Natural Flea Remedies

Fleas can be a menace to your dog. What’s even worse is trying to get rid of them with chemicals that can irritate your dog’s skin or make it very ill.

It’s a common misconception that fleas lay their eggs on your dog. They feed off your dog and lay eggs in the dark, damp places around your house. It’s important to know this when trying to get rid of this. Treating your dog only kills adult kinds, not the deposits of eggs in and around your home. Along with treating your dog, you may also want to treat your home by vacuuming, especially in damp places and washing your dog’s bedding.

Organophosphates and carbamares, both found in flea killers are neurotoxins that can cause convulsions, nausea and respiratory arrest. Long-term treatment with these chemicals can lead to kidney failure and death. Even if your dog doesn’t ingest these chemicals, they can be absorbed through the skin while your dog is being soaked.

Natural pesticides include ones that contain pyrethrin, derived from the heads of several types of chrysanthemums and d-Limonene, a by-product of the citrus industry. Perhaps the safest is diatomaceousearth, fossilized algae that resembles chalk dust. The fine particles have sharp edges that can penetrate a flea’s exoskeleton, causing it to dehydrate and die. It can be found in pet stores and outdoor centers.

Controlling fleas may be a constant battle, but it can be done with out harsh chemicals that can harm your pet and your family.