anyone use natural flea remedies?

sophabelle · August 2010

like garlic or vinegar for example? just wondering if this really works or if anyone here has tried them....

need some baby safe, but effective, and preferably CHEAP flea control since i've got 6 cats and a dog to treat.... TIA!

DestinationWeddingKeyWest · August 2010

I have heard that borax sprinkled on the carpet then vacuumed up works...never needed to try it though.

blissfully_caffeinated · August 2010

I use food grade diatimacious earth. I brush my kitties every week (because they shed like crazy). Every couple of weeks I'll sprinkle some DE on them then brush them a little more. Since it's food grade I don't have to worry about them licking it (which they inevitably will). We've never had a flea problem. I also sprinkle some around the outside of the house then sweep.

sophabelle · August 2010

interesting... i'll look into these,thanks!!

blynn03 · August 2010

I'm just a lurker but I figured I'd chime in....I have used garlic as a natural flea preventative for the past 3 years. I have two dogs...I just sprinkle some garlic powder on their food at least once a day. It has worked really well for me, but I live in the suburbs...I have heard of it not being as effective for people in more rural areas.

Garlic helps repel ticks and mosquitos too. In the 3 years I've been using it, I've seen ZERO fleas. I've seen one tick, but it was early in the spring last year and I hadn't started using it for the year yet (I stop using it in the winter months).

blynn03 · August 2010

blissfully_caffeinated:
I use food grade diatimacious earth. I brush my kitties every week (because they shed like crazy). Every couple of weeks I'll sprinkle some DE on them then brush them a little more. Since it's food grade I don't have to worry about them licking it (which they inevitably will). We've never had a flea problem. I also sprinkle some around the outside of the house then sweep.

I haven't used diamatateous earth personally, but I know several people who have used it with good results, so this would definitely be something else to try too.

goodheartedmommy · August 2010

I used DE, and it didn't help at all, but our house backed up to woods, and the bugs were terrible. I've never seen fleas like we had them in that yard. In DE's defense, we also used frontline and advantix with no luck. I DID, however, find that ark natural's neem oil worked wonders. I used the shampoo and the spray (sprayed daily), and it got rid of the fleas. It's also great for soothing the itch from bug bites on humans

I use it now in our new house, as a flea repellent.

Dobie_Mama · August 2010

Another vote for both DE & Neem Oil. DE works great for fleas for us, but we use Neem Oil for ticks. We make our own spray - one ounce Neem Oil in one gallon of water + a few drops of soap to emulsify. Refill in a spray bottle & spray as needed.

sophabelle · August 2010

blynn03:
I'm just a lurker but I figured I'd chime in....I have used garlic as a natural flea preventative for the past 3 years. I have two dogs...I just sprinkle some garlic powder on their food at least once a day. It has worked really well for me, but I live in the suburbs...I have heard of it not being as effective for people in more rural areas.
Garlic helps repel ticks and mosquitos too. In the 3 years I've been using it, I've seen ZERO fleas. I've seen one tick, but it was early in the spring last year and I hadn't started using it for the year yet (I stop using it in the winter months).

how much would you say you sprinkle? a 1/2 tsp? more? did the dogs notice you added it? i'm not so concerned with our dog not eating it, bc she will pretty much eat anything lol, but i'm not sure if my cats will go for it.

WaitingOnTwoPinkLines · August 2010

There are some veterinary scholars that say that garlic isn't the best for dogs, and may even cause harm. I would check with your vet before starting garlic.

Personally, I use Sentinel for the dogs (heart worm + flea sterilizer) and a Preventic collar in the summer for ticks. There is an injectable version of the flea sterilizer for cats called Program, it lasts 6 months and costs about $60 (so $10/month). Honestly, I haven't had to use topical flea products in 3 years, and we live in the country on a farm.

sophabelle · August 2010

we've never had a flea problem, however my inlaws do... and they brought their dogs, even though we told them not to bring them (but can't really enforce this since we are living in their 2nd home).

so, now we have a flea problem too. hooray.

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