Fleas are small, wingless insects that live off blood.Cats and dogs are the prime hosts for fleas, but they are well known to take bites from human ankles or arms on occasion. Because fleas lay thousands of eggs at a time, and the eggs can take up to six weeks to hatch, getting rid of a flea infestation in your home and on your pets is a lengthy process requiring commitment and patience.
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Diet
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Diet plays an important role in helping make your cat or dog less palatable to the flea colony living on it. Introduce garlic, weekly sulfur supplements and, according to Earth Clinic, herbal supplements of black walnut husks to help keep away fleas as well as ticks and mosquitoes.
Combing
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Combing your pet with a flea comb helps to reduce the living flea population on the animal. Place an old towel on your lap, with a bowl of hot, soapy water beside you. Sit your pooch or kitty on your lap and begin combing, quickly submerging the comb in the soapy water if it catches a flea. Under the chin and behind the ears are hot spots for fleas, so concentrate on these areas---your pet will enjoy the attention. Combing should be done in conjunction with washing and cleaning house and pet bedding with disinfectant and essential oils.
Lemon Repellent
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Cut a single lemon into quarters and put it in boiling water. Leave it to soak overnight. Spray the lemon water solution on your pet (after combing is best) and also around the house to keep fleas away.
Oil Bath
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Mix a couple of drops of lavender or rosemary oil in an almond oil base then rub it on your pet's skin. Concentrate on the back of the neck and ears, as well as the base of the tail. These essential oils can also be added to a warm water bath weekly, or rubbed on the animal's collar.
Shampoo
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Give a weekly shampoo to your pet while you are treating him for fleas. Because fleas will run to higher ground (head and neck) when a pet is being washed, always carefully place a bit of shampoo on the head and under the neck and ears before fully wetting your pet. Use a herbal shampoo, or add a few drops of rosemary or lavender oil to a regular shampoo.
Soothing Oatmeal
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Fleas are terribly destructive---not only can they cause anemia from all the blood sucking, but they leave your pet with itchy sores, resulting in sleeplessness and general aggravation. Help your pet out by giving her a soothing bath in water pre-soaked with oatmeal. Oatmeal is often used to help reduce itching and swelling in chickenpox, and helps reduce the itchiness of flea bites as well.
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