Joan Wilen and Lydia Wilen
Joan Wilen and Lydia Wilen are folk-remedy experts and home tipsters based in New York City. They have spent decades collecting “cures from the cupboard” and are authors of several books, including Secret Food Cures.
We love our furry friends, and it’s upsetting when we see them scratching, biting, and being made miserable by fleas. It’s more than just uncomfortable for them too. Fleas can spread parasites and illnesses like typhus. Although it’s an ongoing battle, knowing how to get rid of fleas on pets is more than just a comfort issue for both you and your pets.
In this excerpt from the book Household Magic by Joan and Lydia Wilen the authors explain how to get rid of fleas on pets even when the over the counter solutions you’ve tried has failed.
Despite any suggestions we offer on how to prevent flea infestations and how to get rid of them, the fact is this—the healthier your pet is, the fewer fleas (if any) he/she will attract. Fleas tend to prey on malnourished, weak and sick animals.
One of the most effective ways to improve the health of any animal (including us humans) is to improve the quality of its diet. And the best way to improve the diet is by including more wholesome, natural foods and fewer processed, commercial foods.
If you’re willing to put in the time preparing food for your pet, rather than just opening a can or a bag, we suggest that you pick up a good book like Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats (Rodale Books) by Richard Pitcairn, DVM, PhD, and Susan Hubble Pitcairn, and let it guide you.
Meanwhile, here are some ways in which you can help your pet fight fleas and win….
Get your pet to stand on a large piece of white paper, then brush him. If he has fleas, you will see tiny black specks land on the paper. And they will probably be moving.
Thinly slice two lemons and place the slices in a pot with a quart of water. Boil for one hour, then let it steep overnight.
In the morning, strain out the lemon and keep the liquid in a jar or spray bottle. Once a day, groom your pet with a flea comb, then spray or sponge his coat with the lemon water.
CAUTION: Test a bit of the tonic on a small patch of your pet’s skin first to make sure he’s not allergic to citrus oil.
The smell of citrus repels fleas. The elixir may also help heal your pet’s flea-bitten skin. And if that’s not enough, the astringent properties in lemon will help to clean and brighten your pet’s coat.
Add distilled white vinegar to your pet’s drinking water—one teaspoon to each quart of
Brewer’s yeast (available at health-food stores) is rich in vitamin B-1 (thiamin) and—when added to your pet’s diet—is said to build your pet’s immune system and help repel fleas. The recommended dosage is one rounded tablespoon for each 50 pounds of pet
The good news is that your pet may not be bothered by fleas…the bad news is that brewer’s yeast may cause excess gas. To minimize the gas situation, feed the brewer’s yeast to your pet in small amounts—in plain yogurt and other moist foods.
CAUTION: According to Alfred Plechner, author of Pet Allergies (Very Healthy Enterprises), brewer’s yeast is among the most common allergens…along with beef, wheat, eggs and corn. If your pet has a history of food allergies, have his veterinarian test him before using brewer’s yeast.
Rub mayonnaise into your cat’s skin and fur, then wipe him clean with a damp washcloth. It should give him a shiny coat while helping to keep fleas away.
Many pets have had a bad experience with side effects from a commercial flea collar’s overly powerful ingredients.
Instead, try this simple and safe herbal flea collar…soak a piece of heavy and smooth twine—long enough so it fits securely around your pet’s neck—in pennyroyal oil (available at health-food stores) for 24 hours. Then hang it up in the bathtub until it stops dripping.
When it’s dry, tie the twine around your pet’s identification collar to repel fleas. Fleas hate pennyroyal!
CAUTION: DO NOT use pennyroyal if you, your pet or anyone in your household is pregnant, including other pets.
◆ Drive fleas away by attacking their keen sense of smell. Make a small pillow or sachet bag and fill it with cedar chips or shavings, or chamomile leaves—loose or in tea bags. Attach the sachet securely to your pet’s collar, especially since fleas tend to work their way up to their victim’s head.
◆ You can also use a small piece of an old pillowcase, and make a little pillow. Fill it with equal parts (about 1 ⁄2 cup each) of rosemary and oregano, and keep it in the doghouse or attach it to the pad on your pet’s bed.
Get rid of fleas on your pet by combing his coat thoroughly, especially around the neck and head. Check your pet-supply store for flea combs. These combs have closely set teeth and will dig out the fleas and flea eggs.
Dip the comb in a clean, empty 32-ounce jar filled with water, and add one tablespoon of liquid dish detergent. Then comb and dip, comb and dip until your pet is flea-free.
Bathe your dog once a week with Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Soap (available at most stores and online) or any good, natural dog shampoo (a friend of ours recommends Green Groom). Doing this will go a long way in controlling fleas.
leas live and breed in carpeting and on furniture. If you have a serious infestation of fleas, you must vacuum (at least every week) all the areas where your pet hangs out.
Then sprinkle common table salt in all of those same places and, after 48 hours, vacuum again. Repeat the procedure—sprinkle salt, and 48 hours later, vacuum.
Hopefully by then, the vacuum will have sucked up all of the original fleas and those that hatched during the four-day salting.
You may be surprised to know that fleas love salt so much that they will probably gorge themselves to death on it.
NOTE: It’s not necessary to change the vacuum bag in between each cleaning, since the fleas sucked into the vacuum are (or will be) dead.
But if the thought of them being in the vacuum bag bothers you (as it would us!), then by all means replace the bag.
There are all kinds of flea powders available. Some contain harsh pesticides and potentially harmful chemicals.
If you use a flea product and you suspect that your dog is having an adverse reaction to it—signs to look for include thrashing and/or foaming at the mouth—immediately bathe the animal with mild soap and rinse him off with lots of water. If he does not seem to be getting any better, call your local emergency veterinary clinic and take him for treatment right away.
Once your pet is fine, be sure to report the incident to the manufacturer of the product as well as to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA.gov).
Discover more natural pest control methods, and ways to improve your home by picking up a copy of Household Magic from Bottomlineinc.com today.
