Lavender plant photo.
With all of the recent reports claiming flea collar and other products are highly toxic to both pets and humans, many people are looking for all-natural solutions to their flea problem. You can always roll the dice and hope your beloved dog or cat doesn’t suffer from any ill effects with a chemical-based flea treatment medicine, but a safer route is to use a natural product, such as lavender oil.
Deter Fleas With Lavender Oil
Lavender oil won’t actually kill fleas, but it will deter them. You can find this stuff available for sale at most home goods stores like Wal-Mart and Target, and it’s actually cheaper than using other flea prevention and control techniques. A single bottle may cost at little as $5, allowing for dozens of applications. I recommend every pet owner try lavender oil at least once to see how well it performs.
Make a Lavender Oil Spray
Rather than pouring 100% pure lavender oil on your furniture, carpet, bedding and other ‘problem’ areas, you should dilute it in distilled water to create a spray. The exact ratio of lavender oil to water varies depending on the desired strength, but I recommend about 10 drops of lavender oil for every half cup of distilled water.
So, why can’t you use tap water? Tap water contains impurities that can reduce the lavender oil’s effectiveness. Stick with distilled water just to be on the safe side.
Applying Lavender Oil Spray
Once you’ve created the lavender oil spray, it’s time to put it to use. Go around your home and spray areas where you’ve seen fleas. This may include the carpet, furniture, your pet’s bedding, baseboards, throw pillows, blankets, etc. You can even spray some directly on your pet to help deter fleas and ease any itching, pain and/or inflammation caused by flea bites.
Pet owners should use caution with natural flea prevention oils and home remedies. Although lavender oil is considered safe, there are plenty of other oils out there which are not safe for dogs and cats. Using some of these oils on or around your pets could poison them, creating a world of heartache for both you and your pet. Always do your homework before using any new flea medication — whether it’s ‘natural’ or not — to ensure it’s safe for your pet.
Did lavender oil work for you? We’d love to hear about it in the comments section below!