Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I need a remedy for fleas, with no money to buy anything. My dog has got fleas so bad, that when I gave him a bath he was actually bleeding from being bitten. Please help.
By FULLER
You can sprinkle crushed mothballs all over the floors, especially carpets, and furniture, let it sit for a few hours, preferably overnight, then vacuum thoroughly. At the same time, wash everything washable in hot water and dry on high heat, or seal in garbage bags and freeze several days. For your dog, flea shampoo works great. You have to repeat the shampoo and mothballs every day for a week, then once a week for the flea season (summer).
Check out www.freecycle.com and ask for mothballs and flea shampoo. It's a free giveaway site. You have to give something away before you ask, but it can be anything... a pair of sock, a book, a magazine, coupons, etc. Check it out. Good luck... they are hard to get rid of! Flea powders and flea collars work, usually.
Fleas are killed by soapy water. Bathe your dog with blue Dawn dish soap. Also you might use a flea comb to help with this. The vet is always the best thing but you said you needed an inexpensive way. It won't be permanent but should help some.
Do not put crushed mothballs in your home. Very poisonous!!
Please help me. My dogs have never had fleas before. I think since the Houston drought and heat last year and heat and rain this year, the fleas are terrible. My whole subdivision is having problems. We are having mosquitoes and fleas. What is the best natural flea killer for pets, home, and yard? Your help is so much appreciated.
By Helen B
Hi
I recommend visiting onlynaturalpet.com Here in Salem, OR there are no natural pet stores that carry what I've needed so I order online. I'm currently using All-In-One powder for my cats, I like it, and they have other options, too. You will find many wonderful products, customer reviews and they are a green company.
Biggest flea breeder is your carpet. Sift 2 cups of 20 mule team borax for average room into carpet, their bed and furniture. Leave for 2 weeks before vacuuming. Natural, effective - good thing. No flea shampoo. That is poison. No flea collars. That enters their liver and kidneys.
Use 2 soapings of dawn or any bar soap. Cedercide (internet order) for the yard. No corn wheat or soy in the diet and - no vaccines. Part raw diet. Nothing from the pet aisle at the grocers. Improve immune system with granules from nzymes.Com.
For the past few days I have been sitting on my couch picking fleas off my puppy putting them in a cup of water then washing them down the drain. I can't use any of the flea combs because her hair is too short. This is especially true during the summer because she has her summer coat on. I am just wondering if there is a better way to take them off. She is a Chihuahua and too small for any treatments. Any suggestions?
By jonathanha
Natural way is bathing your dag in warm salt water. Steeping rosemary and adding it to the warm bath of salts will help keep fleas off the pet. I read this somewhere, when I had a dog it worked great. I never wanted to use the chemicals on her. Try this, worked for me.
If they are where your pet sleeps,put lavender oil on cotton balls or on bedding. Tea tree oil works ,too. Just dampen the area with these oils, flees cant stand the smell is what I thought. Either way it works!
Dry 20 Mule Team Borax (2 to 2 and 1/2 cups per average carpeted room), I put it in a sifter or veggie drainer and spread over carpet, dog bed, couch etc. Leave for 2 weeks and vacuum. 2 weeks to complete life cycle of egg - larvae - and adult. Good reports although I have not tried is rock salt in the yard.
My German Shepherd dog just had puppies and she has fleas. I would like to know what can I give her so she won't be passing them to the puppies?
Front line advantage drops seem to work but if your worried about babies being to young for that type of treatment you can try vinegar mixed with water in a spray bottle.
How do you get rid of fleas naturally?
By Joyce
There is a website www.deadbugsnaturally.com. 1-800-227-6616. It is called Diatect International. Supposedly, the way it works is that it is ground up sea shells and when it comes in contact with fleas, it breaks down the flea's outer shell or body. It is called "Results Flea and Tick Killer" I've never used it - just read about it.
How can I safety get rid of fleas in a children's play yard?
By klinghard
Gardens Alive has a product that contains nematodes that eat the flea larvae. I got it when we had a bad infestation and I have not had a flea since, it's been several years. It is environmentally friendly, no poison etc.
How do I get rid of fleas naturally?
By Texas Hard from TN
Food-grade only Diatomaceous Earth. Fleas and tics, all internal parasites will be gone in a few short weeks. Depending on the size of the dog or kitty, sprinkle it right onto their food. From 1 teaspoon to 1 Tablespoons of it every day. Put some in an old sock and dust it all over the fur, being careful not to get it in their eyes and don't let them or you breathe it in too much. It's really great though, and can be used on any age animal. Even nursing mother dogs and cats. It will not hurt the babies but will insure them to be "bug-free" as well. Can be purchased online, and just be absolutely sure it's food grade.
MisMachado
Does anyone have a homemade recipe to get rid of and prevent fleas?
By Patty Hunt
I have 2 indoor cats. I was treating them with Revolution up until a few months a go, I then noticed my youngest male started over grooming. I found it just on the front of his arms.
I started doing research and it was either because he's bored or they where saying it could be fleas. I have never noticed any on him or my other girl and I constantly give him belly rubs, so then I found one on his paw. Now I'm thinking he's allergic to flea bites, so I then started putting a drop or two of apple cider vinegar in their water bowls. I gave them both a bath and then did a rinse with apple cider vinegar and water, half and half. I later found a recipe with acv, water, salt, and baking soda. The only thing is they don't say how often to spray it on them, like once a day, twice a day, once a week?
And I also have been putting salt in the front door carpet, in cracks of couch, chair, bed, their beds, but not directly on their their beds, but under the blanket, under my sheets, in the cracks of furniture and I make sure I rub it in good in carpet. I use a little, but I read a lot about using the salt method and I was just wondering why you are saying it's bad? I understand about them getting it in there eyes, but are there other health reasons not to? I just want to know all the info, I'm just trying to do all my research and if I find or hear something really bad I want to know to stop, but if you or anyone can give me any info on the acv mix question and fill me in more about why the salt method is bad, I would appreciate to hear it.
If anybody has any home remedies for flea bite allergies or if he is over grooming does any one have any ideas for that, and if they are pulling out their hair, is that from the fleas, like the allergy? Please help. Thank you
By Mandy M from Cornwall, Ontario
Salt is a inexpensive way to get rid of fleas in your house. Learn more about using salt to kill fleas in this page.
Olive oil is a great natural flea remedy. It is a great flea treatment for cats and small dogs. Learn more about olive oil for fleas in this page.
There is controversy over the safe use of garlic to treat a dog with fleas. This is a page about, "Can I give my dog garlic pills for fleas?".
Getting rid of fleas is dependent on not only killing adult fleas, but you may also need to retreat to killing hatchlings. This is a page about, "What is the life cycle of a flea?".
Do you want to get rid of fleas without all the chemicals? This page has 5 tips for organic flea control. Learn how to get rid of fleas naturally.
Food grade diatomaceous earth is an flea killer that is non toxic to humans and animals. This is a page about using diatomaceous earth for fleas.
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
Can someone tell me how much garlic powder and how much powered brewers yeast I should put on the food of a five pound dog? The more I read about these flea medications the less I want to use them. She eats once a day.
How do I get fleas off my dog? I started the brewer's yeast early in March, but it's not helping. Thanks to all.
I am looking for ways to get rid of fleas naturally.
I have two inside cats and one black lab dog that goes in and out, and I just noticed a flea on one of the cats. I need a natural remedy for all three. My daughter has asthma and we want to get away from chemical treatments.
