Alternative Flea Treatments

After my husband was laid off, our dog Rowan became infested with flea's and we could not afford the good and expensive flea treatments like Advantage. So I began a search for some inexpensive home remedies. Here's what I found.




1.~ Vacuum floors daily. (DUH!)

2.~ Bathe your pet on a regular basis.(plain water kills fleas)














3.~ Citric acid is a natural flea repellent.

Poor boiling distilled water over cut up lemons (the amount depends on the size of your dog) and let  it soak over night. Some people say that you should only dab the mixture on your pet at base of tail and between shoulder blades and some suggest using the mixture as the last step in the bathing process: pouring over pet as final rinse. Do not put on face around eyes!
Bonus: easy, cost effective and smells yummy!






4.~ Dawn dish soap is excellent at killing fleas.

Bonus: When you buy a bottle of Dawn and activate your donation online, one dollar will be donated towards the International Bird Rescue Research Center and the Marine Mammal Center.







 



5.~Strawberry Suave Shampoo~  (Cant validate this.)

Bonus:  your dog will smell like a wet dog that rolled in strawberries!

6.~ Diatomaceous earth~ Also known as diatomite or kieselgur, is a naturally occurring, soft, siliceous sedimentary rock that is easily crumbled into a fine white to off-white powder. Can be used as an insecticide, due to its physio-sorptive properties. The fine powder absorbs lipids from the waxy outer layer of insects' exoskeletons, causing them to dehydrate. Make sure its food grade quality.
Bonus: easy to find cost effective

7.~Baking soda~ sprinkle on carpets focusing on where your dog lays. Let sit for at least an hour and vacuum up.

Bonus: its an order eliminator as well!















What I have tried so far: the baking soda on the carpets and I bathed him with flea shampoo, dawn dish soap and kids strawberry Suave, all consecutively. It did not kill all of the fleas, but it killed enough to make him feel like his old playful self. He is back to nipping butts again!

The next thing I'm going to try is the Diatomaceous earth. I'll keep you posted!
Diatomaceous Earth 12oz Shaker