Organic Flea Control for Dogs

Most dog owners would likely agree: One of the worst worries of owning a pet is the threat of fleas. Fleas carry disease and can infest not only your dog but your entire house. While there are cures for flea infestations, unfortunately they can often be as inconvenient as the fleas themselves. If you don't want to subject your dog--and your family-- to harsh flea-killing chemicals, consider using an organic remedy for ridding your life of fleas.

Fleas have been a scourge for centuries, infesting both livestock and companion animals, and carrying serious diseases such as plague. Long before commercial flea treatments were discovered, humans came up with natural ways to protect themselves and their animals from fleas. Those methods work just as well today as they did centuries ago.

Flea combs are combs with very fine teeth that can trap fleas and their eggs. You can usually find them in any pet shop. When using a flea comb on your dog, concentrate on the belly and lower back--places where fleas are most likely to congregate-- and dip the comb in a bowl of warm, soapy water after every pass through your dog's fur. A flea comb will not totally eradicate fleas on your dog, but it can greatly reduce their numbers.

According to all-pets-info.com, a bath with Dawn dish-washing detergent will work nearly as well as a bath using a commercially made flea shampoo. Start soaping your dog's neck first, and work downward to prevent fleas from flocking to the face and ears. Leave the soap on your dog for at least five minutes, and then rinse thoroughly. According to all-pets-info.com, the oils in the dish-washing detergent suffocate live fleas and keep eggs from sticking to fur. Like a flea comb, this method is not foolproof and is likely to leave a few fleas behind.

According to cleannorth.org, cedar makes a good flea repellent because it is extremely irritating to fleas. Once they are exposed to it, they will either flee or die. You can put cedar shavings in your dog's bed or shelter, or you can apply or spray cedar oil directly onto your dog's fur. Unlike flea chemicals that may be harmful to your dog, cedar is perfectly safe. A 2004 study at Oregon State University showed no ill effects in animals exposed to cedar oil.

Citronella, mint, eucalyptus, rosemary and pennyroyal have all been shown to have ill effects on fleas, according to cleannorth.org. These can be applied as drops, rubbed into the dog's fur or sewn into his collar.

According to a 1995 "Mother Earth News" article, companies have found a way to use nematodes--also known as roundworms--as a commercial flea-killing application. According to the article, the nematodes target the fleas at the larval stage. The worms come in a package, and are mixed with water and then sprayed on lawns. They attack only pests such as fleas and grubs, and will not infest animals or humans.

Fleas need warm, humid environments--approximately 70 to 90 degrees with 50 percent humidity--to hatch their eggs and for larvae to survive. Using a dehumidifier and an air conditioner to keep the temperature low and your household dry can help prevent flea eggs from hatching. Also, regular vacuuming will capture a significant amount of fleas that are already present.