We all love our pets, but sometimes they are a pain when it comes to fleas. Fleas are tiny parasites that feed on your dog, be it a Labrador, Westie or a cute little pug. These little creatures can grow up to 20 times their normal size if they suck blood of your pet for too long. And, once they have grown big, they cause irritation to the skin of your four-legged friend. So, just check out some effective home remedies here and make sure there’s no return of the flea problem ever! Who hasn’t found themselves waking up in the morning to bits and pieces of their innocent dog scattered all over the room? While it can be great fun for us to watch a dog run around the house covered by fleas, poor doggy doesn’t seem to enjoy it. Fleas are awful little creatures that infest dogs, cats and other warm blooded mammals. The most annoying thing about it is that they crawl all over your dog or cat but they live exclusively on its blood. Now, there are several natural home remedies for fleas on dogs and cats. Flea bites on dogs can be quite unpleasant and irritating. They can cause red spots, rashes and other symptoms on your dog’s skin. Fleas are most active during the spring time, especially around April. Obviously, you have to take good care of your dog with frequent grooming and bathing to keep fleas away, but you also need to make sure that you arm yourself with some home remedies for fleas on dogs that you can use as a fail-safe. While there are numerous home remedies on the market which claim to get rid of the fleas from your dog, the truth is that not all can work effectively 100%, especially when dealing with natural methods.

Best Home Remedies For Fleas On Dogs

Introduction

Fleas are the bane of a dog owner’s existence. Even if you keep your pet outside at all times, you’re not immune from the itchy and annoying pests. Flea season can last anywhere from six to twelve months, depending on where you live in the country, so it’s important to learn how to manage fleas on your dog year-round. Fleas can cause health issues like tapeworms and anemia, plus they’ll make your pet relentlessly scratch themselves until they get irritated or even bleed. The good news is that there are plenty of effective home remedies for flea infestations on dogs. Most involve products that you likely have at home already, such as baking soda and vinegar.

What exactly are fleas?

Fleas are tiny bloodsucking insects that feed on the blood of dogs and humans. They’re reddish brown, about the size of a pinhead and have long legs that enable them to jump high. Fleas can also lay eggs that hatch into larvae which then become adult fleas.

If your dog has been scratching excessively, biting or licking his fur or skin, chances are he has fleas!

What does a flea infestation look like?

If you notice your dog scratching and biting itself more than normal, it could be a sign of fleas. Fleas are small parasites that feed on the blood of dogs and cats, causing them to itch and scratch. You’ll know if your dog has fleas if you see small red bites on its skin.

Additionally, when looking around your house for signs of flea infestation (such as in your bedding or crate), look out for:

• tiny black specks moving around
• dark spots in the fur that appear to be moving under the surface

What health issues do fleas cause in dogs?

• Fleas can cause anemia. When your dog is bitten by a flea, it can lead to anemia if the flea’s saliva enters your dog’s bloodstream. Anemia is when the red blood cells in your dog’s body are damaged and there aren’t enough of them around to carry oxygen where it needs to go.
• Fleas can cause skin infections. If their bites get infected, they can irritate their skin and make it painful for them when they walk around on their paws or dig at themselves with their claws because of how bad it hurts! This also leads to paw licking which causes dehydration so watch out for this sign too!
• Tapeworms are another health issue that you might see from having fleas; tapeworms lay eggs inside your pet which makes them sick when these eggs hatch up inside their body where there’s lots of food available for them (like intestines). These tapeworms will then grow into adult forms before laying more eggs again so make sure you keep tabs on what kind of treatments work best for getting rid off these little pests!

How to treat fleas with home remedies

If any of the following statements are true for you, then a flea home remedy may be right for your dog:

• You want to save money on products.
• You prefer natural and organic products.
• You want to do something good for the environment.
• The traditional methods just aren’t working, or they don’t seem to be working well enough (especially if your pup has already been treated multiple times).

1. Vinegar and water spray

The first step in getting rid of fleas is to kill them. Vinegar is a safe, natural product that works well for this purpose.

To make a vinegar and water spray: Combine one part vinegar with three parts water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on your dog’s coat, paying particular attention to the areas where fleas tend to hide (like the neck, armpits and tail base). You can also use apple cider vinegar instead if you prefer it over white distilled vinegar; both are safe options!

Be sure to keep your pet away from any wet surfaces until they’re dry; otherwise, there’s a risk they’ll slip on some floors or injure themselves due to slippery conditions caused by moisture absorption into their fur while still wet from being sprayed earlier in life like now just minutes ago…

2. Baking soda rub

To make a baking soda rub, combine 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 teaspoon of olive oil and a few drops of your favorite essential oil.

Apply the mixture to your dog’s fur and leave it on for 30 minutes, then rinse it off and dry their coat with a towel. Repeat this process once per week until no more fleas are present.

3. Herbal flea collar

Making a herbal flea collar is another easy way to keep your dog flea-free. To make one, you’ll need white vinegar and garlic cloves. Boil the vinegar in a large pot until it’s reduced by half, then add the peeled and chopped garlic cloves, letting them boil for another 15 minutes or so. Let cool, strain out the garlic pieces (you can use these again) and pour into an old bottle or jar that has an airtight lid.

To apply your homemade herbal flea collar: soak a cotton ball in some of this solution and place it under your dog’s neck so that it completely covers their hairless skin (this will be difficult if they have longer fur). You should leave it there for several hours before removing – but don’t forget about it! A good idea is to put some petroleum jelly or olive oil on top of their fur afterwards so that any leftover liquid doesn’t irritate them when you take off the collar

4. Essential oils for dogs

Essential oils are an effective, safe and natural way to help keep fleas away. When applied topically, essential oils can be easily absorbed by your dog’s skin and provide relief from the itching, scratching and other symptoms associated with flea bites.

You may have heard that some essential oils are toxic to dogs, but this is only true in large quantities or if they are applied directly to the skin without diluting them with carrier oil first. It’s important to note that not all essential oils will work as well on your pet as others—your veterinarian can tell you which ones would be best for your furry friend based on his/her specific needs (such as age or size).

5. Orange essential oil for dogs

• Add a few drops of orange essential oil to a spray bottle filled with water.
• Spray the dog’s fur and skin, making sure to cover all areas where fleas tend to hide.
• Repeat every day until the fleas are gone, but no more than once per day (more than that could burn their skin).
• Don’t use essential oils on puppies under 6 weeks old because it can be harmful for them

6. Neem oil for dogs

Neem oil is a natural pesticide that can be used on dogs. Neem oil has been shown to be safe for both humans and pets, but it is not a repellent or insecticide. It also won’t harm any animals that may eat your dog after they’ve been treated with it.

Neem oil consists of compounds extracted from the neem tree, which is native to India and other parts of Asia. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies these compounds as insecticides because they interfere with the nervous system of insects like fleas or ticks by affecting their ability to breathe or move normally (1).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that neem oil does not cause adverse health effects in humans when used appropriately (2). It’s important not to get neem oil into your eyes because this could cause irritation; wash hands thoroughly after using it on your dog so you don’t accidentally touch your eyes later!

7. Diatomaceous earth for dogs

Diatomaceous earth is a natural product that can help rid your home of fleas. It’s effective, safe and affordable—so why not give it a try?

Diatomaceous earth is made up of fossilized remains from diatoms, which are single-celled organisms that live in the ocean. The diatom skeletons contain silica (a type of glass). This glass has sharp edges that pierce through the exoskeleton of insects and kill them by dehydration or suffocation.

The beauty of using diatomaceous earth on your dog or cat is that it’s completely non-toxic to pets! Plus, since it’s made from plants, there are no side effects like you might get with chemical treatments or insecticides.

8. Lemon spray for dogs

Lemon juice is a natural flea repellent and can be used to treat your dog’s skin. Mix one part lemon juice with two parts water, then spray it on your dog’s coat. The citric acid in the citrus will dry out fleas on contact and repel new ones for a few hours after application.

If you don’t have lemon juice on hand, try using baking soda instead! Baking soda works similarly to lemon juice: when applied directly to the skin, it dries out fleas’ exoskeletons so they cannot breathe or move properly.

Fleas are hard to remove, but these home remedies will help you get rid of them.

Fleas are hard to remove, but these home remedies will help you get rid of them. You can also use professional flea treatments.

You should be careful when using essential oils on dogs, as some may not be safe for your pet’s skin. Make sure the oil you choose is made for dogs and has a high percentage of the ingredient recommended for treating fleas on dogs.

Conclusion

All in all, fleas can be a huge nuisance, but they don’t have to be. With these home remedies—and a little bit of patience—you can rid your dog and your home of these pesky critters. And remember: if you do spot any signs of fleas on your dog or around the house, don’t wait to take action. The sooner you treat the infestation, the less likely it is that it will develop into something more serious.