Fleas live everywhere in the United States. Hot or cold, wet or dry, fleas will thrive as long as they have a warm-blooded meal and a place to lay their eggs. If that meal is your dog and that place is your house, you will need to take steps to create a less flea-friendly environment. Armed with a few basic tools and treatments, you can protect your home and pet from these annoying pests.
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Treat Your House
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Vacuum your house thoroughly, especially around your pet's sleeping and living areas. Fleas lay their eggs in dark, damp places like basements and garages, so be sure to give those areas a good cleaning. Don't let your vacuum become a flea hatchery--empty the contents of your vacuum cleaner into a sealed plastic bag and dispose of it promptly.
Wash and dry your dog's bedding. Eucalyptus oil added to the final rinse water adds a pleasant, flea-fighting fragrance, but the heat of the dryer will kill any remaining eggs and larvae.
Sprinkle bedding and living areas with diatomaceous earth, the finely ground, powdered remains of fossilized algae. Diatomaceous earth kills fleas by dehydration and it is, when used properly, nontoxic to pets and people.
Treat Your Dog
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Read the label on most dog flea treatments and you'll find a stern warning about human skin contact following by instructions to pour it all over your dog. If you prefer less toxic alternatives, look for products that contain pyrethrin, a chrysanthemum derivative and d-Limonene, a citrus industry by-product.
You can make a citrus-based flea repellent at home by quartering a lemon and adding it to a quart of rapidly boiling water. Turn off the heat and let the mixture steep overnight. Strain into a spray bottle and apply to your dog's fur, taking care around the eyes.
Neem oil is another nontoxic, plant-based product that should be included in your flea- and pest-fighting arsenal. Australian researchers discovered that "neem seed extract is a powerful insect growth regulator, a feeding deterrent and repellent with low toxicity." Studies conducted on dogs and cats showed that "azadirachtin reduced fleas in a dose-dependent manner in flea-contaminated environments."
Make your own herbal flea repellents by applying a few drops of flea repellent essential oils on a cotton collar or bandana or mixing 20 drops with water in a spray bottle. Any of these oils can be used in combination: citronella (essential oil, not lamp oil!), eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, rosemary, cedar and wormwood.
Fight Fleas with Healthy Skin
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Healthy dogs have fewer fleas. Dry, scaly, irritated skin is very attractive to fleas. To keep skin in top shape, feed your dog a good quality dog food. Avoid foods that contain corn, soy and wheat, common allergens that can exacerbate skin conditions. Essential fatty acid supplements can help "haircoats which are dull, brittle, and dry often respond to supplementation with essential fatty acids, especially linoleic acid," according to peteducation.com
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