There are lots of ways to naturally prevent fleas on your dog, but which way is the right one? Take note of some of the tips provided in this guide and you’ll have a furry friend that will thank you later!
Have you ever had to deal with fleas? They multiply so quickly and their bites are incredibly irritating. Plus, they are just kind of gross! It’s much easier to prevent them than it is to deal with trying to get rid of them.
But is there a safe way to prevent them naturally? Let’s look at the best at-home remedies that won’t hurt your dog but will effectively keep those nasty bugs away.
Note: These tips are for informational purposes only. If you have any questions about your dog’s health please talk to your pet’s veterinarian.
How To Naturally Prevent Fleas
When it comes to bugs and pests, fleas can easily become a huge problem in a short time.
Have you ever gotten eaten up by fleas? It’s the worst – you don’t just get one, you get a bunch of bites all at the same time. And, your poor dog has to deal with this too.
You can avoid all of the itching and annoying problems by preventing fleas effectively!
In our experience, some synthetic flea prevention techniques do have side effects.
If you don’t want to risk it, then try these natural methods first. All of them use essential oils and natural ingredients from the earth.
Just as a precaution: Every time you introduce a new ingredient to your dog, try to keep an eye on them just in case they have an allergic reaction. Most of these are completely gentle but if your dog has sensitive skin, even the mildest products could make them itch.
Here are some of the best natural ways to prevent fleas on your pup. They are all so safe that you can even use all of them together.
Regular Grooming with Pet Shampoo
The first and easiest way to naturally prevent fleas on your dog is to bath and groom them regularly with dog-friendly shampoo. Don’t use human shampoo as it can cause itchy skin and won’t prevent fleas.
Our Pawsitively Soothing Anti-Itch shampoo will treat your dog’s itchy skin and has a blend of essential oils that prevent fleas. These are the essential oils in the shampoo, all of which are known for being natural flea repellant:
You should also brush your dog out regularly after bath time and look for fleas. The earlier you can catch them, the better you can treat them and you won’t have to deal with a terrible infestation.
If you do find a few fleas on them, give them a bath right away. Leave the shampoo on your dog for a few minutes longer than normal. This will soak the fleas in the essential oils and kill them all.
Lavender or Cedar Oil Flea Collar
Another way to naturally prevent fleas is to use a lavender or cedar oil flea collar. If you already have some high-quality lavender or cedar oil on hand, then this will be simple.
Just put 3-5 drops of the essential oil of your choice directly on your dog’s collar. You can reapply it whenever the smell dissipates.
It works just like medical flea collars! The essential oils repel the fleas and will prevent them from infesting your dog.
Lavender essential oil has an amazing added benefit. Not only does it repel pests like fleas and ticks, but it’s naturally calming and soothing too. If your dog is hyperactive, the lavender oil might help keep their excitement levels down a bit.
Cedar oil is a powerful deterrent for fleas and ticks. Not only does it repel them, but it suffocates the bugs too and eliminates their eggs and larvae.
Lemon Comb
Lemon essential or fresh lemon juice not only smells amazing but it repels fleas too. Either one works great in this instance.
Just spray some lemon juice or a combination of lemon essential oil and water on your dog’s brush before you groom them.
As you brush your dog like you normally do with the lemon-spritzed brush, you will leave behind a scent that will naturally disguise your pet as a food source. The bugs won’t bite!
Make A Natural Flea Sachet
This next tip is only good if you keep it out of reach of your dog or if your dog isn’t a chewer. If you like DIY projects, you can make one yourself. If not, you can buy a natural flea sachet online from Etsy.
Here’s how to make your own natural feal sachet:
- Make a small bag of breathable fabric like hessian or muslin. You can also buy muslin bags online.
- Fill the bag with lemon peel, dried lavender buds, and cedar chips.
- Tie up the bag.
- Place it near your dog’s sleeping area.
- As it loses its smell (usually after a month) reopen the bag and replace it with fresh ingredients.
You can place this on a hook above your dog’s bed or nearby where they can’t reach it to chew it.
Add Brewer’s Yeast To Your Dog’s Food
Not only is brewer’s yeast a natural flea repellant, but it’s really high in vitamins and nutrients your dog needs.
You can buy either powder or a pill form based on the size of your dog. Then, just add it to their food for the day. It’s not known why this works, but it has a pretty good rate of preventing fleas from becoming a problem.
Keep Dog’s Bedding Washed
Washing your dog’s bed frequently is another way that you can prevent fleas. Fleas can lay eggs in furniture and fabrics. When you keep them cleaned up, you give them fewer places to reproduce and grow.
This is another reason we recommend buying bedding for your dog that has removable covers.
Use a Rosemary Tea Rinse to Prevent Fleas
Rosemary tea is another natural ingredient that will help your dog smell super sweet and repel those fleas. After you wash your dog with the dog shampoo, rinse them with warm rosemary tea.
Remember to brew the tea before the bath and make sure it isn’t too hot or too cold for your dog.
Vacuum Frequently
Finally, keeping your home clean and vacuumed is another way to naturally prevent fleas. Vacuum all surfaces that have fabrics – floors, couches, curtains, and beds. Avoid having to use dangerous chemical “flea bombs” if you can by simply cleaning.
Make a DIY vacuum powder out of baking soda and rose geranium essential oil.
Not only does it smell amazing but it suffocates the fleas and kills them. This tends to be a pricier oil blend, so if you don’t have it you can also use just cedar oil too. It’s known for repelling bugs (which is why people stored quilts in cedarwood chests).
Prevent Fleas Before They Become A Problem By Using MuttScrub Products
What’s the saying? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! That’s definitely the case with fleas.
It’s so much easier to prevent them than it is to try to get rid of them. Keep everything cleaned and your dog groomed and you will have a much better chance of preventing them.
Add our calming MuttScrub products for a bathing routine that soothes and heals your dog’s skin naturally. There is no diluting or mixing required since we’ve done the hard work to develop the perfect blend of cleansers, moisturizers and essential oils for you!
Treat your dog’s skin only with pure ingredients that support overall well-being and aid the healing process. MuttScrub products are made of all-natural substances, including shea butter, to give your dog instant relief from ailments and anxiety.
All three of our products work best when used together in the Pawsitively Soothing Itch Relief Kit For Dogs. We have several great reviews of the product over on our Facebook page…check them out!
Tell us in the comments: how often do you bathe your dog?
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