We’ve entered one of the worst flea seasons in South Carolina history, according to my groomer. I feel like I’ve been at war with the little rascals since the last frost.
The conventional wisdom teaches us to feel even more vulnerable against fleas when we refuse to use the traditional poisons that so many of us rely upon to keep our pets flea free. Let’s face it, sometimes it can be difficult to discern which is worse for your pet: the fleas or the poisons meant to kill the fleas.
According to a report by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the majority of tick products on the market today contain toxins, known collectively as organophosphate insecticides (OPs), which not only kill insects but can also damage the nervous systems of pets and people. Pesticides that contain OPs including chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, phosmet, tetrachlorvinphos, naled, diazinon and Malathion should be avoided, and regulated much more stringently by the government.
But natural, more environmentally responsible alternatives can actually be just as effective as traditional remedies. And fleas are less likely to acquire immunity against them.
When raging war on the fleas you have to attack them on three fronts: the pet, the home and the yard. Unfortunately, even if you get rid of fleas on your pet, when fleas infest your home or your yard they will eventually just jump back on to your pets and make themselves at home.
Repel fleas with non-chemical remedies
If you’ve ever heard that using garlic on your pet will repel fleas, you’ll be happy to know that it isn’t an old wives’ tale. Fleas can’t stand the taste of garlic, so it can effectively repel them from your pet. The only issue is that it takes quite a bit of garlic to do the job. Feed your pet one clove of garlic daily for every 10 pounds of your pet’s body weight.
“Garlic adds selenium to your pet’s blood, a mineral that fleas hate,” said Ric Sommons of Dolittle’s Pet Store in Charleston, S.C. “Neem spray is another effective remedy. It’s a tropical seed extract that attacks the nervous system of fleas but you can only use it on dogs. Cats react very poorly to it.”
Groom regularly
It’s obviously extremely important to wash your pet weekly in the midst of a heavy flea season. Consider using an all-natural shampoo, like Natural Chemistry‘s flea and tick shampoos and sprays. Their products are highly effective and totally safe for your pet. They contain an ingredient that instantly kills fleas on contact, according to Sommons.
“Once you kill the adult fleas on the body you have about two weeks before the larva hatches so treatment has to be done continuously,” said Sommons.
If you have successfully won the first round of the battle against fleas, don’t get overly confident and let the little guys catch back up with you. Regular grooming with a small flea and tick comb can be extremely beneficial — and also good for your pet’s skin and coat. It may also be helpful to clip your pet’s hair short to help manage an infestation.
The vacuum is your biggest ally
Kill fleas in the house by sprinkling table salt on carpets, floors, furniture, and in the cracks and crevices around your baseboards where fleas can hide. Wait one or two hours, then vacuum. Although some people have had success using boric acid instead of salt, the acid can be harsh on your pet’s paws.
“Vacuuming is likely one of your best tools for getting rid of fleas,” said Sommons. “Vacuum weekly, and make sure to change the vacuum bag. If you don’t, the fleas will just hatch in your vacuum bag. Then, when you vacuum the next time, you’ll end up releasing the adult fleas back into your living environment.”
If you don’t want to constantly change your vacuum bag, take the bag outside after each use and put it in direct sunlight, which will kill the fleas inside. Then you can reuse the bag. If you have a big freezer, put the bag in the freezer to kill the fleas inside it.
Also try sprinkling diatomaceous earth on carpeting and upholstered furniture. Diatomaceous earth is actually microscopic sea shells that act like razor sharp wire to sever fleas. It’s so small that it cannot hurt humans, but it is lethal to fleas. You can get the product at many holistic pet stores.
Use nematodes in the lawn
Remember to combat a flea problem both inside and outside the house. The most effective way to kill fleas in your yard is by tossing some nematodes out in the yard. Nematodes are microscopic worms that actually eat fleas. They’re available at most pet and garden stores.
As an alternative, try Garl-Or3 Yard and Garden Spray, which is an organic all-purpose garlic-based spray. Spraying Garl-Or3 around your yard can greatly reduce the number of fleas in your yard.
Flea illustration courtesy of Robert Hooke via Wikimedia Commons.