Dealing with a flea infestation is tiresome since they seem to as they seem to spread everywhere. Fleas are pests that live on animal blood. Many people turn to natural remedies and prevention methods due to the lack of chemicals involved. Many of these chemicals cause severe side-effects, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and weakness. These products contain hazardous chemicals and pesticides, such as tetrachlorvinphos and propoxur that can be toxic to humans as well.

However, there are always some natural flea prevention remedies that you can depend on. These are usually safe and have minimal or no side-effects at all.

1. Natural flea prevention

This article attempts to shed light on some natural flea prevention methods that you can include in your daily routine.

• Cleaning your pet’s coat with a fine comb to combat flea infestation
• Washing your pet’s bedding every week in hot and soapy water to get rid of the fleas
• Vacuuming your homes thoroughly once a week
• Letting ample sunlight into your homes
• Bathing your pets regularly with natural-based soaps and shampoos
• Spraying lavender, eucalyptus, and tea-tree oil around the house
• Filling the cracks in the walls and flooring as fleas usually nest there
• Removing wooden plants, cardboard pieces from the backyard
• Trimming the grass regularly and maintaining its growth

2. Medical flea prevention

There are some other treatments that contain some harsh chemicals and can lead to side-effects. It is important that you consult your vet before using these remedies.

• Spot-on treatments
  This is less threatening than collars as they are concentrated. However, it is important to give the right dosage to your pet according to its weight and size. Use medications that are meant exclusively for dogs or cats do not switch them as this can be quite fatal.
• Flea sprays

Some sprays contain methoprene, which is an insect regulator. This is a preventive treatment. The chemical halts and interferes with the pest’s growth. Having said that, it is better for humans and pets to steer clear of these methods if possible as they can be quite toxic.

• Flea collars

Although effective in fighting fleas off, these contain tetrachlorvinphos and propoxur, and they can be quite harmful to your pet.

Fleas are tough to deal with because they are small and hard-shelled insects are adaptable and fast, making it hard to kill them. Their basic instinct is to eat, reproduce and survive. An adult female lays around 20-25 eggs at one time, which means, over a period of time, she can produce around a thousand eggs. The flea usually lays eggs in dark and damp conditions. If she chooses to lay eggs on the coat of the pet, they may fall all over your house.

The bites of fleas cause itching, and they inject anti-clotting agents into the skin causing an allergic reaction. It leads to flea allergy dermatitis, which causes a prolonged reaction. There are many chemicals that only kill adult fleas and larvae. However, the cocoons and eggs are still waiting to hatch. They are also adept at taking care of themselves. Fleas usually target kittens and puppies as they have an undeveloped immune system. Pets can optimize their health and immunity.