How to Control Fleas Without Nasty Chemcials
Posted 10/18/2011 by Pet Deals
You and your pets love the mild Bay Area climate. So does our friend the flea. One of the most successful parasites on earth, they’ve haven’t been the scourge of the ages for nothing – they’re tough, adaptable, and extremely prolific. But if you’re concerned that the chemical topical treatments, flea bombs, and flea collars that have been the mainstay of modern flea control are poisoning you, your pets, and maybe the planet, you’re not alone. And fleas? They’re some evidence that they’re developing resistance to the insecticides in topical treatments and other flea stuff. So we can’t count on them moving to another planet anytime soon.
Can It Be Done?
Of course, but how well depends on your level of determination and stick-to-itiveness. Severe infestations – like when you can see them hopping around on the carpet – require all-out war to quell without strong chemicals. Fortunately there are lots of great new products on the market as well as some home remedies. But don’t waste any time getting started.
Know Thine Enemy
If you’re a flea, you’ve got four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Your average life span is about six weeks, but under ideal conditions you could live as long as a year. If you’re a girl flea, you can look forward to laying 200-600 eggs in your lifetime. When your eggs hatch, the emerging larvae will feed on the feces of other adult fleas (isn’t that lovely?). When they reach the adult phase, your offspring will look for a friendly animal host to suck blood from, lay eggs on, and generally make miserable.
But the fleas you find actually living on your pets represent only about 1% of the population in your home – the other 99% of them are hanging out in your carpets, flooring, furniture, pet beds, and yard. That’s why fighting fleas has to be a holistic effort involving your pet and both your interior and exterior environments.
The Holistic Approach
Your Pet
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A Flea Comb is an essential part of your flea-fighting arsenal. Get into the habit of combing your pet daily or semi-daily. Drown the little buggers you capture in the comb in soapy water. They’ve been known to jump out of plain water.
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Wash your pet’s bedding and anything else he hangs out on frequently and in hot water.
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Natural Flea Repellants can help, but don’t count on them to do the whole job. You can make a simple flea collar from a length of string or a bandana infused with an herbal preparation like Halo’s Cloud Nine.
Most herbal flea preparations contain oils made from essences like Tea Tree, Rosemary, Sage, Cedar wood, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Citrus, and Pine Needles. They’ve also got some powerful smells, which may be irritating to you and/or your pet, so use caution and watch for reactions.
Herbal flea preps can also be mixed with water for a spray you can apply directly to your pet or added to shampoo for a non-chemical flea bath. Prepared products like Cloud Nine, available online (check for pet coupons) or at pet stores are pricey, but take the guesswork out of mixing your own.
Your Interior Environment
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Vacuum the HECK out your home. And frequently – as in every day or every other day to start. Flea eggs (most of which fall off the animal and hatch on your floor) are lurking in cracks between floorboards and in corners. If you’ve got a crevice tool to your vac, use it on every crevice you can find – furniture included. Flea larvae hate light, so hit all the dark spots well.
Herbal carpet powders such as Sentry’s Natural Defense containing similar ingredients to liquid herbal flea preps can really help but they’re a bit of work. Some contain diatomaceous earth (such as Flea Away) and boric acid, all pretty benign compared to insecticidal products, but be careful – some pets are sensitive to these ingredients. You need to sprinkle it everywhere – open the windows, this stuff has some strong aromas and may kick up a lot of fine powder. You work it in, leave it on for up to 24 hours and vacuum. As a nice bonus it kills fleas in the vacuum bag (read on below).
Now they’re in the bag – don’t let them out. Fleas are happy to meet other fleas and breed in your vacuum bag if you let them, just waiting to be released them back into your carpet next time you vacuum. If you’re not using an herbal carpet powder, you’re going to have to either toss the bag with every use or wrap it up in plastic and leave it in your freezer overnight. Weird, but it works. Move over, vodka.
Please DON'T use mothballs in your vacuum bag to kill captured fleas. That would release toxic fumes into the air when you vacuumed and defeat your purpose.
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Wash all the fabric you can pry loose – bedding, throw rugs, slipcovers, pillow shams.
Your Exterior Environment
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No, you can’t rid the world or even the neighborhood of fleas, but you can really cut down on the number that jump on board your pets from your yard or patio. Raking up leaves and loose debris helps because it exposes fleas to light where you can…
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Spray with a solution made from Flea Away or other product containing diatomaceous earth. It’s generally safe even if ingested by animals so no need to worry about your dog or self-cleaning cat.
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Beneficial Nematodes, delightful little bugs that feed on both flea adults and larvae, are available at nurseries and garden stores or through some natural pet sources. Check the web. Apply them via hose sprayer or even a watering can. Bon appétit, nematodes.
This Pets Love Deals, Inc. article is intended for general information only. It is not intended to be professional medical advice and is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified veterinarian. Pets Love Deals, Inc. makes no representations or warranties in relation to the information on this website. You must not rely on the information on this website as an alternative to medical advice from your licensed veterinarian. If in doubt, call your Vet! Nothing in this article or elsewhere on this website should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a medical opinion or otherwise engage in the practice of veterinary medicine.
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