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You can divide the natural remedies into five types:

• Sprays for skin and environment
• Oil for your dog's coat
• Natural flea collar
• Food supplements for your dog
• Home remedies for the environment

Sprays

There are several sprays that you can easily make yourself to spray your dog's coat and treat, for example, his pillow or bed. These sprays also work in tricky corners of your house if you have (had) a flea infestation. Because with fleas, you not only have to combat the adult animals but especially the eggs and larvae. You can make a spray yourself using water and essential oils, water and lemon, or water and vinegar.

• Some essential oils, such as lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint, rosemary, thyme, and citronella, can help repel fleas. Make your own mixture of a few drops of oil and about half a liter of water in a spray bottle. Or add a few drops of the oil to your dog shampoo (do not use on your dog's head).

• A mixture of half vinegar and half water also works very well against fleas and can be used as a spray for pillows, carpets, and your sofa.

• You can make a lemon mixture yourself by slicing a lemon and boiling it in a liter of water. Let it cool down and stand overnight, then pour the sieved mixture into a spray bottle. To be used for the dog and the environment. You can also wash your dog with dog shampoo supplemented with a cup of water with lemon juice.

Oil for the coat

Coconut oil (available at the drugstore for use on skin and hair) also works against fleas and also cares for the skin. Optionally, warm it up to make it spreadable. Products with neem oil are also effective against fleas.

Natural flea collar

Sprinkle a bandana or handkerchief with essential oil, such as rosemary or citronella, or with a garlic extract. Tie the handkerchief around your dog's neck and the natural flea collar is ready! If you have cats, be careful with garlic. This strongly scented plant is completely safe for dogs but toxic to cats.

Food supplements

A healthy dog starts with healthy nutrition. If your dog is healthy, his immune system will be better, and he will be less susceptible to fleas and other parasites. To make your dog less attractive to fleas, there are food supplements made from various herbs that fleas do not like. Plants and herbs that research has shown to be effective as food supplements against fleas include:

• Garlic
• Rosemary
• Lemon balm
• Fenugreek
• Lemongrass Often, a supplement containing a mixture of different herbs works best. A food supplement against fleas gives the best results when used for a few months in a row. Scientific research shows that after four months, almost 90% of the fleas are gone. In addition to herbal remedies, salmon oil is also an effective supplement. Thanks to the omega-3 fatty acids in salmon oil, the skin and coat become healthier, and the gut health also improves. This also helps against fleas.

Home remedies for the environment

If your dog has (had) fleas, it is also important that the fleas disappear from the environment. That means you have to combat eggs, larvae, and adult fleas in the house. There are various home remedies for this.

Place a bowl with a mixture of dish soap and water. Fleas are attracted to this and then die in the water. Simply sprinkle table salt or cleaning salt on your carpet, rug, dog bed, or sofa and let it sit for a few hours or brush it in. Then you have to vacuum very thoroughly. The salt dries out the fleas and flea eggs. You should immediately dispose of the vacuum bag in an outdoor trash can. Diatomaceous earth can also be used to sprinkle before vacuuming. This product can also be spread in the garden if your dog plays there a lot. Be careful, though, as it can be very dusty (and therefore unhealthy for the lungs).

Effectiveness

The effectiveness of these natural methods can vary, of course. Also, note that some dogs may be sensitive to certain ingredients such as citronella or lavender. Regularly check your dog for ticks and fleas, provide good nutrition, and maintain a healthy coat. It is always advisable to consult a veterinarian before using a new flea control product.

Sources:

Lans, C., Turner, N. & Khan, T. Medicinal plant treatments for fleas and ear problems of cats and dogs in British Columbia, Canada. Parasitol Res 103, 889–898 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-008-1073-6

Fabien Moog, Gaetan Vetea Plichart, Jean-Louis Blua, Marie-Christine Cadiergues. Evaluation of a plant-based food supplement to control flea populations in dogs: A prospective double-blind randomized study. International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance,

Volume 12, 2020, Pages 35-38, ISSN 2211-3207, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpddr.2020.02.001

Paphaphas Srimahakhunnawong. Using garlic as a dog-flea repellent for the skin disease treatment.

Faculty Agricultural Technology. Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Pathumthani.