Help-Fleas!?

Question

What is a good 'home remedy' to get rid of fleas on a dog?

Answer 1

There aren't any. Here are some of the ones that are going to be suggested on here and why they're not a good idea:

1) Dawn Dish Soap - only washes fleas off, doesn't kill eggs or larvae and isn't a preventative. The dog will be reinfested before the day is out.
2) Garlic - not reliable, as the only amounts safe enough to feed mean an almost undetectable amount would be excreted through the skin and be of little use as a flea repellant. Large amounts would be toxic to dogs!
3) Salt/vinegar - only for use around the house, and don't ork anyway
4) Borax - should not be used around animals, it says on the label!!

If home remedies actually worked/were safe, people wouldn't have had to invent proper flea treatments. Please get some actual safe, effective stuff from a vets - NOT a pet store.

Chalice

Answer 2

Diatamacious earth..not sure of the spelling. Home Depot sells it in 25# boxes. It's used as a swimming pool filter media. It works by cutting up the soft bodies of fleas and ticks and causes them to dehydrate. It's non toxic, but it will irritate your lungs if you breath it much. Work the dust into the dog/cat's hair and they will be gone in a few days. I also take an air gun and blow the dust all over the yard and inside the house, paying attention to get into the cracks and corners of the base boards. I had a house so bad with fleas that my white pants would turn black below the knees when I would walk through (I bought an old house that was empty for years). The stuff really worked.

Answer 3

1) Give him a bath in Tea Tree Shampoo(keep the soap of out his eye)
2) Give him a bath in Dawn dish soap (keep the soap out of his eyes)
3) Give him a garlic pill, you can buy these at Wal*Mart, wrapped in a piece of food (the garlic gets into their skin and repels the fleas)



With 1 & 2, make sure you turn the heat on or keep your dog very warm after bathing. Also, before drying him, it would be wise to comb through him with a flea comb to get all of the flea dirt, eggs, and dead fleas out of his hair.










Also, do not use Frontline. I have read research and have been told by many vets that Frontline can shorten your pets lifespan!!!

Answer 4

Frontline makes a spray that you can use directly on the dogs & bedding,
it's not cheap but worth it in the long fun because after about 3 weeks of useage it should stop them
you have to do it once a week because of the 3 stages of fleas lifespan.
good luck
Sevin Dust ( for plants ) is also good for a quick fix

Answer 5

Be aware that if your dog has fleas, your house and yard definitely have them too.

Once you take care of them on your puppy, focus on keeping them out of your house and yard: diatomacious earth in your yard (you can also use it on furniture and carpets and it seems to be more effective than boric acid powder): sprinkle it wherever your dog has been -- sofa, dog bed, carpet -- and vaccuum it up after 10 hrs.

If after spreading the diatomacious earth in your yard, you still have fleas, call a pest control company that can put down nematodes in your yard. These are harmless microscopic worm-like parasites that only feed on fleas. They are a bit pricey, but effective.

PS Dawn dish soap also works on flea bites. If you have a bite that is itching you a lot, put one small dab of Dawn on it and rub it in. Takes the itch away every time.

Answer 6

Use blue Dawn (dish detergent) on the dog in the bath. The fleas hate it. It costs about $1 at Wal-mart and it works!!

Answer 7

If your dog are still puppy, use alternative tick and flea shampoo such as citrus base or herbal shampoo. If is an adult dog you can use various tick and flea shampoo, tick collar, spot-on product.(of course read thru the for safety before buying).Make sure it doesn't get into the eye.

Answer 8

Hi
Bath your dog in flea shampoo then rinse with tee tree oil
(dilute in water)
Alpower2000

Answer 9

use powdered boric acid on your carpets.... not harmful to pets or people. the fleas and eggs dry up.

Answer 10

go to the vet.