Flea Pest Control

You could spend a lot of money on a chemical based flea pest control for your pet. The expense to both your health and pocketbook will increase dramatically if you hire an exterminator to spray your home with toxic chemicals.

Why not look after this problem yourself using some good, natural alternatives that are very cheap and pet friendly? Apple cider vinegar and white vinegar are inexpensive and healthy alternatives which have no unhealthy side effects.

First Step in Flea Pest Control is a Bath

When you suspect your pet has fleas the first step is the direct approach. Attack the fleas where they live with a 1 to 1 combination of Dawn dish soap and white vinegar.

You can use apple cider vinegar if you like and this may add some nutrition for your pets skin.

Important! Before starting the bath spray some vinegar on your pet's head; everywhere except its eyes and nose.

This will keep the fleas from relocating to the head when you start the bath.

Soak your pet with warm water then apply the vinegar/soap solution. Work it into a rich lather making sure it penetrates to the skin and gives your pet a thorough scrubbing. (Obviously you will want to make sure you avoid your pets eyes)

The duration of your pet's bath should be at least 15 minutes to make sure that the fleas have been exposed to the vinegar long enough to have an effect on them. Rinse the soap out and you are done.

The vinegar smell will disappear once it dries but if you prefer you can follow up with your standard pet bath and rinse to remove it. This of course will extend the process and your pet may not appreciate it. Your call!

Periodic Skin Treatments

After bathing, it would be a good idea to continue your attack with some weekly or bi-weekly skin treatments to add to your flea pest control regime.

Make another 1 to 1 solution, this time using white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray this solution all over your pet's body and work it down to the skin using your fingers. Avoid the eyes as vinegar will sting.

This is a continuation/modification of the bathing process and is done to ensure surviving fleas are dealt with before they are able to regain their foothold. Depending on the thickness of the hair you may find it easier to use a pet comb or brush to get the solution down to the skin where it can do its work.

Having completed your direct attack on the flea pest control problem it is time to take a less direct approach. It is time for some maintenance.

Drinking Water

Vinegar has been used in health practices for thousands of years and with good reason. It is very effective when taken internally. This applies to animals as well as humans and, best of all, it is a very cheap addition to your (and your pet's) diet.

Add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to your pet's water dish every time you fill it. I would suggest you make this a habit and keep it up every day. Do not worry, your pet will probably not object and this addition will help in many ways. If your pet doesn't like the water try adding it to the food.

"You can use regular white vinegar but apple cider vinegar is much better for your animals health and your pet will appreciate the difference in taste. I would definitely go with the apple cider vinegar."

Consuming vinegar will increase the acidity of your pets coat and keep it flea free.

Adding ACV to the drinking water will not only serve as a flea pest control, it will also help maintain or increase your pet's health.

Now that you have looked after your pet's condition it is important to address the possibility of re-infection. The obvious nest step in flea pest control is to treat the areas in your home which have probably become residence to this pest.

Vinegar in the Wash

When your pet gets fleas some of them will likely take up residence in Fido's bedding. You don't want to reintroduce the problem to your freshly washed pet so his/her bedding should also be washed.

Add 1/2 a cup of white vinegar (don't waste the apple cider vinegar) to your wash and get that bedding clean. In fact you may want to do this for your bedding as well just to be safe.

Don't Forget Your Furniture and Carpet

Spraying your furniture and carpets with the 1 to 1 solution of vinegar and water should help with your flea pest control efforts. If you decide to use a carpet cleaner you may want to use a vinegar/water solution as one of the washes but I don't recommend adding vinegar directly to the carpet cleaning solution as it may have unpredictable results.

Other Natural Remedies

• Wash your pet with dish soap mixed with peroxide
• sprinkle a mixture of 1.5 pounds of borax to 1 cup of salt on your carpet and leave it overnight then vacuum it up in the morning. Make sure you dispose of the vacuum contents immediately as some of the fleas may survive.

Related Topics

• Getting rid of gnats

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