Homemade Flea Treatment for Puppies

Fleas can present a dilemma for pet owners. There are four life cycles of the flea --- adult, larvae, egg and pupae, the cocoon life cycle in between the egg and larva. Even if the adult fleas are eliminated, the fleas in other stages of development can evolve and perpetuate a flea infestation. Chemical pesticides used in popular flea treatments are effective but can be deleterious to a puppy's health. A comprehensive home treatment can resolve a flea infestation without the use of harmful chemical pesticides. It requires more time and effort on an owner's part, but it's safer for the puppy.

Things You'll Need

  • Vacuum with disposable bag
  • Washing machine
  • Puppy shampoo
  • 1 lemon
  • Water
  • Cooking pot
  • Spray bottle
  • Flea comb
  • Cloth collar
  • 3 of following essential oils:
  • 3 drops cinnamon oil
  • 3 drops clove oil
  • 3 drops lemon oil
  • 3 drops lavender oil
  • 3 drops geranium oil
  • ¼ cup carrier oil, such as grapeseed, almond or jojoba oil
  • Sealable plastic bag
  • Paper towel
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Instructions

    • 1

      Keep your puppy strong and healthy. According to the Society for the Study of Evolution, a healthy pet has stronger resistance to parasites. The mortality rate of fleas is also higher on strong, vibrant animals. Feed your puppy premium-quality pet food, provide ample fresh water and encourage plenty of exercise.

    • 2

      Vacuum as often as every day, depending on the severity of the flea problem. Vacuuming removes up to 90 percent of flea eggs, 50 percent of larvae and 96 percent of adult fleas. The vibration from the vacuum also stimulates adults to emerge from their cocoons, facilitating the transition to the adult life cycle, and thus, the extermination process. Thoroughly vacuum floors, carpets and all fabric surfaces. The vacuum bag provides the perfect environment for larvae and pupae to develop, so when finished vacuuming, place it in a sealed garbage bag and throw it away outside. Continue this process for two to three weeks.

    • 3

      Wash all linens, bedding, rugs and flooring with hot soapy water, once per week, concentrating on places where the puppy frequents.

    • 4

      Bathe your puppy with a mild pet-formulated shampoo. Warm soapy water is enough to kill fleas on your puppy's coat. Once lathered, leave the shampoo on your puppy for 10 to 15 minutes to ensure that all fleas are dead.

    • 5

      Slice a lemon thinly and place it in a pint of near-boiling water. Allow the mixture to steep over night. Put the mixture in a spray bottle and spray it on your puppy's fur, rubbing the solution down to the skin. Lemons contain a natural flea-killing substance called d-limonene, as well as healing ingredients effective in relieving skin irritation resulting from flea bites. Use a flea comb to pull off any dead fleas. Repeat every few days until the fleas are gone.

    • 6

      Treat the outside of your home as well as the inside. Keep your lawn mowed and watered. A well-trimmed lawn allows warm sunlight to penetrate and heat the soil enough to kill flea larvae. Watering the lawn drowns developing fleas.

    • 7

      Repel future fleas by turning a cloth collar into a flea collar. In a sealable plastic bag, add three drops each of a combination of three of the following oils: cinnamon, clove, lemon, lavender and geranium. Add a quarter cup of carrier oil, such as grapeseed, almond or jojoba oil. Place the cloth collar in the mixture, seal the bag and let it sit for an hour. Before putting the collar on your puppy, let the excess mixture drain off the collar onto a paper towel. Repeat once per week if necessary, especially if you take your puppy to areas where there might be additional fleas, such as wooded areas. Some puppies are sensitive to essential oils, so monitor your puppy's skin. If you observe skin irritation, remove the collar.