Flea & Tick Alternatives to Spot-On

Fleas and ticks are a problem for many pet owners. While there are many brands of spot on treatments to control the parasites, these spot on treatments contain harmful chemicals and poisons. There are alternatives to spot on treatment for cats and dogs to treat fleas and ticks both indoors and outside.

  1. Outside Flea and Tick Control

    • The yard is a good place to control fleas and ticks since many pets live or play outdoors. A natural yard treatment sold in garden and pet stores called Flea Control Nematodes contains nematodes or tiny worms that feed on the larvae of fleas, fire ants, grubs and cutworms. Since ticks live in wooded areas, reduce the number of ticks where pets are outdoors by keeping the area clear of brush and keeping grass cut short.

    Indoor Flea and Tick Control

    • The best way to control fleas is to interrupt the reproductive cycle. Fleas have four stages of a life cycle: eggs, larvae, pupae and adult. Prevent or treat flea infestations indoors with borax powder for carpet, or a chemical called Nylar for bare floors, kennels or furniture. Both target the fleas in the larvae stage and are nontoxic to mammals. Wash animal bedding in hot water and high heat in the dryer to kill eggs and larvae. Flea bombs target adult fleas, but contain harsh chemicals that are harmful to pets and people.

    Animal Flea &Tick Control

    • Check animals that are outside daily for ticks and remove them with tweezers. To control fleas on cats and dogs, get an inexpensive flea comb and brush the pet daily. Any soap or shampoo that lathers will drown adult fleas and this will reduce the numbers of a flea population dramatically. A flea collar contains chemicals to repel fleas and ticks, but beware of harmful chemicals that are just as toxic as a spot-on treatment or pill. Garlic or nutritional yeast (not baking yeast) in treats make the animal taste bad to the flea and reduce the number of bites, and herbal sprays containing oils such as lavender work well on dogs, but avoid using them on cats as they are sensitive to essential oils.