Is there a good recipe for homemade flea medication?

[kristenm1975]

Hello! I have a 6 pound chihuahua who's beginning to pick up some fleas and would like to nip it in the bud. I hesitate to use the normal heavy-duty stuff like Advantage. I have a plentiful supply of essential oils and herbs on hand, luckily, and the ability to make whatever I need here, but I don't know what to combine to best suit our needs.

Anyone have something that worked for their dog?

Thanks!

 

[miss_thenorth]

Hi! there was a post not ong ago that alot of areas were discussed. Maybe you can find something there that can help you out.

http://www.sufficientself.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=3069

 

[Chichi]

Hello! I have a 6 pound chihuahua who's beginning to pick up some fleas and would like to nip it in the bud. I hesitate to use the normal heavy-duty stuff like Advantage. I have a plentiful supply of essential oils and herbs on hand, luckily, and the ability to make whatever I need here, but I don't know what to combine to best suit our needs.

Anyone have something that worked for their dog?

Thanks!

I have 3 chihuahuas. Dawn dishwashing liquid will kill fleas.
It's mild enough even for chihuahua puppies. Once, I rescued a 6 wk. old chihuahua pup that was totally covered in fleas. I dipped her 3x over the course of a day and it worked well.
As for a preventative,
I have heard giving them garlic helps a bit.
It would be interesting to know if there is something natural that is as reliable as Advantage. I love Advantage Multi for my chihuahuas, but it's pricey.
One time I tried to save $ and used the stuff at Wally world on them.
It almost killed all 3 of mine. Extremely toxic. They were convulsing for 3 days!
I hope someone else has more info.

 

[Beekissed]

I'm wondering if one could put garlic juice drops on their backs like the commercial preps and get the same results? Of course, you'd have one smelly pup, but it just might work. They say lavender repels fleas....my dogs HATED the herbal collars I made for them using lavender, citronella, lemongrass and orange EO.

I'm thinking about drenching all my big animals with an UP/ACV, garlic juice, raw honey drench once monthly this winter....will let you know if this works.

On BYC, they seem to feel that garlic is harmful to dogs if given in large amounts. I'd say it would be up to the dog and one wouldn't have to give large amounts for it to be effective.

 

[delia_peterson]

UP/ACV? Whats the UP? And how do you make the collar?

 

[Beekissed]

Unpasteurized...UP!

I just soaked a bandana in the mix and tied it on.....they went crazy to get it off again. I think I went a little overboard with the EOs and it was killing their scenting ability.....dogs HATE citronella!!!

 

[delia_peterson]

Thanks, Bee!

 

[patandchickens]

Vacuuming and laundry. Honest.

The fleas on the dog are not the problem so much as the all eggs they drop *off* the dog that develop into larvae living in your carpets, floorboard crevices, sofa cushions, dog bedding, blankets, etc. You have to go after and eradicate those *household* things to have any hope of controlling a blossoming flea population.

Of course bathing the dog to reduce the population of egglaying adult fleas is not a bad idea either, it's just not the whole (or the major) story.

Good luck, 'have fun',

Pat

 

[Bettacreek]

Eucalyptus is supposed to help repel external pests as well. This should at least prevent the dog from dragging them in from the yard.

 

[Wildsky]

:/ not sure if it helps or not, because my dog hasnt' ever had fleas - but I mix peppermint and tea-tree oil soap together and use that to bath her.

I use Dr. Bronners liquid soaps.