natural stuff to get rid of fleas?

[greatdane]

I have been using lemon grass and tea tree oil in a spray bottle (diluted of course) on linens, drapes, I have been wiping my dog down with vinegar and water mix, sprinkling baking soda and salt on carpeting. I really haven't found many just one or two over the last week or so, which is why I want to get so aggressive about it. I'm in an old house (120 years old) with gaps here and there in floorboards, woodwork. So I have to treat everywhere to keep it from being a big problem. I thought lemon grass and tea tree (I make a quite strong mixture using many drops of each with distilled water) would be more effective than it has been. So am going through all the posts here and what I find online to step it up more. Vacuuming, washing definitely helps, but they still are showing up here and there. LOL Celticnoodle, he is beyond spoiled now re food and treats (Kong and pnut butter)! He doesn't scratch constantly and the vinegar/water does help. I just want to stay on top of things. I'm going to the store tomorrow for more supplies and I'm sure I can get this eradicated without going the really strong chemical route. Reading about pesticides and what they do to us and our pets recently, well, seems like cutting off a limb in order to treat a cut by using something really strong to get rid of fleas.

[celticnoodle]

oh good. I'm glad its not really to the point of having to resort to extreme measusres and it sounds like you're doing all you can to nip it in the bud naturally. I do know that Bryan is spoiled already-- but, I'm just putting in an extra plea for him. (let him know I tried, GD!)

[greatdane]

When he wakes up from sleeping on his four inch mattress, I will tell him! LOL

[moonbear]

There's only one sure way to clear your doggy friend of unwanted guests...and that's a flea comb. It is the most wonderful item ever invented for a doggy's wellbeing. I tried everything. Powders, sprays, drops...I spent a fortune. Nothing worked. My poor golden retriever Bear was just plagued by the things. Every summer the same thing, misery. Worse, he brought them into the house and they were impossible to get rid of. I too have wooden floors and it's an old house. Lots of nooks and crannies.

Finally I called a halt on the chemical warfare because of my pocket and his health and I bought a flea comb, in sheer desperation. I think it cost me about 2 euros on ebay.

It was a miracle!!!! I comb him every day. I scoop the little blighters up and plunge the comb into a bowl of hot soapy water which kills the fleas almost instantly. He loves the grooming and I can see that I'm killing the darned things. I started this last year and this summer he's had hardly any fleas. I also try and vacuum every day if possible.

[celticnoodle]

wow! good going, moonbear! and I am sure Bear is happier too! (cute name for your dog)

[moonbear]

He is sort of cute Celticnoodle ......he's also big, he weighs in at sixty kilos so that was a lot of fur for fleas to lurk in lol

[celticnoodle]

Originally Posted by moonbear

He is sort of cute Celticnoodle ......he's also big, he weighs in at sixty kilos so that was a lot of fur for fleas to lurk in lol

lol, that is a lot of weight there! whoa! no wonder his name is Bear.

[greatdane]

The flea combs are a necessity! I'm lucky in that Bryan, my 20 pound bundle of cuddles, is short haired, no real undercoat, it's mostly like hair, not fur, and he's lightish colored, makes it easier. But I just took him out and could SEE fleas jumping around him outside, so I must get something to treat the OUTSIDE! I brush him off when we come in and wipe him down with a vinegar/water mix before we go out, which helps, but we literally can't go out for a nanosecond without some trying to jump on him and he's pretty low to the ground. So on my shopping list for tomorrow, is something to treat the yard, even if it's just pouring vinegar on it (there aren't lots of plants or anything in this small side yard I take him so I'm not worried about killing plants). Your dog sounds soooo cute! He makes a few of Bryan! lol

[celticnoodle]

Originally Posted by greatdane

The flea combs are a necessity! I'm lucky in that Bryan, my 20 pound bundle of cuddles, is short haired, no real undercoat, it's mostly like hair, not fur, and he's lightish colored, makes it easier. But I just took him out and could SEE fleas jumping around him outside, so I must get something to treat the OUTSIDE! I brush him off when we come in and wipe him down with a vinegar/water mix before we go out, which helps, but we literally can't go out for a nanosecond without some trying to jump on him and he's pretty low to the ground. So on my shopping list for tomorrow, is something to treat the yard, even if it's just pouring vinegar on it (there aren't lots of plants or anything in this small side yard I take him so I'm not worried about killing plants). Your dog sounds soooo cute! He makes a few of Bryan! lol

ah! there ya go! they are in the dirt outside!!! yes, try some of these natural remedies and spray the hello out there!!! I know the white distilled vinegar in water 50/50, I think? i forget, is great for killing bugs.

good luck!

[greatdane]

Well, I had been wiping my dog down with vinegar and water, even dumping straight vinegar in this little area he usually goes to, vacuuming, all the stuff I should be doing, and still, even though there was no infestation and I was keeping them at bay, he would always seem to pick up one or two whenever we went out. Lots of squirrels and rabbits in the area. Then I thought fly paper works on flies....so I took one of those lint rollers that has like masking tape you peel off after you use it, ran it backwards, against the grain, of my dog's hair, and ta duh! got two fleas! And that was about all he would pick up (who knew they took the dog train in pairs only?) when he would go out each time. So now when he comes back in, the roller comes out. I had gotten a very narrow toothed flea comb, but the roller works better and faster (granted, my dog has short, fairly thin hair, not thick fur, so it's easier, wouldn't work so well on a really thick coated furry dog). I also run it over my sheets, just in case, because he jumps on my bed. Once it starts getting a little colder, the fleas will go hibernate or whatever fleas do, and I won't have to be on it so much, but in the meantime, the roller thing rocks!