Having a pet with fleas is no picnic. Not only is your animal miserable; a flea-infested house can be difficult to clear without resorting to chemically-based flea bombs. Fleas become resistant to commercial flea preventatives. Treating your pet with an anti-flea shampoo to kill existing flea outbreaks and prevent new ones is an inexpensive way to manage the problem at the source. Making your own anti-flea shampoo is surprisingly simple.
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Making Your Shampoo Base
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Your anti-flea shampoo options are nearly unlimited if you first make a shampoo base before adding your flea-stopping ingredients. Make things even more pet friendly by choosing only organic ingredients for your shampoo. Begin with a visit to a health food store. Buy a few of these flea-repelling essential oils: cedar; citronella; lemongrass; lavender; geranium; myrrh; or eucalyptus. Also get some dried soapwort root. You will also need distilled water.
For a cup of organic flea shampoo, chop the soapwort root to make 11/2 tsps. Boil 2 cups of distilled water, add the soapwort and reduce the heat. Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and cool for an hour. Your organic shampoo base, if refrigerated, should be useful for 10 days.
Adding Flea Deterrent Ingredients
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Add 24 drops of essential oil to 1 cup of shampoo base, mix and matching them however you please. Don't use more than 24 total drops. The lavender and lemongrass have slightly floral scents while the cedar, eucalyptus and citronella are definitely woodsy. It's a matter of your own scent preferences.
An Anti-Flea Shampoo Shortcut
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In an emergency, add 24 drops of essential oil to your own commercial shampoo. Nearly all non-organic commercial shampoos, however, contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) as a sudsing ingredient. SLS is solvent used in industrial degreasers.
If you'd prefer an SLS-free alternative, try liquid Castile soap. Traditional Castile soap is made from olive oil, although in the U.S., it sometimes contains coconut oil as well. It's remarkably gentle and moisturizing. Use the same 24 drops of oil per cup of Castile soap you would in your organic base or commercial shampoo.
Using Your Shampoo
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The essential oils in your shampoo will separate from its other ingredients. Stir the shampoo thoroughly to disperse them before shampooing your pet. Dr. Ihor Basko, DVM, advises that you wet your dog thoroughly, use enough shampoo to cover him with a good lather and let the lather sit for between five and 10 minutes so the essential oils can do their work.
While you're waiting, go over your pet with a flea comb to pull off fleas and flea eggs. Drop the contents of the comb into a container of water.
Rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of the shampoo and dead fleas. Flush everything down the drain. To discourage future flea infestations even more, rinse your pet with room temperature apple cider vinegar. Her coat will gleam, and new fleas will think even more carefully before hopping on board.
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