Natural, Safe Flea-Fighters

While we're all looking for ways to keep our pets safe and healthy and our planet healthy and green, all the little fleas out there are searching for a nice warm body to cuddle up to and set up their new home.

But your pet doesn't want them on his body and you don't want them in your house, so what are you going to do--proceed with a potentially harmful chemical treatment or a natural treatment that will work just as well and is safe for all concerned?

To get rid of fleas on your pets, you need to look for shampoos and powders for dogs and cats containing orange oil--a very effective anit-flea substance.

You can use some other botanical extracts that work in the same way as the orange oil to keep fleas away. They include oils from peppermint, cinnamon, lemongrass, clove, thyme and vanilla. All much more pleasant to the nose than the chemical smell of most flea repellants.

Also, try collars, powders and shampoos made with natural products containing the essential oils of citronella, cedar, eucalyptus and bay, as well as those containing botanical apyrethum (derived from dried chrysanthemum flowers).

Of course, cats will get fleas but because they groom constantly, the odds are it will be your dog who will be the victim.

Fleas can cause severe skin irrititations at the very least and death in the worst cases. They are blood-sucking parasites that can live as long as two months without feeding and up to eight months after they have gorged on their blood "banquet".

We see only about 5% of the flea population that's out there ready to dine on a warm body, the rest remain well hidden. An adult female flea can lay as many as 50 eggs a day on a host animal.

The first thing to do is try to kill all the fleas at once. If you don't, you'll be fighting them for months.

Keep your pet confined in one area, preferably outside. Wash all pet bedding (that means anywhere that Fido or Kitty takes a nap), any other washable furniture covers, rugs, pillows and (to be on the safe side) your bedding as well. Instead of applying flea powder to carpeting, put some in the vacuum bag. This alleviates chemical residue. Vacuum all carpeting thoroughly and then be sure to throw the vacuum bag away immeadiately.

To get rid of fleas in your house, sprinkle diatom-dust powder (which is made from plankton) or table salt around your furniture, carpeting and pet's bed or sleeping areas. These are all likely places where fleas have set up house-keeping.

To keep fleas from invading your home, use products with pungent odors (at least to a flea's nose). Natural products containing the same essential oils that are used in the pets soaps, shampoos and collars. Sprinkle powder made from these naturals wherever fleas hide.

Keep your house and your pet's bedding or favorite sleeping places scrupulously clean. After you're done vacuuming, throw away the vacuum bag because fleas can live on in the bag after the vacuum is turned off for days or until they escape.

You can also make your own natural pesticides from herbs, but doing this can be very dangerous. Herbs that are toxic enough to kill fleas can also be toxic enough to be harmful to animals if not mixed properly and knowledgeably.

The herb historically used to keep fleas away is penny-royal. According to herbal books, penny-royal leaves can be rubbed right on the animal or you can make a collar by braiding penny-royal stems together.

Most herbalists warn against using penny-royal oil because it is terrifically concentrated and can be toxic. It takes an acre of the herb to make just one ounce of oil.

Natural pesticides and flea repellents can be found in specialty pet-care stores and natural food stores across the country as well as through the Internet.

One such company is PETALIVE. They have been in business for many years and their products are regulated by the FDA. I believe in this company and the products it supplies.

Get more info on FleaDerm for Flea Bite