Fleas are an inescapable part of every pet owner’s life. No matter how clean you keep your dog, fleas seem to make their way back to him. Every time you take him down for a walk or let him meet another dog, you’re giving fleas a chance to set up shop amidst your dog’s fur. Flea infestations aren’t just annoying for your dog, they can also take over your home. Many owners find fleas crawling up their walls and even on their bodies once their dogs have caught them.
Commercial Sprays Vs DIY Sprays
Commercial flea-sprays while effective, can have several undesirable side-effects. They can irritate your dog’s sensitive skin, making him feel itchy and uncomfortable. Some dogs even develop severe reactions because of them, which need medical intervention. In cats, toxic flea-sprays are even more concerning because your cat might lick it off and ingest it. But this doesn’t mean you have to live with fleas. DIY flea-sprays are non-toxic and completely safe for your pet. While these homemade flea-spray recipes won’t kill fleas, they will make sure they don’t leap back onto your pets. So take your pets for a medicated bath at your vet’s and when they come back, spray them religiously with these concoctions to keep them flea-free.
Apple Cider Vinegar Spray
Is there anything apple cider vinegar can’t do? While we love this miracle liquid, fleas absolutely hate it. Spraying this on your dog regularly will ward off fleas for good. Because fleas can’t stand the smell (their loss), they’re very unlikely to jump onto your dog when he smells of it.
Recipe
Making this spray is super simple. In a spray bottle, add equal parts apple cider vinegar and water and shake it up. You could even add a few drops of neem oil to make the spray even more effective at repelling fleas. Make sure you don’t use apple cider vinegar undiluted on your pet as it can be too harsh and sting them. You can even rinse your dog in apple cider vinegar after a bath to make sure fleas don’t latch onto him again. In a tub of warm water, add two cups of apple cider vinegar and pour this over your dog. Fleas don’t stick to their skin, so they should fall off after this. Dry him with a light colored towel so you can spot any fleas dropping down before they invade your home.
Citrus Flea Spray
Many pet owners don’t like the smell of apple cider vinegar very much themselves. If you fall into this category, citrus fruits work just as well. Citrus also has the benefit of smelling wonderful, so you can beat fleas while having your pet smell lemony fresh!
Recipe
Squeeze a citrus fruit of your choice (lemons, oranges and grapefruit work really well) and mix the juice with an equal quantity of clean water in a spray bottle. If you’re using lemons, don’t take them into the sun for a while after because lemons can lighten dark colored fur. You can also add citrus juice to his bath water and rinse him off with this mixture.
