Beat cat and dog pet-pests using natural flea control, including flea-ridding alternatives, cleaning home and pets of fleas, and using nontoxic ingestible pet remedies.
The first step in erradicating fleas from your home and pets is to begin by thoroughly vacuuming all carpets, floors, upholstery – even paying extra attention to dusty corners, under mattresses, sofa/chair cushions as well as underneath any throw rugs large or small. You’ll want to wash any and all bedding – (to include your own!) in the hottest water possible that the fabric allows, in addition to drying them on a high heat setting. Be sure to immediately either burn your vacuum cleaner bag or seal and dispose of it in a separate trash bag.
You see, fleas have a life cycle – from egg to adult – of about 28 to 42 days. So unless you take some of the following additional steps, it’s easy to lose ground in combating them. The first of which is to sprinkle garden-grade diatomaceous earth – found at most local home and garden or feed stores – in and around the peremiter of your home and yard. Paying special attention to your pet’s bedding areas, under mattresses, rugs and furniture cushions.
Feed your dog or cat one clove of garlic a day. In addition to discouraging fleas, it will prevent some types of worms. Don’t, however, give garlic to pregnant pets, because it sometimes causes spontaneous abortion.
Brewer’s yeast (also called nutritional yeast) is available at most health food stores. Give large dogs one tablespoon once a day mixed into, or sprinkled on top of, their food. Try one teaspoon for cats and small dogs. Some animals love it. Others take a while to develop a taste for the yeast, but most end up begging for it.
A touch of apple cider vinegar in your pet’s water is proclaimed as a control for both fleas and mange. With all of the above, however, it’s best to start such dietary programs long before the flea season hits.
You can also try a saltwater dip to discourage fleas. If you live near the sea, your dog might learn to love swimming in the ocean. Some especially energetic dog owners go so far as to provide small saltwater pools for their dogs to splash around in.