Natural Dog Flea Medicine and Prevention

Natural Flea Treatment And Prevention

Calhoun Strickland

Why should you use natural dog flea medicine and products?  How about this for a reason...
“Caution: Hazardous to humans and domestic animals… Avoid contact with eyes, skin or clothing. Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling.”
We found this on the label of one of the first flea control products on a major pet store’s website. Avoid contact with domestic animals’ SKIN? Isn’t that what the product is made for?
It gets worse. 
Survival of the fittest applies to fleas as it does to all other living things. Those fleas that survive the poison do so because they are resistant to it. Then they give birth to more fleas that are also resistant to it. 
Furthermore, the poison also weakens your dog. Since fleas are attracted to weak pets, making your dog weaker with synthetic flea products only compounds the problem.
So what should you do? This page will take you through...

First Things First - Things to Keep in Mind

Natural remedies for flea control work just as well as the methods containing toxic ingredients and pesticides.  This page reviews excellent combinations of natural insect repellents for use on your pet, in your home and yard.

When moving forward with your flea prevention and treatment efforts, it is important that you keep to the schedules recommended on this page (weekly, monthly, etc.) as indicated for the best (and least harmful) results.
Also note that the home mixtures and product recommendations are NOT meant for puppies. Puppies can develop more severe problems related to fleas, so if your pet is less than 4 months old you should consult your vet immediately. When using any products, be sure to follow the directions closely.
As is the case with all products, be sure to use all dog flea medicine and products as directed on the products' label.
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How to Tell if Your Dog Has Fleas

dog flea medicine
If you are unsure whether your dog has fleas...
  1. Look closely at the base of your dog's hair, especially around the neck, ears, legs and the base of their tail.

    Fleas are small (about 1/8 of an inch long), blackish/brownish, quick-moving insects. They are broad when viewed from the side (see image to the right), but very narrow when viewed head-on.
  1. Fleas' speed can make them tough to spot, so if you don't see any, continue your search by looking for flea dirt (flea droppings).  To find it, place a damp paper towel on the floor and have your dog stand on top of it. 

    Then comb your dog with a flea comb – if you see small specks of black that turn red with moisture, that's the flea dirt and confirms that your dog has fleas.

Prevention: Eliminate the Need for Dog Flea Medicine

As a preventive measure, consider adding garlic and yeast (brewer’s or nutritional) to your dog’s diet. There are mixed reviews about how well this works to prevent fleas, but those who support it feel that it works best on healthy dogs.
To avoid potentially serious side-effects, natural dog flea medicine and treatment should always take precedence over chemical treatments. The easiest way to “stay natural” is to discourage fleas in the first place by keeping your dog healthy through:

Natural Flea
Repellent Tips

Try planting fennel, sage or wormwood near your dog's kennel and sprinkle lavender around your dog's bedding (or use a lavender pillow).
The following are also considered effective natural flea repellents...
  • Eucalyptus
  • Garlic
  • Lemongrass
  • Peppermint
  • Rosemary
  • Rue
  • Yeast
  • Yellow Dock
The second half of flea prevention is to kill existing fleas and keep new ones away from the places where they develop and thrive... namely their host (your pets) and the areas where their host rests and sleeps.

Preventive Dog Flea Treatment Inside Your Home

Keep reading HERE