Tips for Natural Flea Control
You and your dog love the outdoors but the battle against fleas is always a concern. If your companion spends a good deal of time outdoors, it’s important to treat these areas to manage for fleas and other pests. At Superior Labb, we want to give you the best tools: that work, and are safe for you, your pets, and the environment.
1. Wash your dog
Oftentimes, washing your dog with warm water and a good quality dog shampoo will kill most if not all fleas on the dog. This treatment is best done to treat mild to moderate flea outbreaks, but it may not be potent enough to kill fleas in large numbers.
Lather and rinse the dog once per day for three days until you have killed the fleas. Soap lather traps fleas and lifts them off the dog. Additionally, it disrupts the cell membranes of the fleas and removes their protective waxes. As a result, the flea can no longer retain water and dies from dehydration.
Superior Labb Adventure Dog Shampoo Bar is designed to treat and repel fleas and ticks. Our safe and therapeutic blend of essential oils include; Citronella, Eucalyptus, Cedarwood and Lavender. Our shampoo bar is also made with neem oil. Neem oil is a naturally occurring oil extracted from the neem tree. Commonly used as a pesticide and bug repellent but is also a common ingredient in natural skin care products. Neem oil for dogs is primarily used to repel fleas and other parasites and to treat insect bites and skin conditions like mange.
2. Troubleshoot your yard
The first line of defense is keeping fleas and ticks from setting up housekeeping on your property. Flea control in the outdoor environment generally involves eliminating the habitat in the yard and kennel areas where fleas are most likely to occur. Fleas prefer shady, protected outdoor areas. These outdoor spots can easily be identified as the places where your dog likes to rest and relax. Remember, if your dog does not feel comfortable spending time in a particular area, then neither will fleas. Dogs and fleas typically like the same locations.
- Keep your grass mowed and shrubs trimmed back. This simple landscaping move is the opposite of curb appeal to fleas and ticks, because they have less place to hide.
- Rake away any organic debris such as leaves, straw, grass clippings, etc., to disturb flea habitat.
- Discourage feral pets and wildlife from coming into your yard and bringing their fleas with them. Opossums, raccoons, and feral cats are the worst offenders. Do not feed them.
- Nematodes are microscopic worm-like parasites. There are many different kinds and some can be beneficial because they feed on pests, such as fleas. You can buy nematodes at garden stores. Just mix them with water and spray them around your yard. Water your lawn every couple of days to make sure the beneficial parasites survive.
- Plant some flea repelling plants. Rosemary, citronella, eucalyptus, cedar, lavender, lemongrass, peppermint and sage have natural oils that repel fleas. Use them to keep the fleas from your yard and away from your dog.
3. Keep your home clean
To control fleas, you must stop them from reproducing. Carpets, pet bedding, furniture, and other indoor areas where your dog spends much time will contain the highest number of developing fleas. Having fleas and ticks in your house doesn’t mean your home is dirty. But if you pay careful attention to certain areas, you can make pests less welcome. The three stages of immature fleas (flea eggs, larvae, and pupae) often live in carpeting or throw rugs.
- Vacuum at least once a week, and more often if you spot fleas. When you vacuum, don’t just cover the center of the room. Fleas avoid high-traffic areas, so be sure to hit baseboards, under furniture, under cushions, and anywhere your pets sleep or spend time.
- Wash your pet’s bedding . Frequent washing of your dog’s bedding can greatly reduce the number of fleas inside your home.
4. Consult your veterinarian
Always talk to your veterinarian. Your vet will know your dog needs and the potential risks of over-the-counter insecticides. There are a number of potential side-effects to using chemicals on your pet.
Once-a-month topical insecticides are the most commonly used commercial products for flea control. Ingredients generally include permethrin, fipronil, imidacloprid, pyriproxyfen, spinosad, metaflumizone, and selamectin. These pesticide products work by destroying the flea’s nervous system … but they also damage your dog’s nervous system. Some of the more serious side effects reported from both spot-on and oral flea preventives are neurological issues like seizures, uncoordinated movement and lethargy.
Even with products labeled “natural,” check the ingredients carefully to make sure there are no artificial additives or preservatives. Some “natural” products contain things like sodium lauryl sulfate that can irritate the eyes and skin and, if inhaled, can be toxic to your dog’s organs. If the ingredient name sounds like a chemical, look it up. Two good sources are:
- The Environmental Working Group website: EWG has searchable information on toxicity of various chemicals that are used in cosmetics.
- The National Pesticide Information Center provides information on many pesticide ingredients, including inactive ingredients.
Fleas, mosquitoes and ticks carry life-threatening diseases like heartworm, Lyme disease and tapeworms. Blood testing every three to six months is recommended for pets who aren’t on “traditional” monthly medicated flea, mosquito and tick prevention,
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