Safe, Non-toxic Flea Control for Your Home

Fleas that jump into the glue are trapped and die without the use of any chemical toxins at all. In fact, these traps are completely non-toxic and odorless, and safe to use around kids and pets.

They can also function as an early detection device. In other words, if you leave them on in your house, you can check them from time to time to see if any fleas have been trapped. This is a great way to know about potential flea problems before they get out of hand.

Check out these great reviews for this product on Amazon.com

I must admit I was very skeptical about this, but decided to give it a try out of sheer desperation, and based on the favorable reviews on Amazon, I think this is a brilliant, safe, pesticide-free solution to dealing with those pesky little ankle-biting devils that hide in the carpet!
- W.P

I bought two of these traps. I had a similar product years ago so pretty much knew what to expect. My traps catch a lot of fleas, and I feel really good about the non-toxic approach. However, most flea infestations (in my experience) require other controls as well. I put flea control like Advantage on my cats (the product you put between their shoulderblades once per month). What I like about the flea traps is that I rarely have to spray or powder poisonous flea killing products in my house.
- A.D.

The Victor Ultimate Flea Trap is a great addition to your flea control program. You should still treat your pet with a topical medication, but this trap is hard to beat for home flea control and monitoring.

Click here to buy the Victor Ultimate Flea Trap from Amazon.com

Flea powders used for pets contained insecticides, and there were several reasons they were less than ideal for getting rid of fleas on pets.

• It was hard to distribute the powder evenly over the animal. Fleas had a tendency to linger in one or more areas of the pet’s coat, and re-infest them after the powder wore off.
• There was no real residual effect to the powder itself. It tended to fall away over time, and not offer any long-term protection.
• To be effective, flea control treatments need to be comprehensive, and kill not just the adult fleas, but the eggs and larva as well. Powders didn’t accomplish this.
• Powders created a toxic cloud during treatment, which could be inhaled by both the pet and the person treating them.

For these reasons, it’s actually much more effective, not to mention convenient, to use a topical treatment. These can be applied once a month and protect your pet from adult fleas, as well as eggs and larva.

Flea Powders for Use on Carpets

There’s one application for which powders are quite useful, and that’s to kill fleas and eggs in your carpets.

These powders, such as the Fleabusters Rx for Fleas Plus, contain borate. Borate is non-toxic to pets and humans, and will penetrate your carpets well. It’s a very fine powder, and has the added benefit of being statically charged.

Being statically charged means that once it penetrates the carpet, it will cling to the fibers and provide protection against fleas for a long time, even through repeated vacuuming.

Fleabusters powder is also Ph neutral, meaning it’s neither acidic or alkaline. Many insects, fleas included, can sense a high or low Ph and will avoid the area. With this powder, fleas have no such warning and will crawl through it and die.

But, stay away from toxic powder on your pets. It’s more trouble than it’s worth, and not particularly effective.

The Best Ways to Get Rid of Fleas and Ticks at the Same Time

Frontline will also kill the ticks responsible for Lyme disease, an important feature if you live in an area where Lyme disease is prevalent.

While Advantage does not kill or repel ticks, Bayer does make a related product called K9 Advantix which is a similar monthly treatment for dogs that will kill fleas, ticks and mosquitoes.

Like Advantage, K9 Advantix comes in small vials for various sized dogs, and is applied between the shoulder blades. This product should not be used on cats, however, since felines are unable to metabolize the active ingredients.

Another topical treatment for use against both fleas and ticks is Revolution, made by Pfizer. As an added bonus, Revolution also provides protection against heartworms, which are a serious long-term health risk for dogs. As with Frontline and Advantix, Revolution is applied topically to the animal’s back once a month.

If your dog is only exposed to ticks from time to time, you might just consider a medicated collar, such as those made by Virbac. These collars contain Amitraz, which is released slowly, and spreads through the animal’s coat, causing ticks to become paralyzed and then fall off and die.

Another option for dogs that are exposed to ticks less frequently is a medicated tick shampoo. In this case, you dog can be bathed only after possible exposure to ticks, such as after a hike in the woods. Exposure to possible toxins is reduced, and only used when necessary.

Many Common Herbs Can Help Repel Fleas

Lavender
As well as being a lovely smelling, aromatic herb with many uses, lavender will repel fleas. It also attracts many beneficial insects. In addition to repelling fleas, lavender will help protect nearby plants from insects such as whitefly.

Pennyroyal
The penny royal plant will repel fleas, and the leaves can be crushed and rubbed into your skin as a natural insect repellant. Please note, however, that pennyroyal is highly toxic to cats. DO NOT plant pennyroyal where cats might ingest it, and never rub the crushed leaves into the cats skin.

Catnip
As well as being well-loved by many cats, catnip will also deter fleas, beetles, aphids, ants, etc. Plant this herb to both repel fleas and make your cat happy.

Mint
Planting mint can also be an effective deterrent to fleas, not to mention a key ingredient in a mojito. Mint can be very invasive, so be careful about where it’s planted.

Wormwood
Wormwood is an excellent deterrent to most insects. Use it as a tea to repel fleas, moths, and snails. Be aware, wormwood produces a botanical toxin, so keep it away from any food crops.

The Most Convenient and Effective Flea Control Method for Your Pets

These types of flea treatments are not actually absorbed into the bloodstream, but disperse over the pet’s body. The medication collects in oil glands and hair, and fleas that come in contact usually die within 18 hours.

Flea drops will also kill fleas in all stages of the life cycle; adult fleas, eggs, pupa and larva. As we’ve discussed here many times before, it’s critical to use a flea treatment that is effective against all four stages of the life cycle.

To apply flea drops, carefully spread the hair between your pet’s shoulder blades so that you can apply the drops directly to the skin. There will be an oily residue in this area for a day or so, and you should avoid touching it. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly, especially if you get any of the flea drop medication on your skin.

Also, you should wait at least three days before washing or grooming your pet. Flea drops come in small vials appropriate to your pet’s species and size. Be sure to use the right medication. In other words, don’t use Frontline intended for sixty pound dogs on a twenty pound poodle. And, most importantly, never use dog flea drops on a cat.

Vacuuming, Steam Cleaning, and Effective Use of Sprays

The most effective and cheap carpet flea treatments is vacuuming. Vacuuming daily will suck up adult fleas, and also destroy eggs and larva. Try putting some diatomaceous earth, borax, or a flea collar in the vacuum cleaner bag beforehand. This will help kill live fleas that wind up in the bag, and prevent them from escaping back into your home.

First, any throw rugs or carpets that can be washed should be. The same goes for any pet bedding, upholstery, or pillows. Anything that can be effectively washed in your washing machine should be washed in hot water and detergent. This is one of the best ways to kill fleas at all stages of the life cycle.

Using pesticides on your carpet can be effective, but may leave a toxic residue you don’t want. Other ways to treat your carpet is with a non-toxic substance that will scratch the fleas exoskeleton and cause dehydration. Diatomaceous earth, Borax and salt will all achieve this purpose.

If you have a particularly nasty infestation, and you want to try using insecticides, make sure you use one that also contains an insect growth regulator. Both the Knockout and Adams brands contain both.

Steam cleaning, either by a professional service, or with a home steam cleaner, is also very effective. Basically, you want to get the carpet as clean as possible. Once that’s done, try to vacuum at least every other day, if not every day. Pay particular attention to the areas your pet frequents, and under chairs and sofas.

Be sure to dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag properly by sealing it in a plastic bag before putting it in the trash. Keep to your program of regular vacuuming, and treating your pet for fleas, and you should be well on your way to being rid of your infestation.

An Effective Way to Treat Your Pet for Fleas

It’s worth spending a little extra money to buy a good quality dog flea shampoo. The shampoo should contain both pyrethrins or some other insecticide, and an insect growth regulator (IGR).

As always, you should consult your veterinarian before using an insecticide on your dog. Although pyrethrins are usually quite effective and harmless to dogs, the breed, size and overall health of your dog should be considered first.

Some dog flea shampoos may also contain natural ingredients, such as tea tree and lemon oil, which act as insect repellants. Also, be aware that insecticides such as pyrethrins can dry your dog’s coat, so using a flea shampoo that contains a coat conditioner might not be a bad idea.

When bathing your dog, start by thoroughly wetting the neck, and lathering the area well. This will create a barrier to prevent the fleas from traveling from other areas of your dog’s body to the head.

Once the dog’s neck is lathered, wet and lather the rest of his body, particularly above the base of the tail, and any other areas where you’ve noticed him scratching or licking.

Finally, rinse the dog thoroughly so that there’s no residual flea shampoo left in his coat that he might ingest while grooming himself.

A Convenient and Safe Way to Prevent Fleas and Ticks on Your Pet

Flea collars generally work in one of two ways – either by emitting a toxic gas, or by releasing toxins (to fleas) that are absorbed into the layer of fat beneath the pet’s skin.

The toxic gas method is usually only effective in the immediate area of the collar, i.e. the pet’s head and neck. These collars are best used in vacuum cleaner bags, where the gas is contained, and can be effective against fleas that are vacuumed up.

Flea collars that release toxins that are absorbed into the fat layer are much more effective. These can contain pyrethrins, as well as IGR’s, or insect growth regulators that inhibit flea egg and larva growth. Remember, controlling the early stages of the flea life cycle is just as important as killing adult fleas.

Ask your vet for recommendations bout the best flea collar for your pet. Some ingredients, such as permethrins, should not be used on cats. Your vet should be able to recommend, and even provide, the best flea collar option for your pet.

The EPA has published a four-page pamphlet and Q&A which explains how to identify illegitimate products, and which types of products are most likely to be affected. Some of the most commonly counterfeited flea control products are the ever-popular Frontline and Advantage.

Here are some examples of what to look for when buying Frontline and Advantage.

Frontline:

• The lot number on the box matches the lot number on the individual applicators.
• An instruction booklet is included in the box, and includes first-aid information, emergency U.S. telephone numbers, directions for use, and instructions on how to store and dispose of the product.
• The applicator vial is child-resistant, and directions for opening are included.

Advantage:

• The applicator vials include an EPA Registration number.
• Applicator tubes include a reference to the labeling on the box for usage directions, and the manufacturers name (Bayer).
• Applicator tubes have an active ingredient statement that matches the ingredient statement on the box.

Counterfeit flea treatments can cause serious health problems for your pet. Please read the EPA warning carefully, and refer to it when purchasing flea treatments, especially Frontline and Advantage.

Always Use the Appropriate Flea Drops for Your Pet

Improper use, however, can be dangerous or even deadly to pets. The EPA reported 44,000 sick pets in 2008 due to spot-on flea treatments. Six hundred of the animals died. The EPA says reactions can include vomiting, diarrhea, trembling, depression and seizures.

The EPA doesn’t think these reactions were due to defective products, but rather improper use, such as using a dog product on a cat, or a product designed for a large dog on a small dog. The EPA plans to begin reviewing labels in order to determine how clear and concise the usage directions are.