Although commercial products for controlling fleas such as Advantage and Frontline undergo strict testing to ensure that they are safe for use on animals, many pet owners are still leery of the pesticides and harsh chemicals in such products and would rather utilize a more natural and organic way to control fleas.
Luckily, there are some all-natural products which are quite effective at controlling fleas on cats and dogs. However, you may have to work a little bit harder to eliminate a flea infestation than you otherwise would if you had all of the conventional weapons at your disposal.
Diatomaceous earth is the best natural flea treatment for cats and dogs
In my opinion, the best natural flea product for cats and dogs is diatomaceous earth, which is derived from fossils dug up from the earth and ground into a fine powder. It is perfect for dispensing around the house, especially in the bedding and sleeping quarters of your pets and in the areas that they frequent the most.
Diatomaceous earth can also be applied topically directly to your cat or dog’s skin and fur, as it is 100% natural and will not harm them. Because our dogs and cats like to groom themselves, be sure that you use food grade diatomaceous earth because it is purer and designed to be safe for ingestion.
Diatomaceous earth is also perfect to use in the yard, especially if you keep your pets outdoors, and it can be dispersed with a seed spreader or simply by hand. The dust works by dehydrating the fleas and crushing their exoskeleton.
Another benefit of diatomaceous earth over the standard flea medications, is that is effective at killing not only the adult fleas, but also all other stages of the flea life cycle including flea eggs, larvae, and pupa. This means it will kill the immature fleas before they have a chance to hatch from their silken cocoon and seek out your dog or cat for a blood meal.
Natural oils can be used as an organic flea repellent and flea bite treatment
There are many all-natural oils that have a long history of being effective at preventing and killing fleas, long before the invention of modern medicines and pesticides.
Tea tree oil, peppermint oil, lemongrass oil,neem leaf, aloe vera, shea butter, etc. can all be diluted in a water spray bottle and sprayed directly on to the skin of your cat or dog, or even yourself. Please reference my complete list of recommended flea control products for more information.
Bathe your pets regularly and groom them with a flea comb
Any program of natural flea control will require that you bathe the animals regularly, using a shampoo or even just a little dish soap, in order to kill any adult fleas that may hideaway in the hair of your cat or dog.
Adult fleas cannot swim and drown easily, so giving a quick bath is a great way to quickly clear your pet of the parasites. You may also utilize a flea comb to groom their fur and collect fleas and flea eggs, as well.
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