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    Killing Fleas With Essential Oils

    October 31, 2015 in Essential Oils, Non-Toxic Lifestyle

    natural flea control with essential oils

    Killing fleas with essential oils?

    Is it possible?

    Yes it is. We owned a Cocker spaniel. He died at the ripe old age of 17 two years ago.

    Natural plant-based oils are the only thing we’ve ever used for flea control.

    That’s because I believe dogs stay healthier when they’re not exposed to potentially dangerous chemicals.

    I like to think this is part of the reason my dog has lived so long.

    In the United States, if a dog reaches the age of 10, there’s a 50 percent chance he’ll develop cancer. Our dog, up until recently, has avoided this disease. We found out he has cancer shortly after he was 16.

    But he outlived the average life expectancy for his breed by a number of years. He ate well and got around well.

    Our dog had a strong body. This, most likely, has a lot to do with his longevity. But we’ve also kept him away from toxic chemicals. I can’t help but think this is why he lived so long.

    Where are dogs likely to encounter poisonous compounds? One source is household cleaners. But we don’t have to worry about this with our pet, because we only use natural cleaning products.

    Many animals are also exposed to chemical-based flea and tick products.

    Unfortunately, these formulas may contain potentially hazardous ingredients. Flea products may contain pyrethroids. These compounds are linked to a number of health problems, including seizures.

    Natural Flea Treatment for Dogs

    Certain types of flea products, especially the so-called “spot on” applications, can even kill a pet. One agency tracked an alarming statistic. The Center for Public Integrity found that “spot on” treatments caused at least 1,600 deaths, during a five-year period.

    I personally believe that it’s scandalous that pet owners don’t have this information. So they can make an informed decision, for their pets and for themselves. There’s also a link between pyrethroids and cancer. Plus, there’s evidence these flea chemicals are transmitted to humans.

    We don’t hear much about the potential dangers of flea products. This could have to do with the fact that flea control is a huge, multi-billion dollar industry. But the news is slowly coming out, thanks to the Center for Public Integrity and other natural health news sources.

    All of the above is why I’m such a big fan of natural flea treatment for dogs.

    One word of caution, though. Fleas are different than ticks. If you live in an area with tick-born illnesses you need to work closely with your vet for tick prevention, and these are chemical based.

    Also, never use essential oils on young puppies and pregnant females. Always check with your vet before using essential oils and let him or her have the final say.

    Killing Fleas With Essential Oils

    (This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase anything, I receive a referral fee, at no extra cost to you.)

    Before you read any further though, here’s a word of caution. Certain essential oils should never be used on dogs. These include clove, cassia, camphor, thyme and a pretty long list of others.

    Certain medications may interact with essential oils. Essential oils can’t be used on cats. That’s because felines lack a liver enzyme needed to break down the aromatic compounds.

    Some essential oils are considered okay for dogs. (After you check with your vet.) These include geranium, lavender and lemongrass essential oils.

    During one summer, to keep pests away, I’ve put one drop of natural geranium essential oil on my dog’s collar. (On the collar, not on his fur.) It seemed to work. Better yet, I didn’t have to worry about poisoning my pet with chemicals that have caused problems for other dogs.

    Later, I realized I could achieve good results with just placing a drop of geranium oil on my dog’s leash. Lemongrass oil works as well.

    Essential oils are very strong. This appears to be the better option, as far as I’m concerned, because it seemed to keep the pests away.

    Essential Oils For Fleas Ticks On Dogs

    We’ve owned our dog since he was three. Never once, has he been doused in a chemical flea product, or shampooed with insect repellent. He’s never worn a flea collar.

    Later in this article, I’ll explain more about the specific dangers associated with chemical collars.

    Our dog doesn’t spend a lot of time outside.

    Things might be more difficult if he liked the great outdoors. But he’s the type of pet that likes to be in the house, lounging next to one of his family members. I think this reduces the likelihood of a major flea problem.

    Natural Flea And Tick Repellent

    To repel these fleas and ticks, we use natural essential oils. A number of aromatics are excellent at controlling pests. They can be used as a natural flea and tick repellent. Geranium essential oil, as I already mentioned, is one of them.

    Lemongrass Oil for Fleas

    I’ve seen published reports of people who recommend putting a drop of lemongrass essential oil on a dog’s shoulder blades, similar to what you’d do with a spot on treatment. But I wouldn’t do this with my dog.

    Aromatic oils are extremely potent. Dogs have a heightened sense of smell. Even though essential oils are natural substances, I feel there’s still a need for caution. With my own dog, I’d only consider using them on his collar.

    With small dogs, you may even want to consider putting a drop or two on the leash instead of the collar. But in any event discuss this with your vet.

    Killing Fleas On Dogs With Essential Oils

    There’s still a lot we have to learn about essential oils and animals. (Never use them on a cat.) So, once again, please check with your own vet. I need to stress this once again. That’s because I’m just a dog Mom. Not an animal healthcare expert.

    So use this post as a starting base. Do your own research. And talk to your own vet.

    Fabulous Frannie is a brand I can recommend because I’ve used it myself. (Plus, this company has published literature on safe use of essential oils with animals.)

    Remember, if you buy an essential oil, you don’t have to use it exclusively for flea control. Lemongrass oil has a multitude of other uses, for personal care and for around the house. For instance, it works great in natural household cleaning solutions because it has an invigorating fresh scent.

    Lemongrass Essential OilLemongrass Essential Oil

    &

    Non Toxic Flea Control for the Home

    You couldn’t pay me enough to put a chemical flea collar on my dog. Here’s why.

    Flea and tick collars are an unhealthy option, both for people and for pets. The National Resources Defense Council has published findings showing that these products emit pesticide residue for weeks, after they’re placed around an animal’s neck. Some of these chemicals are potentially neurotoxic and carcinogenic, according to the NRDC.

    That’s why it makes sense, at least to me, to turn my dog’s regular collar into a natural flea and tick collar. This can easily be done with geranium or lemongrass essential oils.

    But what about controlling fleas already in the home. And dealing with flea eggs in your carpet?

    Natural Flea Control for The Home

    Actually, it’s really easy to make DIY flea and tick spray for the house. This natural spray is designed for use on carpets and bedding only. Make sure to wait until it’s dry before your pet is allowed on the sprayed surface.

    Or, if you prefer convenience, you can find ready-to-use non-toxic plant-based flea treatments designed to control the flea population in your house. (Always test any flea spray on a small spot to make sure it doesn’t hurt the fabric.)

    Below are two ready-to-use flea products powered by essential oils. They do not contain any dangerous chemicals, and don’t pose a health risk to your family or your pet. Vet’s Best makes a non-toxic flea spray shampoo (on the right) as well as a Flea & Tick Home Spray powered by natural essential oils.

    Vet's Best Flea SprayVet’s Best Flea SprayVet's Best Flea ShampooVet’s Best Flea Shampoo

    &

    Can You Vacuum Flea Eggs

    Years ago, a vet once told me that during a flea infestation, your carpet becomes a “flea factory.” This is where many flea eggs can live. If I remember correctly, think he told me to put a mothball in my vacuum canister to kill the flea eggs.

    However, mothballs are toxic. For people, as well as for pets.

    A much better solution is to add about five drops of essential oils to your vacuum canister. You could use geranium or lemongrass oil. But the blend I prefer putting in my vacuum cleaner is a five-oil formula that’s considered a natural germ fighter. Different essential oil companies sell this blend, which contains lemon, clove, rosemary, eucalyptus and cinnamon essential oils.

    How To Get Rid of Fleas In the House

    Remember, I said earlier not to use certain essential oils on a pet? These include nearly all of the above oils. But this aromatic germ-fighting blend is designed for use in your vacuum cleaner only. Not on or near your dog. And only for the purpose of killing flea eggs in your carpet. Germ-fighting essential oil blends are very strong, so you definitely want to keep them away from your pet.

    Just to be extra safe, I’d keep my dog out of the room while vacuuming and until the smell of the oils is gone. (Most dogs don’t like to stick around anyway while the vacuum cleaner is running.)

    Even though we don’t have a flea problem, I like to add this germ-fighting blend to my vacuum cleaner because it leaves the room smelling fresh.

    Diffusing Essential Oils To Kill Fleas

    Yet another way to potentially attack fleas is by diffusing essential oils. However, to be perfectly honest, I’m not sure this would be the most effective method, unless you added a lot of essential oil and used it as a natural “flea bomb.” This would have to be done in a closed area. You or your pet wouldn’t be able to use the room in the meantime.

    I personally would not do an essential oil flea bomb if I had a cat. I’d also want to keep pets and children out of the room for at least several hours, or until the smell was no longer strong. (This is something I also wouldn’t do if I were pregnant or thought I could be. Although essential oils are natural, they’re best avoided during pregnancy.)

    To make a natural essential oil flea bomb, you’d need at least one cold air essential oil diffuser. You could set up a second diffuser if you’d. Add water to the well, along with about 20 drops of a germ-fighting essential oil blend. Run the diffuser for several hours in a closed room. Make sure to cover your nose and mouth with a wet cloth when you enter the room to disconnect.

    Disclaimer

    These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. People with health concerns should discuss them with a doctor. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use essential oils, unless directed to do so by a healthcare professional.

    I’m not a healthcare professional, so all of the above statements are my personal opinion, and are presented for discussion purposes only. Please check with your vet before using essential oils on your dog, and don’t use aromatics on puppies.

    For Additional Reading

    Center For Public Integrity Report on Flea Products

    essential oils for fleas

    Tags : essential oil repel ticks, essential oils fleas ticks dogs, essential oils for killing fleas, essential oils ticks fleas, lemongrass oil for fleas, non chemical flea control, non toxic flea and tick control, non toxic flea control home

    27 Comments
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    About Organic Palace Queen

    I am a Catholic wife, mother and certified homeopath who wants to pass along what I know about staying healthy and healing from chronic illness and narcissistic abuse.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Connie says

      September 5, 2016 at 7:38 pm

      I was told from an old timer about 50 years ago that fleas can’t stand the scent of pine.

      Reply
      • Organic Palace Queen says

        September 5, 2016 at 9:56 pm

        Hi Connie, thanks so much for reading and for your feedback. I have no doubt that fleas hate the smell of pine. I wouldn’t use this aromatic oil on a dog, but there are others that will work for fleas.

        Reply
      • Organic Palace Queen says

        September 5, 2016 at 9:57 pm

        Hi Connie, thank you so much for reading. I have no doubt that pine will keep the fleas away in your house or in a closet. However, I wouldn’t use pine essential oil on a dog or on his or her collar.

        Reply
    2. Amber says

      September 6, 2016 at 6:20 pm

      I’ve heard you can use tea tree oil as well.

      Reply
      • Organic Palace Queen says

        September 6, 2016 at 6:50 pm

        Hi Amber, thanks so much for reading. Tea tree oil would probably be effective against fleas. But I wouldn’t use it on my dog because it’s so strong and there are concerns of toxicity in animals. I do urge people to check with their vets before using essential oils on a pet.

        Reply
        • Staci says

          January 6, 2018 at 6:29 am

          Tea Tree Oil is suggested to put on dogs hot spots or injured areas that you do not want them to lick. Bc they don’t like the flavor. Have used this for years on all breeds of dog, worked perfectly.

          Reply
          • Organic Palace Queen says

            January 6, 2018 at 5:23 pm

            I’m not an animal healthcare expert, so I can’t give medical advice. But I have used lavender essential oil mixed with coconut oil on my dog’s hot spot, and it worked really well. I like lavender oil because it’s mild. Tea tree in large amounts isn’t good for dogs. (Anyone reading this don’t even think about using essential oils on cats.) Thanks so much for reading my blog.

            Reply
    3. Genie Adams says

      April 8, 2017 at 1:26 am

      What would be a good oil for cats to use for fleas?

      Reply
      • Organic Palace Queen says

        April 8, 2017 at 2:19 am

        Hi Genie, don’t use essential oils on cats. I’m not an animal health expert, but here’s what I understand from my reading. Cats lack a liver enzyme that’s needed to break down and metabolize essential oils. Because essential oils are so strong, they’re generally not considered safe for cats. Thanks for reading.

        Reply
    4. Cyndy Lacey says

      April 10, 2017 at 4:46 pm

      What a great article. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us. I will try the lemon grass. The geranium gets my allergies riled up for some reason!

      Reply
      • Organic Palace Queen says

        April 10, 2017 at 5:54 pm

        Yes, whatever works best for you. Everyone is different. Thanks so much for visiting and for commenting.

        Reply
    5. Cindy says

      June 30, 2017 at 11:18 am

      Hi my concern is ticks, anything for them?

      Reply
      • Organic Palace Queen says

        June 30, 2017 at 11:22 am

        Hi Cindy, I use the same essential oils for ticks as well. Hope this helps.

        Reply
        • Patrice says

          February 15, 2018 at 8:16 am

          I have battled fleas all seasons even in this cold winter what oils can I use in the house to keep them out. I have taken all carpet out but they are still on my dogs please help

          Reply
          • Organic Palace Queen says

            February 15, 2018 at 12:47 pm

            Patrice, you can try using a natural flea spray. Here’s a post that tells you how to make one. https://www.organicpalacequeen.com/homemade-flea-spray-for-house-with-essential-oils/. Also, consider using diatomaceous earth. This is a non-toxic substance that’s lethal to insects. You will easily find a lot of information by Googling. I hope this helps.

            Reply
    6. Datha Moore says

      August 22, 2017 at 3:34 am

      So you just put a drop in the collar? Anywhere in particular? On the outside or on the inside? Also, how often do you apply it to the collar. My dogs love to go outdoors so will this still be effective for them?

      Reply
      • Organic Palace Queen says

        August 22, 2017 at 11:20 am

        Hi Datta, I can’t claim or promise that any natural remedy will take care of your flea problem. All I can do is share what I do with my own dog, who doesn’t like the great outdoors too much. I guess you could always try the essential oil approach to see if it works. This is all I have to do for my dog. He goes out to “do his business” and we also walk him. I put the oils on the outside of his collar. Thanks for reading.

        Reply
      • Organic Palace Queen says

        August 22, 2017 at 11:21 am

        I don’t apply them too often, given the fact that he stays in a lot. If he went out more I’d probably do it at least once a week. You could also put 10 drops of peppermint oil and 10 drops of lavender oil in a large glass spray bottle and periodically spray your carpets with a light coating to combat flea eggs. (You can also use this to wipe down your counters to keep ants away.)

        Reply
        • karen macneil says

          December 30, 2017 at 3:56 pm

          would you do this with cats in the house. I used a spray with tea tree peppermint vinegar and water and sprayed our beds sometimes but not regularly. the cats don’t tend to go on our beds much.

          Reply
          • Organic Palace Queen says

            December 30, 2017 at 5:23 pm

            Hi Karen, This would be a good question to ask your vet. I like to tell people not to use essential oils with cats because they have a different metabolism than dogs. Just to be safe ask your vet if it’s okay to use essential oils as a flea and tick house spray. I’m of the mind that caution is the best approach with everything.

            Reply
    7. Michelle says

      October 31, 2017 at 8:49 pm

      Hi. I have also read that diluted lavendar oil works as a household flea spray, and to spray on your dog.

      Reply
      • Organic Palace Queen says

        November 1, 2017 at 1:55 am

        Maybe very diluted, since dogs are so sensitive to smells. Lavender is one of the essential oils you can use with dogs (not cats.) But I always tell my readers to check with their own vet before using essential oils on their pets, since I’m not an animal healthcare expert. Thanks so much for reading my blog.

        Reply
    8. Melissa says

      November 21, 2017 at 2:20 pm

      How often do you apply the oils on the collar?

      Reply
      • Organic Palace Queen says

        November 21, 2017 at 2:47 pm

        I’d say about once a week or so, or until you can’t smell the oil at all. This is all we’ve needed to do for our dog. Granted he doesn’t like the great outdoors. Also, run the idea by your vet. I always encourage people to work with their vets.

        Reply
        • Organic Palace Queen says

          November 21, 2017 at 2:51 pm

          Melissa, I just updated that article to include a link to a newly published post on how to make your own non-toxic flea and tick spray for the home, to attack these critters from another angle.

          Reply
    9. Nikki says

      February 4, 2018 at 9:41 pm

      Great article, lots of new info I can’t wait to test out on my Charlee! She LOVES the outdoors, has her own doggie door, and I have recently noticed a few fleas on her. I haven’t found any inside though, just a few strays on her. I read another article that said the same things you do with a few drops on the collar, 1-3 times per week as needed. The EO they said that really seems to be effective, and mild on a dog’s highly sensitive nose, is Chinese Cedarwood. I applied 4 drops evenly spaced on the outside of her collar, then I use a mixture of Bragg’s apple cider vinegar + baking soda + blue dawn dish soap in a spray bottle for both my furniture, and a daily spritzing on Charlee. I got some food grade Diat. Earth also, and created a barrier around the inside of my house, and generous coating of her lounge areas. I may have went a little over kill, but I haven’t seen a single flea in about 6 months now.

      Reply
      • Organic Palace Queen says

        February 5, 2018 at 4:28 pm

        Hi Nikki, thanks so much for your feedback. I always tell readers to check with their vet before using essential oils for a dog (never on a cat). It sounds like you’re attacking the flea problem from multiple angles. I can definitely see how they’d be long gone. Thanks for reading my blog.

        Reply

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    Disclaimer

    Information is for discussion only and not medical advice. Discuss health concerns with a doctor. 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 natural remedies unless under medical direction. Some essential oils aren’t safe for children.

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