How to Get Rid of Fleas on Dogs Naturally

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a very safe and effective means of controlling fleas on dogs, as well as other pests, such as ants, cockroaches, and spiders.

Diatomaceous earth is a dust-like powder that you can sprinkle on just about anything:

• in your yard
• on your floors whether they are carpet, hardwood, linoleum, tile, etc
• on your furniture
• on your pet's bedding
• on your pet (just make sure it doesn't go in the eyes or nose as they can become irritated)

This all-natural flea control product is made up of fossilized microscopic algae. When a flea or other pest crawls over it, the diatomaceous earth's properties cause the insect to dehydrate and there is nothing the pest can do about it - it cannot develop a resistance, it just dehydrates and dies.

Now, it will not instantaneously kill the fleas like those toxic chemical pesticides will - it can take a few days, maybe a week for a heavy infestation. And you will probably need to reapply the DE a couple of times, especially if you are using it outside.

The next most common all-natural flea control product for dogs would have to be essential oils. Essential oils have been used for hundreds of years and are proven over time to work very effectively.

Essential oils do not kill fleas - they only repel the fleas from the dogs. If your dog does not have fleas on them, then there shouldn't be any problem in your house either. Therefore, it is important to note that this is a prevention method, not a way to get rid of fleas that are already in your home. For more information on how to get rid of fleas on dogs naturally, visit www.stopdogitching.com.

Neem oil is probably at the top of the least for repelling fleas.

"Formulations made of neem oil also find wide usage as a bio-pesticide for organic farming, as it repels a wide variety of pests including the mealy bug, beet armyworm, aphids, the cabbage worm, thrips, whiteflies, mites, fungus gnats, beetles, moth larvae, mushroom flies, leafminers, caterpillers, locust, nematodes and the Japanese beetle. Neem oil is not known to be harmful to mammals, birds, earthworms or some beneficial insects such as butterflies, honeybees and ladybugs. It can be used as a household pesticide for ant, bedbug, cockroach, housefly, sand fly, snail, termite and mosquitoes both as repellent and larvicide (Puri 1999). Neem oil also controls black spot, powdery mildew, anthracnose and rust (fungus)." Source: Wikipedia

You can find Neem oil products for flea control for dogs in shampoos and sprays. Neem oil products must be reapplied on a regular basis, unlike the chemical spot-on flea treatments which usually tend to only be applied once a month.

Most of us know about Citronella oil from natural mosquito repellent products. This is a rather pleasant smelling oil which also has repelling properties. Citronella oil can be combined with other essential oils and sprayed on your dog's coat to help to naturally repel fleas and mosquitoes.

Other essential oils known for their insect repelling properties are:

• Eucalyptus oil
• Peppermint oil
• Lemongrass oil
• Cinnamon oil
• Thyme oil
• Lavender oil
• Cedar oil

These oils are not used alone for repellent purposes, as they are not considered strong enough, They are usually used in combination with Neem and/or Citronella oils.