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Cleaning Up:  Natural Flea Treatment for pets?  |
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Hosanna
True Blue Farmgirl
466 Posts
Hosanna
Alton
Virginia
466 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 03 2009 : 5:15:57 PM
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I am new to the Forum.I discovered Mary Jane's farm last summer while waiting for my husband to get tractor parts at Tractor Supply Co..... my life has not been the same since!
I have three cats and a dog whom I adore, and the cats are indoor/outdoor cats. I am unhappy about the chemicals I have been having to use on them to prevent and treat fleas.... and in our home as well..... Frontline, carpet powders, sprays, things for the yard,etc. I am really sick of using them, but can't live with the fleas, either! Any ideas on natural flea control? See my post about this on my blog: happilyeverafterhosanna.blogspot.com Thanks! |
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SpiritedRose
Farmgirl in Training
22 Posts
Michelle
Chestertown
MD
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - Jun 16 2009 : 08:28:59 AM
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Try dusting them with diatomaceous earth (DE). You can google it for more information. Just try not to breathe it in too much. It is all natural, these little tiny skeletons that have sharp edges that will slice through the bodies of tiny pests like fleas or worms. If you get the food-grade quality, it is safe for humans to drink as a cleanser, too.
I never give my dogs chemical flea control. I clean the kennel, dry it out, and throw down DE and scrub it in with a broom. It improves the smell of the kennel and I don't notice my dogs having fleas at all. Works against worms, too! |
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Jun 26 2009 : 8:03:20 PM
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Michelle:
Have you tried this DE? It sounds good. I'll give it a try. Thanks.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Jul 12 2009 : 03:37:37 AM
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If you use DE, don't forget to wear something over your nose and mouth
I use those lighted sticky plates that can be slid underneath a raised platform bed or placed near places inside where pets hand out most. The light attracts fleas and they stick to the pad really well!
The pad is covered w/ a grid so fleas fall in and pets can't get stuck |
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maggie14
True Blue Farmgirl
6784 Posts
Hannah
Washington
USA
6784 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2009 : 10:01:52 AM
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I use a mixture of, tea tree oil, lavender oil, and water. Seems to work good so far.
maggie |
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GrammyGoose
True Blue Farmgirl
163 Posts
Sue
Liverpool
PA
USA
163 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2009 : 3:35:19 PM
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We feed our dogs brewer's yeast tablets with garlic and that helps keep the fleas away. Do a google search on that to find out the dosage for the size dog (or cat) you have.
I've also heard that using Avon's Skin So Soft to bathe the dogs will keep the fleas off of them. Heck, I can't stand the smell of that stuff, I can see why fleas wouldn't like it either! LOL!
Sue
Farmgirl #656
"This is the day that God made, let us drink juice and enjoy it!" - Reece Stutts, age 3 |
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mspence
Farmgirl in Training
25 Posts
Misty
Warrensburg
MO
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - Jul 24 2009 : 07:29:37 AM
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| I have heard that the herb Pennyroyal works well. Be careful not to use the essitenal oil on cats though (it could make them sick). Actually, I wouldnt recommend using the oil at all (it can be a skin irritant). And just a quick note, if there is anyone pregnant in the home, be careful using this stuff around them. I have also heard that citrus oil works well and those flea combs work good, I use them on my cats. Just some ideas. |
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katalind
True Blue Farmgirl
177 Posts
Kathy
Chapin
SC
USA
177 Posts |
Posted - May 26 2010 : 8:35:05 PM
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| I put lemon oil on a bandana around my dogs neck. The flea's hate it! Do not put straight lemon oil on your dog, it can be toxic. If you want to put it directly on your dog it must be diluted. |
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Faransgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
895 Posts
Beth
Houston
Texas
USA
895 Posts |
Posted - May 27 2010 : 08:02:23 AM
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Actually although pennyroyal will work it should not be used at all except by a professional aromatherapist. It is a neurotoxic. Very good of you mspence to give cautions about this essential oil. If you want to use essential oils you really need to stick with lemongrass, lemon, tea tree and eucalyptus. Essential oils really should be kept away from cats though they can be very quick to have a bad reaction. Dogs don't seem to have a problem with essential oils. I use alot of essential oils and have cats but I do try to keep the cats away from direct contact with the oils. I have used DE and as long as the infestation is not bad it will work well. Living in south Texas the flea capital of the world we have to be very aggressive with fleas. I have also heard that Dawn dish soap will work well and since it is what the environmentalists use to clean the animals involved in oil spills I guess it is ok for me.
Farmgirl Sister 572
When manure happens just say "WOO HOO Fertilizer". |
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missmuffcake
Farmgirl in Training
45 Posts
kendy
modesto
ca
45 Posts |
Posted - May 28 2010 : 11:19:46 PM
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You can make a 'lemon tea' - lemon juice boiled with equal parts water. Apply it all over your companion animals and it will kill fleas instantly.
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http://www.missmuffcake.com/ |
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prayin granny
True Blue Farmgirl
1874 Posts
Linda
Kansas
1874 Posts |
Posted - Jun 06 2010 : 02:26:56 AM
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Will try the lemon tea. That sounds easy and safe! Thanks! Linda
Country at Heart |
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kittykill
True Blue Farmgirl
608 Posts
Pam
Portland
or
USA
608 Posts |
Posted - Jun 06 2010 : 07:32:15 AM
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| I've also heard that clove oil-be very careful with it-can ward off fleas. Maybe lemon balm? |
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phonelady
True Blue Farmgirl
323 Posts
Carla
Loveland
Colorado
323 Posts |
Posted - Jun 09 2010 : 11:00:34 AM
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Can't use essential oils on cats. Their little livers can't process out the oils. It gathers and becomes toxic. Dogs and people can process but cats can't. The abrasive oils are especially dangerous [menthol, peppermint, and so on] direct application burns their skin and inhalation [another form of absorption] burns their little passages.
http://www.thelavendercat.com/3501.html
Click the top two articles on the left panel.
Just a thought...
Carla
It's not just life-
It's an adventure!
http://familyhistoryfindings.blogspot.com/ |
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Cleaning Up: Natural Flea Treatment for pets? |
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Natural Flea Treatment for pets?
