Poor Dash had a flea infestation, and had to come in for an emergency flea bath. His dad had chopped his hair and doused him in flea powder before mom came to the rescue, lol! The good news is, you do not need harsh chemicals to get rid of fleas.
Really? you ask, skeptically...
No, truely :)
Here is what I recommend:
Really? you ask, skeptically...
No, truely :)
Here is what I recommend:
1) Bring your dog in for a flea bath. I do this with my regular shampoo, no pesticides, no chemicals. The thing about fleas is, they are actually a pretty fragile insect. If you cover them with soap for a certain length of time, they suffocate and die. I have been doing this method of flea control for many years, and it is very effective.
2)Buy some food grade diatomaceous earth. I haven't used this, but know of it as a natural way to eliminate garden pests such as ants and slugs as well. Apparently this can be found at garden supply stores, and possibly health food stores, as people take it (ingest) for health benefits. I did find this link for a few local suppliers: Diatomaceous Earth British Columbia. I will be looking for it, I have not yet. When I see some I will let you know where I find it. It is a whitish fine powder that at a microscopic level has razor sharp edges that will cut up the outer waxy layer of the flea and leave it exposed to dehydration. A flea exposed to this dust will die within a few hours.
3)Spread a paper thin layer of the DE on your carpet before you vacuum, and leave a thin layer on your floors and anywhere in your house (couches!) where the vacuum does not reach. This is only effective on the adult stage of the flea's life cycle, so you are going to have to repeat, repeat, repeat until you notice no more fleas in your flea traps. Vacuum your house at least once a week, better twice until the fleas die down...literally ;P Wash the dogs bed, your bedding, and anywhere else your dog spends time, including the car.
4)Put out flea traps overnight in trouble areas (by dogs bed, underneath your bed). You can make your own by putting a shallow dish filled with soapy water under a lamp . Fleas are attracted to light and will jump towards it, land in the water, get coated in the soap, suffocate and drown.
5) Use the diatomaceous earth like flea powder and douse your dog. It does not hurt mammals, does not irritate the skin. The glass like particles only work on a microscopic level. It is food safe and can not harm you or your dog.
I found this page Die Fleas! Die! Die! Die! to have some very useful information that explains at length how diatomaceous earth works and answers many questions as well as listing other natural flea killing methods.
Happy Tails!
~Miriam
Happy Tails!
~Miriam
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