There are several natural flea repellents for dogs that work really well.
Fleas are parasites and, like all parasites, will target dogs who have a lower or compromised immune system. That’s not to say that healthy dogs won’t get fleas, particularly in high-risk areas. Unfortunately, some dogs are just flea magnets too!
Before we get to natural flea repellents, let’s start with why it is better to repel fleas than to treat an infestation.
Why fleas are hard to kill
Fleas can live up to a year and prefer warm, humid weather. A female flea lays thousands of eggs during her lifetime. Flea eggs can lay dormant until conditions are right for hatching to the larvae stage.
The larvae stage is when fleas are most vulnerable. If you’re going to kill a flea, now is the time to do it! Unfortunately, this stage only lasts a few days and the eggs don’t develop all at the same rate…
Larvae form hardy pupal cocoons, where they can survive more than 6 months until conditions are right to become adult fleas.
It is estimated that 90% of fleas in an infestation are still eggs, larvae or pupal cocoons. Now perhaps you can see why it is so hard to clear a flea infestation and why bug bombs are ineffective.
Trust me, it’s far better to prevent fleas than to work for months trying to clear an infestation!
5 Ways to repel fleas the natural way
When it comes to natural flea repellents for dogs, I have found a pronged attack is the best policy.
I’m very lucky with my current dog (that’s her in the blog cover photo). She’s 8 years old and we’ve never had a flea problem using these techniques. I really struggled getting rid of fleas with one of my previous dogs. It is why I adopted a multi-method natural approach to prevent fleas!
I use several methods to naturally repel fleas:
- A good diet
Good health begins with a good diet. Healthy dogs are less likely to have a flea problem. My dog is fed naturally with biologically appropriate raw food, which isn’t for everyone. If you prefer a prepared dog food, choose one where the protein is named and is listed first in the ingredients. Avoid over-processed foods, with processed oils and preservatives. - Supplement with fresh crushed garlic
Garlic is a natural flea repellent and is safe for dogs to eat in small quantities. Aim for ¼ of a clove for every 5kg of body weight. Crush the garlic and add to food freshly prepared. Start supplementing with garlic before flea season starts. - Flea repelling essential oils
There’s a wide range of essential oils that are great natural repellents for fleas and other bugs. You’ll find some of my favourites listed below. Essential oils can be used around the home or mixed with a carrier oil and sprayed on you and your dog before going for a walk. Never use essential oils neat on your dog, always use a carrier oil. - Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
Apple cider vinegar contains important nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. It has a wealth of uses including as a flea repellent and natural anti-parasitic. I use a blend added to my dog’s food 3-4 days per month as part of an anti-parasitic treatment. Dilute ACV is also a great natural flea repellent spray to use during flea season because fleas don’t like the acidic environment it creates on the dog’s coat. - Flea repelling plants
Using plants in pots around the yard or garden is another natural flea repellent to add to your armoury. I have mint, rosemary, sage, basil, thyme, and oregano dotted about. Great for adding fresh to your cooking too! My dog quite likes to help herself to the thyme, I’m surprised it’s still alive. Unfortunately, I managed to kill off my pot of lavender…
You can also try catnip, chrysanthemums, lemongrass, marigold or garlic.
Flea repellent essential oils for dogs
There are many essential oils that make effective flea repellents for dogs. You can mix them up in a carrier oil to your personal preference and use them around the house. Try blends of:
- Geranium
- Lavender
- Peppermint
- Lemon
- Cedar
- Clary Sage
- Eucalyptus
- Citronella
- Rosemary
3 Rules for using essential oils for dogs
- Never use essential oils neat on your dog, always use dilute in a carrier oil.
- Never add essential oils to your dog’s water or food.
- Never use essential oils on cats or small mammals.
Not comfortable mixing your own essential oil natural flea repellent blend?
Try the HB Naturals Flea and Tick Repellent. It contains a blend of geranium, myrrh, rosewood, lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree, sesame seed and hemp oil.
HB Naturals Flea and Tick Repellent can be applied directly to your dog’s coat as a natural flea repellent or diluted and used as a mist around the house on your dog’s bedding.
You no longer need to wonder how you can keep fleas off your dog naturally, you now have 5 great natural flea repellent methods that work.
If you found the tips in this blog post helpful, please share with others! Click any of the sharing links below. 🙂
P.S. Did you know you can join the HB Vitality team to gain access to HB Naturals essential oils, Flea and Tick Repellent and other great natural products at wholesale prices? Discover how, click here!
