Go Natural
Pet owners are constantly faced with how to get rid of pests without harming their animals. Fleas are one of the most difficult pests to try and control, especially for dog owners that don’t want to expose their pets to harmful chemicals. Organic
flea control with natural products can be easier and healthier for you and your pet, with products you can purchase at the store or make right in your own home.
Pest Control from the Kitchen
Some dog owners are faced with paying hundreds of dollars on sprays, lotions, dips, medications and grooming services to help with flea control problems. However, some of the best green pest control options are available right in the kitchen of dog owners. Before opening your wallet and paying for a flea treatment that can actually be hazardous to the health of your dog, consider a few homemade organic flea control options that are deadly to fleas and possibly even tasty for your pets:
- A lemon spray will help reduce the flea population on your dog. By boiling water, adding a sliced lemon to it and letting the entire pot steam overnight, a lemon water mixture is created that can be poured into a spray bottle for daily use on your pet. This natural pest control method will help to kill existing fleas and prevent future flea issues thanks to the acid of a lemon. Even better, your pup will even have a fresh lemony scent.
- Mixtures of lavender oil, eucalyptus leaves or tea tree oil can be added with water and used to spray down the dog, furniture and even pet bedding to help naturally control fleas.
- You can create a flea trap by getting a little creative. Fleas are pests who like warmth. By using a light source concentrated on a container of a sticky product such as corn syrup or maple syrup, the trap can draw in fleas who will become stuck and trapped in the container. This method can be difficult if your pet likes to lick up sugary liquids, but if you suspect fleas are harboring in certain areas or pieces of furniture, the trick may work to draw out some of these pests.
- Use red cedar chips for pet bedding to help control fleas. These can be changed regularly and are especially great for persistent issues.
Flea populations are typically higher in warmer weather, but fleas can be pests year-round for animals. Being careful to quickly manage a pest issue using organic flea control will help to reduce the discomfort of your pet, as well as the time and effort that will be involved with pest control on your part.
Don't Try This at Home
Oftentimes pet owners mean well but can actually harm their pet with a flea control remedy. Some of the worst ideas for flea control include using products meant for humans, in addition to products never,
ever meant for humans. Gasoline is not a flea control solution - even if diluted - yet there are still people who think it will do the job.
Utilizing products that will be a skin irritant to your dog is also a horrible idea, especially considering dogs with fleas are usually covered in tiny, irritating flea bites. Many times people are overwhelmed with the idea that there is a bug on their best friend and consequently, want to annihilate the pests. Going green with your flea treatment will be the safest way to keep your pet pest-free.
Green Market
Finding and purchasing organic flea control products is becoming easier to do as more pet owners see the value of green products. For some of the toughest flea control issues, there are organic pest control products that can be used throughout your home as well as on your dog. Sprays, powders, bath products and lotions are common options for pets. There are also more unique options such as natural food additives and aromatic deterrents.
It is generally difficult to find the exact source of a dog’s case of fleas, but getting them under control quickly is the key. Using natural pest control products for your pet and your home can be effective and much healthier.