Home remedies for fleas on dogs, Why could such insects affect dogs?! How can I pick up the signs early? Are there effective home remedies that can help?
When we are taking care of dogs, it's important to know about problems we might face in this journey.
Fleas are dark brown, tiny insects that can commonly affect our four-legged friends, irrelevant of how clean we are.
Fleas do not only affect dogs but also our houses and other connected pets. However, the good news is that we can use home remedies to get rid of these dog fleas.
Before talking about home remedies for fleas on dogs, can I know the signs of dogs having fleas
Many signs can help us to pick up if fleas affected our dogs.
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Skin Irritation
This appears in the form of scratching or biting themselves more than usual. The bite is small and appears as red, raised dots on the dog's body.
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Hair loss
As a result of biting themselves.
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Flea dirt
This is the digested blood of flea feces and appears as small black specks on the body of affected dogs or the surroundings.
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Pale gums
A flea infestation can cause anemia which appears in the form of pale gums.
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Wounds and infected skin
As a result of secondary bacterial infection.
Home Remedies for fleas on dogs
In certain cases, it's important to ask a veterinarian for advice, but we can firstly try home remedies for fleas on dogs.
This will help to avoid the need for chemicals that may have serious side effects.
Flea Comb
A flea comb is one of the easiest home remedies for fleas on dogs. It's completely natural.
By their closely spaced teeth, we can remove both fleas and eggs from the dog's coat, and then dispose of this comb in a bowl of soapy water, so that they can't survive.
Lemon Comb
Home remedies for fleas on dogs include also a lemon comb.
Lemon can repel and kill fleas with no affection for dogs or parents. Simply by dipping the dog comb into fresh lemon juice and then applying it to their coat.
White Vinegar Spray
In general, vinegar is an effective cleaning solution for those who have dogs, but it's also used in home remedies for fleas on dogs.
Just mix white vinegar with water in a ratio of 1:1 in a clean bottle and spray it on the dog's fur for a couple of days, being away from his eyes and any open wounds.
If the dog found this mixture too offensive, we could add water in a ratio of 1:3 (vinegar: water).
Apple Cider Vinegar and Salt Flea Spray
Another option of home remedies for fleas on dogs is apple cider vinegar which acts by its acidic pH levels that make dogs unattractive to fleas.
Simply add six cups of apple cider vinegar to four cups of water (6:4 ratio), add a dash of salt then spray the mixture on the dog's fur. Again take care to be away from the dog's eyes.
White Vinegar or apple cider vinegar drink
We can add some home remedies for fleas on dogs to their drink, this helps to get rid of fleas from the inside out.
Just add one teaspoon of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar to every quart of drinking water.
As not all dogs will accept the taste of vinegar, we can use two water bowls, one with vinegar and one without, to ensure that your pet gets enough water.
Garlic
Garlic also contains antifungal and anti-parasitic properties making it one of the easiest home remedies for fleas on dogs.
It's more than enough to mix one crushed garlic clove into the dog's food once per day.
Lavender or Cedar Oil Collars
Lavender or cedar oil naturally repels fleas. Dilute one to three drops of oil in one to three tablespoons of water and apply a few drops to the dog's collar.
This is one of the effective home remedies for fleas on dogs that need to be tested with our four-legged friends before use.
Brewer's Yeast
Healthy dogs are less likely to host fleas, and one way to improve the health of our dogs while warding off fleas is to add a small amount of brewer’s yeast to the dog’s food.
Just a half teaspoon of brewer’s yeast mixed in with the dog’s normal meal. This can aid as one of the home remedies for fleas on dogs.
Diatomaceous Earth (silicon dioxide)
It's worthy to be known that more than 90 percent of the flea population in the home is not on the dog but in the environment in the form of eggs and larvae.
Diatomaceous earth is a fine, white, silica-based powder made from the fossilised remains of microscopic organisms.
It has two forms, pool/filter and food-grade. The only used type is the food grade, as it is low in crystalline silica and non-toxic to humans and animals.
This is an excellent home remedy that causes drying out and killing flea eggs.
Only sprinkles diatomaceous earth on the suspected area and leave it for 48 hours, then vacuum the area thoroughly to get rid of any remaining fleas. Afterward, replace the vacuum bag.
Baking Soda and Salt
The same as diatomaceous earth, baking soda, and salt dehydrate fleas and their eggs. So, it's one of the effective home remedies for fleas on dogs.
Spread the mixture around the house and leave for 48 hours, then vacuum thoroughly. After that, clean the vacuum with caution as the salt can cause rust.
Rosemary dip
This way of home remedies for fleas on dogs is more likely to be a fun game. Just soak rosemary needles in boiling water, strain, and add warm water.
When the water reaches a comfortable temperature, pour the mixture over the dog and let it dry naturally.
Flea repelling plants
An effective way to get rid of fleas is to plant certain plants that naturally repel fleas.
Spearmint, chrysanthemums, lavender, Penny Royal thyme, sage, clove, and basil are natural flea repellents.
There are plenty of home remedies for fleas on dogs, however, in certain cases, we have to visit a veterinarian
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Serious bites and scratches.
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Pale gums.
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If we discovered tapeworm segments in their stool (about a half-inch long and resembling grains of rice or cucumber seeds).
After all, I know it will take time and effort to protect our dogs from fleas. Surely, our four-legged friends deserve more.
If you are interested, read more about:
Home Remedies For Dog Allergies
Blood in Dog Urine Home Remedies
Home Remedies For Dog Ear Infection
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