If you have a pet, either a dog or cat, then flees are a common problem you will have to deal with in your home. Actually, most pet owners have a weekly routine of checking their friendly animals to find whether they have fleas hidden under their coats.
Naturally, fleas make a habitat on the dog’s and cat’s coats and feed on the animal’s blood.
If the issue of fleas is not addressed early, these pesky critters might as well attack you and feed in your blood too.
Well, if your dog or cat has fleas, you will easily notice its reaction. These stubborn creatures cause skin irritation, restlessness, scratching, and general discomfort.
Seeing your pet disturbed will obviously disturb you too, and that’s why you need to find ways of saving them from the pain inflicted by the presence of fleas on their coat.
This article covers some of the common essential oils that you can use to kill fleas.
Can you use lavender to kill fleas?
While finding possible solutions to flea infestation, you may ask yourself, does lavender kill fleas? Well, lavender is known to repel many bugs that may disturb your comfort and that of your pets.
In fact, lavender oil can instantly kill fleas. However, too much of it can damage the coat of your dogs and cats. Similarly, concentrated lavender oil might affect small children playing with pets.
For these reasons, if you are using lavender oil to control flea infestation, it is imperative to use sensible amounts mixed with water.
Many chemical pesticides are sold out in the market to help control fleas. However, these chemical pesticide sprays are quite poisonous to humans, and if small children get in contact with them, they may get harmed. This is why most people prefer using natural remedies to control fleas and other disturbing, creepy creatures.
Natural essential oils that can kill fleas
If you find chemical pesticides inappropriate for you to use when you want to kill fleas, you can consider using the following natural oils and get rid of those pesky organisms.
1. Lavender oil
Lavender oil is incorporated with the concentrated scent produced by lavender flowers. This scent repels fleas and ticks, making it hard for them to burrow in an animal’s fur.
The scent also prevents the flea larvae from hatching; therefore, even if fleas hide in your dog’s fur, their eggs won’t hatch, and the few fleas will die in the long run, having left no legs or young fleas behind.
Lavender oil also has antibacterial and soothing properties that greatly benefit your pet’s coat health. However, be keen not to apply too much essential oil on the animals as it can damage their coats.
2. Lemongrass oil
Lemongrass oil has citral and geraniol as the most active natural ingredients that play a big role in keeping the pet’s coat and fur free from fleas. Lemongrass oil has a special scent that instantly kills fleas and destroys their larvae.
3. Cedarwood oil
Cedarwood oil is a popular natural pest control that has the ability to repel and kill fleas. It can be used on animals or even human beings without leaving behind drastic damage or harm.
When cedarwood essential oil is used in aromatherapy, it releases into the atmosphere some antiparasitic molecules which kill ticks and fleas present in the home.
4. Rosemary oil
This serves two major functions in flea control. First, it is a natural flea repellent, and second, it can be used to soothe and heal flea bites. However, rosemary oil can leave you with drastic effects like thorough irritation if used inappropriately.
After using, be cautious and check if there are any red spots or itching on the pet’s coat. If there is, find a means to help heal the problem.
5. Neem oil
Neem oil is a natural remedy that has a wide range of uses. It can be used to reduce the extent of scars, minimize moles, and repel ticks and fleas.
Neem oil is usually mixed with another oil before being applied on pets or human skin. Add one drop of Neem oil to 10 drops of the carrier oil. You can then use it directly on the pet’s fur or mix it with their washing shampoo.
6. Clove oil
Even though clove oil is well known for its ability to kill and repel fleas, it can be dangerous if used before being diluted. Dilute it in appropriate measures and spray it on the pets’ beddings, on the carpet, on dogs’ color and fur, and any other place where you think it is infested with fleas.
Does lavender kill fleas: Conclusion
If you have cats or dogs in your home, there are high chances that you will find fleas mostly at the spots where your pets like most. If you are not comfortable with the chemical pesticides, then you can try these essential oils to kill fleas and other insects and parasites.
Most importantly, make sure to use sensible amounts of lavender oil and other essential oils. Essential oils are powerful and can do wonders even in the smallest quantities.