Treat Your Pets to a Natural Flea Remedy
Commercial chemical flea treatments usually work quickly and are easy to use; however some people and pets are allergic to them and need a natural flea remedy. Fortunately for both the pet and pet owner, there are a number of ways to get rid of fleas naturally.
The first thing you’ll need to do is wash all bedding, rugs or furniture covers your pet may have come in contact with, which will probably be just about everywhere in your house. Then sprinkle a natural flea remedy of a powdered form of dried pennyroyal, of the mint family, or pyrethrum powder on your carpets, furniture and any sleeping place your pet has. Repeat for three to four days.
It’s time now to wash your pet using a natural shampoo made of one cup of a very mild dishwashing detergent and two teaspoons of eucalyptus oil. Before washing your pet in this natural flea remedy, steep pennyroyal leaves in boiling water and then let it cool. Once you have shampooed your pet and lathered it up with the shampoo, use the pennyroyal tea to rinse it off.
Stop the Fleas before They Bite
Pennyroyal planted outside will stop a flea infestation before it gets into the house. If your pet spends part of the day outside and part inside, plant it where your pet usually hangs out while outside. As a natural flea remedy, pennyroyal will continue to grow as a ground cover and is attractive and has a pleasant flowery smell as well.
Another natural flea remedy is to make a small tube for your pet to wear around its neck and stuff it with pennyroyal and a few drops of eucalyptus oil. Your tube will have to be re-stuffed and oiled every few days to keep it fresh.
A flea trap can be made at home and serve as a natural flea remedy in getting rid of them. Fill a pan similar to a cookie sheet with water and place it under a light close to the ground. At night, the fleas will jump towards the light and fall into the water and drown.
Deterrence to getting fleas in the first place is to keep your grass cut short. The heat from the sun will kill flea eggs before they are hatched. Also, keep your pets away from dark wet areas where fleas often lay their eggs and the conditions are right for hatching.