Fleas are similar to cockroaches in that they adapt to their environment. They become stronger and more immune to these popular chemicals with each generation. Most of the fleas are living in your pet’s environment, rather than in its fur. (Every flea found on your pet may mean that there approximately 30 more living in your home.)

A single flea can lay as many as 60 eggs per day. The lifespan of a flea is about 90 days. Controlling fleas does require some effort, but there are there safer and effective ways to control fleas than several well-known commercial flea control products.

Even if all the ingredients in a flea repellent product are natural, this doesn’t ensure that they won’t be toxic to your pet. For instance, d’Limonene, which is derived from citrus peels and found in many natural anti-flea products, can be highly toxic to cats. Herbal flea collars, though they don’t contain the poisons that conventional flea collars do, come with the same warning: do not let children play with the collar. If it’s not good for your child, why would it be good for your pet?

It is advisable to read product labels carefully. For example, one line of supposedly natural flea sprays and dips contains “all natural synthetic Pyrethrin.” Pyrethrins are insecticides derived from the African chrysanthemum (Pyrethrum). Pyrethroids are synthetic derivatives of pyrethrins. Both are commonly used in conventional preparations which make the product sound innocent because it’s derived from a flower. But pyrethrins alone can be toxic to the animal and pyrethroids expose your animal to more chemicals.

Diet and Fleas

Food and plant-derived substances are a healthy substitute for chemical-based products. But are they strong enough to control fleas and ticks? Well, why are some people are more prone to mosquito bites than others? There’s a nutritional reason, and it has to do with the strength of each person’s immune system and the levels of B complex, zinc, selenium and antioxidants in the body and bloodstream. A strong immune system and high nutrient levels help repel insects. (source: www.alternativemedicine.com)

If your cat or dog has a severe flea problem, it is often a signal that their health is not as it should be. Many commercial pet foods are nutritionally inadequate and contain harmful additives and by-products. By feeding your animals a high-quality, natural diet, free of additives and preservatives, you improve their health and dramatically increase their protection from fleas. A healthy animal does not taste or smell as good to fleas.

Plant Oils/Essential Oils

A second all-natural product which can help cure one of your dog’s worst enemies is a natural plant oil used to combat fleas. A new option has finally arrived for many dog owners who are looking for a safer and more natural approach in treating fleas

It is called aromatherapy: A mixture of different plant oils as a natural alternative to strong chemicals used in controlling fleas.

These powerful oils are extracted from plants using a special type of distillation process called steam distillation. The formula is rubbed into the dog’s coat and is believed to be very effective in treating and preventing fleas.

Many of these natural plant oil products also contain essential oils such as lavender, lemongrass, and peppermint, which all helps to create a very soothing sensation on your pet’s skin and coat. These ingredients are also effective in repelling mosquito.

Here is some receipes for making your own pest control essential oil blends for your dog.  Take note you should use therapeutic grade oils, lesser brands can harm your dogs more then help.

To repel fleas: lavender, peppermint, lemongrass, and spearment

To repel ticks: lavender, lemongrass, sage, and thyme

To repel mosquitoes: lavender and lemongrass

Ticks & fleas:  geranium oil (good skin & coat conditioner)

Use five drops of each oil in an 8oz bottle of distilled water.  Make sure your botlle is either dark amber or cobalt to protect the integrity of the oils.  You will need to use a tincture like calendula tinture and a vegetable glycerin so that the oils will dissolve or blend in the water otherwise they will float to the top of the spritzer bottle.

You can use a combination of these oils to repel all three of these bugs. Spritz your dogs everytime you take them outside.

Cat owners take special note: Cats should not be given any essential oils, period.

The use of essential oils with cats is a potentially volatile combination. Cats do not efficiently metabolize essential oils and their use can lead to symptoms of toxicity. In addition to essential oils, cats have known metabolic sensitivities to certain herbal preparations and allopathic medications. Because the cat’s body does not efficiently excrete essential oils, they can build up to toxic levels. Symptoms of toxicity include vomiting, dizziness, clumsiness, lack of appetite, lack of energy and shock. In addition, cats have very thin, delicate skin. Essential oils are absorbed rapidly into their skin and enter the bloodstream, overwhelming their systems. Cats dislike strong odors and generally keep away from strong scents — even highly diluted essential oils.

Many people find that they can use essential oils on their cats with no obvious adverse effects. Although one or more applications of an essential oil product or blend may not cause immediate harm, the effects of essential oils can be cumulative and manifest themselves at a later date in the form of toxicity for which owners and vets often can find no attributable cause. (source: www.aromaleigh.com)

Garlic/Yeast

Fleas particularly dislike the flavor of garlic and yeast (nutritional or brewer’s yeast). Mixing garlic and yeast with your pet’s food can render their blood unpalatable to fleas.

For dogs only, just use sliver slice of a clove of garlic daily in peak flea season.  And one sliver slice weekly when flea season has died down.  As garlic is related to the onion family large doses can cause hemolytic anemia.

Cat owners: Please be aware that raw garlic is known to be toxic to cats. According to Dr. Randy Kidd, the use of garlic, as well as onions, shallots and chives, has been shown to cause damage to feline red blood cells which can result in hemolytic anemia and eventual death. Raw garlic and onions can also cause ulcers and irritation of the mouth, esophagus and stomach.

Use about a teaspoon of brewer’s (or nutritional) yeast daily for cats and small dogs, and a tablespoon for a 50-pound dog. Some animals are yeast intolerant and will react with a skin allergy. Discontinue use if this occurs. Combine the yeast with the garlic in your animal’s food.

Other natural repellents include vitamin B1 (thiamine) and apple cider vinegar. (See your veterinarian for the correct amount of a vitamin B1 supplement for your pet.) The dosage of apple cider vinegar is about one teaspoon daily in the pet’s drinking water. Apple cider vinegar helps strengthen the immune system.

Grooming

Combing your cat or dog daily with a flea comb is an important part of flea control. Bathing animals regularly is also advised. There is no need to use chemical flea shampoos. A water bath with a gentle soap that won’t irritate their skin is sufficient to eliminate existing fleas.

Set Traps

You can trap fleas by placing a dish of soapy water under a night light near where your pet sleeps. Fleas are attracted to warm light and will easily drown in the soapy water. This works for adult fleas only, but with diligence, can be very effective reducing the flea population. Fleas already residing on your pet aren’t likely to leave, so you will still need to flea comb and/or bathe them in a mild shampoo (even a baby shampoo will work as fleas don’t survive well in soapy water). If the idea of keeping a soapy water dish near your pet is not attractive, plug-in flea traps are available. These electric traps are equally, if not more, effective.

Sanitize Your Pet’s Environment

Fleas lay their eggs everywhere — in carpets, curtains, upholstery, animal bedding, cracks and crevices. Destroying the fleas’ eggs by thorough weekly vacuuming and frequent washing of animal bedding goes to the source of the problem and will help eliminate the flea population in your house. After vacuuming, be sure to replace the bag right away and take the old bag out of the house. Keeping clutter on the floor to a minimum also will deprive the fleas of hiding places

Nematodes

While you can’t kill off the fleas that your pet is going to encounter when it goes outside, you can keep the population down in the area around your house by using nematodes. These microscopic worms eat flea larvae and are therefore a natural way to control the flea population.

You can purchase nematodes online, or at pet and garden stores. Place them in moist, shady spots near your house; neither fleas nor nematodes survive in the hot sun. As nematodes multiply rapidly, you have only to introduce a small number to have the desired effect.