Flea Control for Cats & Dogs - Natural Treatments for Fleas on Pets

What are Fleas?

Fleas are something every pet owner has to worry about! Anyone that owns a cat or dog has probably experienced the uphill battle of trying keep the fleas at bay, a task that has proved to be easier said than done! But fleas are a huge problem for our pets.

Not only do they bite and cause hours of frustrating itching and scratching, they can cause other serious problems such as tapeworm infestations, flea-bite dermatitis and in severe cases, anemia.

What makes fleas so incredibly difficult to control is their amazing resilience. One female flea can lay over 2000 eggs in her life span which means infestation can occur rapidly, and the eggs that are laid can survive for months in the environment simply awaiting an appropriate host. For this reason, it is essential to control both the fleas on your pet as well as the fleas in the environment. The perfect areas for fleas include sand, bedding, flooring and carpets.

Help for Fleas

Natural Remedies

Many pets develop an allergy to flea bites where one single bite can cause severe itching and discomfort for many days. When this occurs, natural remedies can go a long way in naturally soothing discomfort and calming aggravated and itchy skin.

German Chamomile is one such herb that has been used for centuries to sooth and cleans the skin. Marigold also works well as it has excellent anti-inflammatory properties and helps to prevent infection with its anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties. Other herbs such as Cleavers and Witch hazel have also shown to be beneficial to skin health and have strong soothing and restorative properties.

More Information on Fleas

Tips for managing fleas on your pets

The first step to getting rid of fleas on your pet is getting rid of the fleas in your environment. This mean spring clean time. Collect all bedding, rugs, blankets and cushions that your pet has contact with and wash them in hot water. Vacuum every room in the house and try get to those hard to reach places such as cracks in the floor boards and behind furniture.
If fleas are still a problem then a fogger may be useful. Remember that pets must be removed from the house and the area thoroughly aired before your consider bringing pets back.
The next step is controlling the fleas on your pet and this should be done at roughly the same time as the house. There are a number of effective flea-control products on the market so ask your veterinarian to prescribe one that is safe and most suitable for your pet.
A natural way to help prevent fleas is to add a little garlic juice to your pet’s food.
Opt for an easily washable bed for your pet. All pet bedding and cushioning should be washed regularly to prevent fleas.