the base of the tail and the "armpits", you can rid it of fleas.
b. Aromatherapy repellent:
This repellent is made by adding lavender and cedar wood essential oils to pure almond carrier oil as the base. This is then shaken well and spread over the pet's skin to keep the fleas away. You can also make effective flea collars by rubbing an essential oil of eucalyptus , tea tree , citronella , lavender or geranium on webbing, rope collar or even a doggy bandanna .
c. Essential oil bath:
If your pet is badly infested, it'd need an essential oil bath. So, draw the bath using a few drops of tea tree or lavender essential oils. An alternative is a herbal flea dip made from fresh rosemary leaf .
d. Internal flea repellents:
Brewer's yeast tablets also help in controlling fleas. Another good alternative is natural apple cider vinegar that makes the skin more acidic and unpleasant to fleas and ticks.
e. External flea repellents:
Sprinkling diatomaceous earth, generally in the filtration system for swimming pools, all over the yard is an effective way to keep the fleas at bay. You can also put cedar chips along your fence to keep the fleas out. Planting a herb, called tansy, around your pet's pen will also keep the problem in check. All these external repellents are effective natural home remedies for fleas.
If you have a pet, total eradication of fleas is generally next to impossible, but if you're diligent and persistent enough, you can control these pests and not only give relief to your pet, but also make your home safe for kids.
By kittylessons101
Call your Avon dealers and get Skin so Soft for ticks and fleas, they hate it and it works. Give a bath and mix with water and pour on dog and leave. Just a very little or your dogs or cats hair will be oily. (08/20/2008)
By melanie.
I was told that downy would help. You put about 1 tablespoon in a cup of water and rub it on your pet. Has anybody heard about that? (08/20/2008)
By D
Lets face it, fleas are impossible to control inside without taking care of the outside problem. Unfortunately the only thing I've found that works outside is granular insecticide applied with a hand seeder. Even this drastic measure only works if the problem of stray or roaming animals is addressed also. Reporting roaming dogs to animal control every time you see them and using live traps for stray cats and then having animal control pick them up is the only thing that works in my area. It may sound cruel at first but think of their "life on the street". Having litters every few weeks, starving, being hit by cars, diseases, and exposure are even worse. (08/25/2008)
By Barbra
I had a major issue with fleas after treating my animals with frontline. It worked okay on the animals but it seemed like me and my son were getting attacked. In the process of getting rid of the left over fleas in our home, we discovered that spraying your feet and ankles with mosquito repellent like OFF or Cutter works rather well. You can also use this on your pets, not too many people know but mosquitoes attack your pet as much as they do you. (08/27/2008)
By rebecca
Re: Dawn dish detergent solution.
It is often mentioned here as a remedy. Will somebody please post if you dilute this with water or pure detergent. If diluted with water, what proportion 50/50?. Thanks! (08/31/2008)
By GLOWbiz
Hi. Here is one that I didn't see anyone post. I have battled fleas on and off for years and have multiple cats that will not be bathed.
1. Buy a flea comb. It is like a lice comb. Put all hair, eggs, and fleas into a cheap plastic cup of dish soap and water. This will kill/drown the little fleas. You can get 95% of the fleas off your pet this way. It will be the best $8 you've ever spent. Make sure you dispose of this water by either sealing it in a jug and putting it the trash or some like to flush it.
2. I use a light mixture of borax and salt on my carpets. I sprinkle it and vacuum it an hour or two later. When fleas are really rough I will switch to chemicals.
3. Take an honest look around. Do you have a pile of dirty clothes? A corner that hasn't been swept out? Areas like these can lead to fleas breeding. They can live and breed in some odd places.
4. Vacuum often and change the bag often. As a cheap gal this one can be hard but it is worth it.
5. White socks. Do you know which rooms/areas of your home have the biggest issue with fleas? Put on a pair of white socks and slowly walk around each room. Fleas just love the body heat and the light color and you get a good idea of where the fleas are breeding to break the cycle.
Good luck! If you only can do/afford one thing on this list - please get a flea comb. (08/31/2008)
By SavvyT
(submitted via email)
Yes, frontline is very costly but I found a web site that makes it affordable for me. www.joespetmeds.com
I can, for my two dogs, get the 6 months supply for 44-88 lbs and have 4 months supply for under $50! Or under $30 for a 2 month supply each. For my one dog, I would only use half a tube a month, she is only 24 lbs. Hopefully this helps a little
Melissa (09/02/2008)
By Jess
For all the people who say "Vacuum, Vacuum, Vacuum," the best thing to do is buy a flea collar and put it in your vacuum's bag or canister and leave it there. Anything you suck up will be killed by the flea collar. (09/02/2008)
Barbara,
I too, have noticed that frontline seemed to make the issue much worse. I think that my cats carry fleas resistant to that particular pesticide.
I'm going to try flea busters powder. If you live in Florida they are also able to come to your home to apply the powder to your carpet. I've read good things about them, safe, it's a boric acid derivative. Gynecologists prescribe boric acid inserts for yeast infections, it has to be safe, it's cheaper than frontline and they have a money back guarantee for a year flea free.
Or you could try putting cider vinegar on your cats (diluted a little) and clean your floors with the vinegar. You also need to steam any fabrics to kill the pupae stage. Steam is the only thing that kills this stage. The vinegar is cheap and it works better than the frontline, we're but still not 100 percent flea free here. (09/06/2008)
By amanda
GARLIC IS TOXIC TO CATS! It is safe for dogs to eat, but very harmful to cats! Also I wouldn't recommend putting a flea collar in a vacuum cleaner bag. Vacuums tend to get hot and it might release the poison into the air.
Please don't feed your cats garlic 8( (09/07/2008)
By Jessica
We got Advantage from Petsmart for our dogs because they said it worked. It didn't, so like an idiot I bought Capstar and used that, because they said it worked. It did not work. I think some people will tell you anything to sell you a product! (09/08/2008)
By Pat Million.
GARLIC is TOXIC to felines and new evidence shows it is harmful for canines as well. In short, it breaks down red blood cells in dogs and can lead to severe anemia. As fleas also cause anemia by feeding on pets, feeding a dog garlic would exacerbate the problem. Garlic should NEVER be fed to cats - it is TOXIC!
FrontLine Plus is the best product for flea control as it kills the flea in all stages of life. (09/08/2008)
My sister in-law had a house full of fleas, a vet told her to use sevens dust (you can get this at walmart) on the carpet and furniture. Let it sit for a few hours then vacuum. Do this every couple of weeks if needed. It works great. (09/17/2008)
I can tell you if you plug a night light in and put a huge bowl of water mixed with dish soap under it the fleas are attracted to the light and JUMP right on in. It works, so does putting salt all over the carpet over and over again and vacuum every day.
About the Seven Dust; That can kill pets as well as make humans very ill.
You are supposed to put it on the outside perimeter of the house not EVER inside. It will suffocate them from the outside in. Wow all these remedies :) (09/18/2008)
By Megan
I have never heard of using borax or salt for getting rid of fleas until I got to this website. Salt doesn't really bother me--but the borax does. Borax has been used as a cleaner for a very long time, but I have recently read that borax should be discontinued for home use. I'm not sure of all of the ramifications of using borax, just that it is a heavy metal, therefore, not a good choice?.
For a regular type of flea infestation, I immediately liberally rub my dogs down with mineral, safflower, olive, canola, any of those types of oils. I let the oil set about 10 minutes or more to smother the fleas, and then I give them a good lathering or two with a mild soap to get rid of all of the oil. You will actually see the fleas going down the drain when you rinse them thoroughly, and do rub their fur down to the skin while you are rinsing to get the smothered fleas out of their fur and down the drain. Then I take them to the Veterinarian, and have to wait a short time after this to apply a Vet recommended brand like K9 Advantix, or Advantage. In the meantime, vacuum a lot and wash things that might have fleas. It has always worked for me. (09/23/2008)
I just spent almost $40 on Frontline plus, and it doesn't work! My poor little yorkie is scratching herself so much she's bleeding. We just washed her in Dawn and rubbed her down with lavender...we'll see. I will be treating house the with borax and salt....we used it last time she had fleas; the dog was ravaged and we got her dipped at the vet; however, we never saw a single flea in our home thanks to the treatment! (09/29/2008)
By Lynne
I just tried lye soap on my dog and it worked great. The fleas just fell off in the water. Lye soap is good for the dogs skin also. You just have to scrub really well and make a thick lather. Repeat as often as necessary. You can find it at most farm stores and some garden stores. It is usually pretty cheap too. (09/29/2008)
By Sherrie
Try Calgon Spa Asia Ginger Energizing Body Mist. Spray on and rub in. Kills fleas instantly.
(10/01/2008)
By Linda
I found that regular Pine sol works. I have used it for years. I give my dogs a bath with it and kills them right. If they are in the house, scrub your rugs and floors with it.
(b)Editor's Note:(/b) According the ASPCA Pine sol and Lysol are very toxic to pets, especially cats. I wouldn't recommend this. (10/04/2008)
By Ronaele
I think the idea about using Avon's Skin So Soft is awesome. I really don't know how good it works for fleas, but I bathed my dogs with flea shampoo and then took a wet washcloth with Skin So Soft on it and rubbed it into my dogs fur. It makes their coat smell so good and dogs with black or dark-colored coats, it makes their coats just glisten. I haven't tried salt on my carpet yet, but I'm going to. My flea problem isn't infestation yet, but I'm seeing my dogs scratch and bite and see a few fleas fall off when my dogs are getting a bath, so I know they are there and I want to nip the problem in the bud before it becomes a major problem! (10/05/2008)
By Holly
I bought an industrial spray bottle from Home depot and Downy fabric softener. I put about a cup of fabric softener in the spray bottle then filled it with water. I then sprayed my carpet with the solution, and one hour later I vacuumed. Brought the vacuum outside to empty it to find most of the fleas dead. I sprayed the living ones with the solution and it kills them. (10/11/2008)
By Ron
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