Warmer weather is here.
So it seems like the perfect time to once again remind everyone that natural flea control is a thing.
Chemical flea products are widely available.
They’re even pushed by animal healthcare experts. Despite the fact these products contain toxic chemicals.
These compounds can cause animal injury or even death.
Adverse events are well documented. Yet the animal loving public hears little about these preventable injuries.
Human exposure happens too. The chemicals do not stay on the animal’s fur.
Instead, they travel into your skin when you’re in contact with your pet. These chemicals are also deposited on your carpets and furniture.
It is true that you need some sort of pet pest control. Especially if the animal spends a lot of time outdoors.
But it doesn’t necessarily need to be heavy duty chemicals.
Essential oils might be enough. We’ve never used anything else with our now 17-year-old dog.
I should point out that research into essential oils is still in its infancy. That’s even more true about dogs and essential oils.
So little is known. This means I can’t say for sure that essential oils will solve your flea problem. Because so much more research is needed.
The little bit of data we do have shows that essential oils contain agents that seem offensive to pests.
One study published in the Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases found that all of the aromatic oils tested repelled fleas better than the chemical known as DEET.
The aromatic oils tested that seemed to do this the best were thyme and myrtle essential oils. But only four oils were tested in this study.
I do not know if thyme or myrtle are recommended for dogs. So I stick with other essential oils more commonly used with dogs.
(As always, check with your vet first.)
Essential Oils That May Repel Fleas
(This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase anything, I receive a referral fee, at no extra cost to you.)
First of all, though, remember that I’m not an animal healthcare expert. Just a wife and mother who is dedicated to keeping a toxic free home.
Upgrading flea and tick products to more natural alternatives is an easy way to eliminate toxins.
However, check with your own vet before using essential oils. Never use them on cats. Felines are missing the liver enzymes required to break down strong plant based aromatics.
Never use essential oils on pregnant or nursing females. Ditto for young puppies.
Also, I never put essential oils directly on my dog. Just on his leash.
I’ve seen some articles where people actually put essential oils on an animal’s fur. I would never do this, because essential oils are exceptionally strong.
Instead, what I’ve done is place a drop of lemongrass essential oil or geranium essential oil on my dog’s cloth collar.
I don’t do this every day. About once a week seems to enough.
You can also put a drop of lemongrass essential oil on your dog’s leash when you take him for a walk. You can do this more frequently than once a week.
What Kind of Essential Oils Repel Fleas?
A lot of aromatic oils are thought to contain agents that repel insects.
For fleas, I like to use lemongrass essential oil or geranium essential oil.
Both of these seem to work well. Also, these essential oils are considered safe enough to use on dogs, provided they are used judiciously. (This means used sparingly after your vet signs off on the idea.)
Also, remember that a dog’s have a highly sophisticated sense of smell. So you don’t want to overwhelm them with a strong aroma.
Some other essential oils considered safe for dogs include:
- Bergamot essential oil
- Chamomile essential oil
- Lavender essential oil
- Frankincense essential oil
- Ginger essential ol
- Marjoram essential oil
- Helichrysum essential oil
This list was taken from a blog post published by Fabulous Frannie, which sells good essential oil at very fair prices. I’ve purchased a number of Fabulous Frannie oils myself.
There are some essential oils you should never use on a dog. Or on a small child.
A partial list includes:
- Oregano essential oil
- Clove essential oil
- Cinnamon essential oil
- Cassia essential oil
- Black pepper essential oil
It’s also possible to make your own essential oil flea spray for the house. Here’s a link to an earlier blog post that explains how to do this.
Some people though are not the DIY type though. No worries.
You can also buy ready to use natural flea and tick house spray powered by essential oils. This is designed for use on bedding and carpets, where fleas lay eggs.
The brand I recommend is Vet’s Best Flea & Tick Spray, which you can see below.
For More Reading
Essential Oils and Fleas Study
Disclaimer
These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Pregnant women should not use essential oils unless under medical direction.
