READ THIS FIRST:
First order of business… Please never, ever use tea tree oil, clove oil or pennyroyal oil on your cat or dog when using essential oils to treat fleas. Also avoid peppermint.And the oils you do use – be careful to introduce them slowly and in small amounts to test for sensitivities. It’s a sad fact that essential oils have killed animals. Use your head and, please, be cautious!
Now, here’s a few important considerations before we get into individual oils and DIY treatments:
So what oils should I use. First the quality of the oil is important I prefer CLINICAL grade oils like ameo oils as they are 100% pure. the purer the oil the more effective the treatment. You can order Ameo Oils which are 100% pure clinical grade oils here.
First order of business… Please never, ever use tea tree oil, clove oil or pennyroyal oil on your cat or dog when using essential oils to treat fleas. Also avoid peppermint.And the oils you do use – be careful to introduce them slowly and in small amounts to test for sensitivities. It’s a sad fact that essential oils have killed animals. Use your head and, please, be cautious!
Now, here’s a few important considerations before we get into individual oils and DIY treatments:
- One of the best preventions and treatment aids for fleas is to do your housecleaning. Vacuum, regularly wash your bedding, clean your pets… etc. Fleas (and their eggs) actually spend far less time on your pets than off. So the areas where your pet frequents and sleeps are particularly important to keep clean. When vacuuming be sure to empty your bag out ASAP and outside to prevent eggs from hatching and re-infesting.
- Cats are more sensitive to EOs than dogs and they love to lick any smelly thing you put on them. So be more cautious with cats.
- Dogs are scent oriented creatures, and thus have good instincts around essential oils. They know which oils are bad for them and which ones aren’t. But be careful and always use less oils than you might for a human. Their sense of smell is about 20x ours.
So what oils should I use. First the quality of the oil is important I prefer CLINICAL grade oils like ameo oils as they are 100% pure. the purer the oil the more effective the treatment. You can order Ameo Oils which are 100% pure clinical grade oils here.
In the remedies recommended below you will find the amount of oils to be used are far within safe usage. Regardless, it’s important to know as much as you can about proper use of lavender oil with pets.
Essential oil enhanced shampooIf you shampoo your pet, consider adding 1 drop of either True Lavender or Lemongrass to their shampoo (you’re better off with 2 drops for larger dogs).
Bonus: apart from ridding them of fleas, your pet will smell nice too.
EO Infused Brush remedy for fleas (also keeps your dog’s coat healthy) Could be okay for cats as well!
Here is a method to brush your dog and rid fleas in the process. The oils won’t disturb the natural oil balance of your dog’s skin and will improve the coat of his/her fur.
This treatment will disinfect the dog, condition the coat and collect the parasites and eggs in the brush.
DIY essential oil based flea collars
Most of the commercial flea collars are nasty. They’re made with highly toxic chemicals which will likely be absorbed through the skin of your pet.
Cats will often not stand for them and will avoid them as much as possible. If they have them on they’ll often desperately lick and groom the area surrounding the collar – which improves the likelihood of those nasty chemicals being absorbed into their bloodstream.
An essential oil based flea collar is ideal because it:
Simple DIY EO Based Flea Deterrent Spray
Here’s another great flea deterrent that also improves the coat of your pet.
Ingredients:
Avoid infection from bites
It’s important to avoid infection when dealing with flea bites.
Essential oil enhanced shampooIf you shampoo your pet, consider adding 1 drop of either True Lavender or Lemongrass to their shampoo (you’re better off with 2 drops for larger dogs).
Bonus: apart from ridding them of fleas, your pet will smell nice too.
EO Infused Brush remedy for fleas (also keeps your dog’s coat healthy) Could be okay for cats as well!
Here is a method to brush your dog and rid fleas in the process. The oils won’t disturb the natural oil balance of your dog’s skin and will improve the coat of his/her fur.
- Get a steel brush
- Place a piece of material the same size as the face of the brush (a thick material – a single layer of towel or a sheet folded three to four times)
- Push the material down over the teeth of your brush. You want it to lie about 1 inch above the base – depending on the length of your dog’s hair
- Prepare a bowl of warm water and mix in 4 drops of calming breeze, or lemongrass or thyme and soak the prepared brush in this before brushing your dog’s coat
- Rinse out the brush thoroughly several times during the brushing. It’s best to wash it in a bowl of essential oil infused water.
This treatment will disinfect the dog, condition the coat and collect the parasites and eggs in the brush.
DIY essential oil based flea collars
Most of the commercial flea collars are nasty. They’re made with highly toxic chemicals which will likely be absorbed through the skin of your pet.
Cats will often not stand for them and will avoid them as much as possible. If they have them on they’ll often desperately lick and groom the area surrounding the collar – which improves the likelihood of those nasty chemicals being absorbed into their bloodstream.
An essential oil based flea collar is ideal because it:
- Provides excellent protection against fleas
- They’re cheap
- Easy to make
- Buy a soft material collar
- Soak it in the following mixture:
- 1/2 tsp alcohol
- 1 drops Caling Breeze
- 1 drop thyme
- Blend your ingredients together and pour it over the collar until fully absorbed
- Leave to dry before putting around your pet’s neck
Simple DIY EO Based Flea Deterrent Spray
Here’s another great flea deterrent that also improves the coat of your pet.
Ingredients:
- one glass spray bottle
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar (or white distilled vinegar)
- 1 quart (fresh) water
- 2-3 drops lavender
- Mix your quart of fresh water with your cup of cider vinegar
- Add in your 2-3 drops of oils and mix it all up
- Add mixture to your spray bottle
- Mist your dog/cat, being careful to not get it in our near their eyes, nose, ears (the face in general).
Avoid infection from bites
It’s important to avoid infection when dealing with flea bites.
- Bathe any bitten areas and apply a no more than 1 drop of neat lavender or eucalyptus.
- Alternatively, dilute 3 drops of thyme in AVC (apple cider vinegar) and apply it over your bitten area(s).