Natural Flea ControlMaking Flea Control Critter, People, and
Earth Friendly.
For many pet
parents, fleas are a real problem. For years,
popular flea control methods involved the use of
dangerous pesticides on our pets and in our homes.
Today we know that there are simple methods of
flea control that are much gentler for animals,
humans, and the environment. |
| | Vacuum. | | Frequent vacuuming just might be the cornerstone of effective flea control. Flea eggs and larva are found primarily in carpet and upholstered furniture, so vacuuming delivers a serious blow to the next generation of those biting bugs. Pay careful attention to ‘hot spots’ including your pet’s favorite sleeping areas, eating areas, areas where your pet goes in and out of the house, and dark areas like crevices, baseboards, and under furniture. To prevent any eggs from hatching and escaping, empty the contents of canister vacuums immediately into a plastic bag or store vacuum bags in a sealed plastic bag. |
| | Wash. | | Washing your pet with a mild shampoo will rid them of fleas. There is no need for a special flea control shampoo. Contrary to popular advice, it is perfectly fine to bathe a healthy dog weekly, as long as you use a mild shampoo. Cats too can be bathed regularly, but this may be quite stressful for you and your kitty. You may want to limit baths to times of actual flea infestations or other pressing matters. For many small animals, particularly rabbits, the stress of bathing would be far to risky to warrant a bath. For reluctant cats and small animals, skip directly to the next step, combing. |
| | Comb | | Combing your pet with a fine tooth flea comb is a safe and effective way to remove adult fleas, and is particularly helpful when regular bathing isn’t an option. Drown fleas in hot soapy water. |
| | Do the Laundry. | | Wash all bedding, washable toys, throw rugs, etc. that your pet comes into contact with on a weekly basis. |
| | Go Predator. | | For use outside the home, beneficial nematodes are microscopic bugs that eat flea larva. Nematodes are considered to be very safe for use around humans and pets, and have not been found to have a detrimental effect on non-target populations of insects. Nematodes can often be purchased at organic garden supply stores and online. |
| | Less Toxic Methods of Flea Control. | | Although we recommend non-chemical methods of flea control, we understand that a particularly difficult infestation may make you want to bring out the big guns. The following flea control solutions are less hazardous than old fashioned pesticides, but there are still concerns about chronic exposure in people and pets, as well as the effects of these chemicals on wildlife as they accumulate in our water and environment. |
| | Diatomaceous Earth. | | Diatomaceous earth is a naturally occurring chalk-like sedimentary rock comprised of fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae, silica, sodium, magnesium and iron. Diatomaceous earth for use around people, pets, and home should contain amorphous (not crystalline) silica. Sold commercially as a fine powder that attacks the outer layer of the exoskeleton causing fleas to become dehydrated and die. Concern: Diatomaceous earth kills insects and slugs indiscriminately. Unless it has been artificially created in a laboratory, even food grade diatomaceous earth frequently contains 1-3% crystalline silica which is harmful when inhaled. To minimize exposure, we recommend that diatomaceous earth be used sparingly inside the home. For outside application, diatomaceous earth should be mixed with water and sprayed on to reduce dust. Purchase only food grade diatomaceous earth and use care not to inhale the dust or spray during application. |
| | Boric Acid | | 100% Boric Acid, available commercially as Flea Busters and Dr. Goodpet’s Inside Flea Relief, is a powder that is sprinkled on carpets and other areas of the home and then vacuumed. Boric Acid kills fleas by causing dehydration and by acting as a stomach poison. Concern: Mild skin irritant. Inhalation of larger amounts has been shown to produce adverse health effects. When using boric acid, care should be taken to avoid inhaling the dust and to vacuum thoroughly after application. |
| | De Flea Shampoos and Area Sprays | | De Flea shampoos and area sprays are designed for use in the home and on puppies, dogs, cats, and kittens. De Flea contains Dioctyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate, an ingredient in laxatives and vegetable washes, and Undecylenic Acid, a derivative of castor oil used as an anti-fungal. Together, these ingredients work to soften the exoskeleton and burst the organs of fleas, larva, and eggs. These products work immediately but do not have a lasting effect. Concern: Other ingredients, (more than 97% of total product), are not listed. Undecylenic Acid can be a skin irritant. Although generally considered safe, studies have shown that ingesting larger doses of Dioctyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate has produced adverse health effects in animals. De Flea recommends rinsing cats and kittens after product application to prevent ingestion during grooming. We suggest also rinsing dogs and puppies after application. |
| | Pyrethrins | | Pyrethrins, derived from the Chrysanthemum flower, attack the flea’s nervous system. Considered to be one of the safest pesticides, Pyrethrins are widely used in flea control products. Concern: Possibly responsible for one fatal asthma attack and several other severe allergic responses in humans though exposure to pet shampoo containing pyrethrins. Pyrethrins are highly toxic to fish, aquatic invertebrates, and beneficial insects including honeybees. |
| | Methoprene | | Methoprene is an ingredient in several flea control products, including Zodiac FleaTrol and Frontline Plus. Methoprene is an insect growth regulator that prevents juvenile fleas from reaching adulthood and reproducing. Laboratory tests have found Methoprene to have minimal adverse health effects. Concern: Methoprene is slightly to moderately toxic to fish and birds. Behavioral effects on birds can make them vulnerable to predation. |
| | Frontline | | Frontline in a monthly spot-on flea control treatment. Fipronil, the active ingredient in Frontline is a nerve poison with a special affinity for the nervous systems of insects. Frontline should never be used on rabbits! Concern: Inert ingredients, (more than 80% of total product) are not listed. Laboratory testing has demonstrated a number of serious adverse health effects with exposure to higher doses and chronic exposure. All members of the household are exposed to the substance through inhalation of fumes, and through petting a treated animal. Fipronil is extremely toxic to certain species of wildlife and fish. Spot-on flea control treatments should only be used to combat a difficult infestation, and not as routine maintenance. |
| | Advantage | | Advantage is a monthly spot-on flea control treatment. Imidacloprid, the active ingredient in Advantage is a nerve poison with a special affinity for the nervous systems of insects. Concerns: Other ingredients, (more than 90% of total product), are not listed. Laboratory testing has demonstrated a number of serious adverse health effects with exposure to higher doses. Effects of long term exposure are unclear. All members of the household are exposed to the substance through inhalation of fumes, and through petting a treated animal. Imidacloprid has been implicated in behavioral problems and population decline of honeybees in France. Imidacloprid has a half-life of 1 year in certain conditions, and has the potential to accumulate in the environment. Spot-on flea control treatments should only be used to combat a difficult infestation, and not as routine maintenance. |
| | A word about essential oils in flea control. | | Many essential oils such as neem, tea tree, cedar , lavender and others are considered to have insect repellent properties are popular methods of natural flea control. Oils are not recommended for use on cats, who do not metabolize oils effectively and therefore may experience toxic effects. The use of essential oils as flea control in dogs may be helpful in preventing the occasional flea from hitching a ride into your home, but washing and vacuuming are truly the key elements to maintaining a flea-free home.
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| | | Diatomaceous earth is a naturally occurring chalk-like sedimentary rock comprised of fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae, silica, sodium, magnesium and iron. Diatomaceous earth for use around people, pets, and home should contain amorphous (not crystalline) silica. Sold commercially as a fine powder that attacks the outer layer of the exoskeleton causing fleas to become dehydrated and die. Concern: Diatomaceous earth kills insects and slugs indiscriminately. Unless it has been artificially created in a laboratory, even food grade diatomaceous earth frequently contains 1-3% crystalline silica which is harmful when inhaled. To minimize exposure, we recommend that diatomaceous earth be used sparingly inside the home. For outside application, diatomaceous earth should be mixed with water and sprayed on to reduce dust. Purchase only food grade diatomaceous earth and use care not to inhale the dust or spray during application. |
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