Natural All-in-One Flea Remedies for Pets

If your pet becomes infested with fleas, it can be a burden on the whole family. Ridding your home and animal friends of fleas is often a difficult endeavor. However, that doesn't mean that you must resort to harmful chemicals to remove these nasty pests from your home. Show your pets some love and treat what ails them with natural flea control remedies.

  1. Essential Oil Bath

    • Draw your pet a bath using a gentle soap or shampoo. Add a few drops of tea tree, lavender, rosemary, bergamot, citronella, juniper, geranium or pine cedar oil. Any combination of these oils will help to repel fleas once the bath is over. Pay special attention to pet's head and neck area, since fleas will automatically head for higher ground once the water starts flowing. Begin by thoroughly shampooing the head and neck, and clean the rest of the body. Shampoo the head and neck once more before you rinse. The shampooing process should take at least 15 minutes to ensure that all of the fleas are killed.

    Natural Flea Collar

    • An all-natural flea collar is an easy follow-up to an essential oil bath. Rub a few drops of tea tree, lavender, eucalyptus, citronella, or geranium oil into a pet collar. Be sure that the collar is made of either webbing or rope. If you don't have a collar for your pet, use a bandanna instead.

    Flea Comb

    • Regularly comb your pet's fur using a flea comb. A flea comb is a very fine-toothed metal comb that removes fleas and dead hair from your pet's coat. Be sure to comb even hard-to-reach places on your pet's fur and only use a flea comb if the fur is dry. If your pets are infested with fleas, you should comb them at least daily. Fill a wide bottle with water and dish soap. After every few strokes, remove the hair from the comb and place in the soapy water. Once you are finished, flush the soapy water down the toilet.

    Diatomaceous Earth

    • Apply food-grade diatomaceous earth, found at plant nurseries or gardening shops, to your entire home to deprive them of their breeding ground. Do not use pool-grade diatomaceous earth, since it is useless as insect repellent and can be dangerous. Diatomaceous earth is completely non-toxic, since it is merely ground-up, fossilized remains of microscopic plant life. Before applying the powder, clean and sanitize your home thoroughly. Sprinkle the diatomaceous earth in places most likely to harbor fleas: pet beds, carpeting, couches, under baseboards and beneath the stove. You can even sprinkle a bit directly on your pet. Reapply the powder every few weeks to prevent a resurgence in the flea population.