Alicia Bodine has been a professional writer for six years. She has produced thousands of articles for online publications such as Demand Studios, Bright Hub, Associated Content and WiseGeek. Bodine is also the current cooking guru for LifeTips. She has received awards for being a top content producer.
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Flea ControlSUPPLIES
- Flea comb
- Water
- Lavender oil
- Cedar wood oil
- Dawn dish soap
- Citrus extract
- Empty spray bottle
- Light
- Bowl
- Salt
Overview
Your veterinarian can prescribe several medications that will kill the fleas on your dog. You should be aware that these medications have chemicals in them that can irritate your dog's skin. You may want to make your own flea treatments at home that are all natural so that you will know all of the ingredients and whether they will bother your dogs skin or not.
Step 1
Stop by the pet store and pick up a flea comb. This comb will get out the fleas and the eggs that the fleas have laid. Dip your comb in a bowl of water with some dish soap in it. Comb through your dog's hair starting at the top of its head and working your way down to its paws. After each stroke place the comb back in the soapy water. Do this every day for a week to make sure you got all the fleas.
Step 2
Make your own flea spray. Fill an empty spray bottle with warm water about 95 percent full. Add 4 drops of lavender oil and 4 drops of cedar oil. Mix the solution with the handle of a wooden spoon and place the lid on. Spray your dog from head to toe, being careful not to get any solution in the dog's eyes. Repeat three times per day for one week.
Step 3
Give your dog a bath. Fleas can't live in soapy water. Fill your bathtub up with lukewarm water and put your dog in it. Use Dawn dishwashing liquid mixed with a little bit of citrus extract like a shampoo and lather your dog up. Keep your dog wet all over for at least five minutes before completely rinsing it clean.
Step 4
Make a flea trap by setting out a bowl of soapy water on the floor directly under a light. You can use a nightlight without its cover. The fleas will jump toward the light and land in the water and drown.
Step 5
Buy several large containers of salt and sprinkle them over all of the floors in your house before you go to bed. When you get up in the morning you can vacuum up all of the salt along with all of the dead fleas. Make sure you immediately empty your vacuum cleaner bag, seal it in a bag and put it in the outside trash can with a lid on it.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
- TIP : Instead of citrus extract, you can use orange oil.
Use cedar shavings and pine needles in the areas outside that your dog likes to hang out. Fleas hate these two scents and will stay away.
- WARNING : If you don't wash your pets bedding and toys, your dog will just get re-infested.
