Photo Credit: Findavet.us
If you have pets that go outside regularly then more than likely, they have encountered a flea or 2…or 2000! I have a Rat Terrier dog, named Pepper, who has had her fair share of flea encounters! If you’ve had trouble with them, then you know how miserable it is for the poor pooches so I’m here to tell you how to get rid of fleas – the natural & thrifty way!
We live in the country where fleas are abundant!! I usually associate the word abundant with GOOD things, but fleas are – well…the pits!! We’ve tried all of the medications, shampoos, pills, and sprays known to man to help us get rid of fleas, but they kept coming back. I would even give her her monthly dose of “down the back” medicine a week early and it still didn’t keep them at bay!
I started doing some research and found that there is a little household staple that works in getting rid of fleas and I decided to give it a try. Within a week, she was FLEA FREE…literally!!! Heinz Apple Cider Vinegar! Yep…that’s it! Now, I will say that since we’ve been doing this (which has been for about 3 months now) I still see a flea or 2 every once in awhile when she’s been outside but they don’t stay on too long. Fleas can’t stand the smell or taste of the Apple Cider Vinegar, however, for humans vinegar is a natural remedy for many ailments…some even say for Cancer! Side note: check out this Health book on the Benefits of Vinegar…it’s crazy what all vinegar can do for our bodies!!
Personally, I use about a teaspoon a day of Apple Cider Vinegar added to Peppers food. You can also add it to their water, but I tried that and she wouldn’t drink it so I just started putting it in her food daily. Also, I have a small spray bottle that I add a 50/50 mixture of Apple Cider Vinegar and water to. I use it to spray her down sometimes before going outside to keep those little buggars from jumping on her.
The Apple Cider Vinegar is very good for many other reasons…check out how I clean with vinegar! Getting back on track – if your dog has skin that is too dry or too oily, this will help in balancing the PH in their skin! It’s also great for dogs who suffer from arthritis or even dust mite allergies. When you give them a bath, put a drop or 2 in their ears and it dries up any excess water which can cause ear infections.
Extra piece of advice. If your dog has fleas bad enough that you’re finding them on your couches, in your carpet, or in your bed – lightly spray those areas with the mixture I mentioned above. After the sprayed areas dry, vacuum really REALLY well. Take your vacuum away from the house immediately AFTER you’ve vacuumed and dump the filter/canister so the fleas don’t get back out and any eggs don’t hatch. I recommend doing this EVERYDAY or even a few times a day until you see less and less, then eventually none!
If you’re tired of paying all those high prices for Flea medications and shampoos that just aren’t working…give this a try. I think you’ll have success like I have!! Be sure and let me know if this works out for you!
the chick behind this blog! I'm your ordinary, everyday wife and mom to an incredible pair of guys! Like everyone else, I'm just trying to save a buck and I love finding a deal...but more than that, I love to share those deals with others! Like the saying goes, "Friends don't let friends pay full price!" My hope is to help you, teach you, and entertain you on your way to a more thrifty and frugal lifestyle! Thanks for visiting...and come back now, ya hear?!
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Really? That works? I’ll have to keep that in mind!
Whirlwind of Surprises
Apple Cider Vinegar is good for SO many things..just never thought of it helping with fleas. I just recently heard that it’s also good for those pesky weeds that grow between side walks.
When I was growing up, my dad would use what was called Seven Dust. He’d shake it on the lawn and that helped keep the fleas from getting on our dog. Not sure if that stuff is still around though since I don’t have a dog now.
Kourtenay – We use Seven Dust on our roses and stuff here to keep bugs and beetles off of them so I’m sure it would work on fleas too. Our yard is just too big. We’d have to buy a pallet of it
Wow! I never knew about this use! Thanks for the post!
I’ll need to share this with my Mom as she just got a dog and keeps it in the house.
Great tip! Storing this one in the memory banks. We’re battling fleas right now. Stupid weather hasn’t stayed cold enough to kill them.
Do you think regular distilled white vinegar would work for the furniture? I already use this for cleaning and would rather keep the raw apple cider vinegar for eating ( us and pets) this would explain why our goats and rabbits etc never get fleas! I always add it to there water but for some reason when we moved I forgot it for the dog.
I have a wine bottle with a spout four pouring that we used all the time for the pets water and one that matches my oil next to the stove. Pop in a few cloves of garlic and keep the vinegar topped off and you have a super healthful homemade additive with too many benefits to list in a comment! woot!
Teri,
I would think that just regular distilled white vinegar would work just as well for the furniture. The vinegar itself is what is repulsive to the fleas…the apple cider is just naturally sweeter tasting so that’s why it’s easier to get the pets to eat it from their food. Again, I tried mixing it in my dog’s water and she wouldn’t drink it. Just adding a small amount to her dog food and mixing it up she doesn’t mind. I’ve also heard that using a spray bottle mixed with water and a little Dawn dish liquid and spraying over your furniture works too.
yay! i will give it a go and see. cant believe I forgot about that but then again never associated it with fleas per se
Teri
terigelseth.com
Does the dog smell like vinegar at all?
Jennifer – I don’t notice it with my dog just by putting it in her food. When I spray her down with it I can smell it a bit but it doesn’t last long. Winter is settling in now and I still add it to her food but I don’t worry about spraying her with it before going outside. We have snow on the ground now, BUT the closer to spring it gets I will start again.
Another thing, the vinegar will balance out their PH so it will sort of help neutralize any odor.
Thank you for this great tip! We live in the county also and the fleas last summer were just awful. They were so bad the little boogers where being tracked into the house and eating my Mini-Me alive. We will be using this tip this yea.
WOW… I had no clue! What a great tip. Flea dips and sprays can be so expensive…
First, that picture is SO cute. And yep I LOVE this remedy. I interned at a Vet office a hundred years ago, and he had a lot of very low income clients who would bring their poor furbabies in just covered in fleas. We actually got this vinegar by the case and would give it to our clients. Its THAT good. Great post!
Lynsey – that is awesome that you guys did that. It’s frustrating when your pets are miserable and all the money you throw away on meds don’t work anyway. We’ve had alot of luck with this so we keep using it
I’m surprised the dogs will eat the food with the vinegar on it. It seems like a such a strong smell.
Bonnie, she didn’t like it much at first but I only use a very small amount since she’s a small dog. She’s used to it now and doesn’t even pay attention to it. Be sure to use the apple cider vinegar though, it tastes sweeter.
So do you feed it to him for other health reasons, or does it get in his system to keep the fleas away that way? I noticed you also use the spray…
Katrina – I use it specifically to keep the fleas away but it’s beneficial in other ways too. When you get into a routine of giving it to them everyday, it eventually gets into their system and skin. I only spray her in the summer months when the fleas outside are bad. Since we live in the country, they are abundant. Just spraying her with hit before going outside is like adding an extra barrier so they won’t jump on her.
Interesting. I wonder if it could work….
Wow! I love this! My mom’s poor dog suffers from dry skin. I’m printing this out right now and mailing it to her.
We don’t have fleas, but some of my plants have little critters and I’ve been using the 50/50 spray on them and it works!!
Sharon – that’s great! Keep a close eye on the plants though, I’ve heard that vinegar is a great weed killer. I wouldn’t want your plants to start turning brown!
That’s a great tip! I will pass it on!
This is great! We had a big flea issue two summer’s ago.. it was horrible!
I’m doing this. I read about this a few months ago myself! We have been over run by fleas. The cost of the medication is killing me. I add the vinegar to their drinking water. Maybe about a half teaspoon or so, neither the dogs nor the cats care. I also spray them down with a mixture of it. (On a side note, that mixture is great for a bad behavior deterrent, I use it for annoying barking, chewing, and jumping on people! It really works great. I do use 2 drastically looking different bottles though so to try not to associate it) I also use a part vinegar/water mixture when I bathe them. After shampooing and rinsing I rinse them good with the mixture, even my cats. Just be careful with their eyes. Personally I feel this is better than all of the chemicals & a heck of a lot cheaper
Vinegar is great for so many things. I’ve recently started to use it to rinse/wash fruits and vegetables before I use them. My family is happy. I was scaring them by using dishsoap. They were certain I wouldn’t get it completely washed off someday.
I don’t have pets, but great information. I use vinegar for so many things I couldn’t list them all.
Tami – you’re so right. My dad uses it for heartburn even. He swears by it!
Wow, I have NEVER heard of this before!!! I’m definitely going to try this! I may have a difficult time getting my dog to eat the food with it in there, but I’m going to try spraying it on her and see if it works. Thanks for the tip!
Gina – You can try starting with like half a teaspoon or something just until she gets used to it. My dog stuck her nose up at it at first too…but then she got hungry enough and didn’t care. I put just enough now in her food and stir it around really well until it’s all sort of just barely wet.
Wow, I could of used this tip summer of 2011. The fleas were so bad we had to use capstar and I bombed. Next time I will try the apple cider vinegar. Thanks for passing this on.
i’m excited to know this! our dogs have problems every summer & the commercial stuff is so expensive. thanks!
You’re right Nancy…super expensive!!
Apple Cider Vinegar is a jack of all trades! lol, I also use it, mixed with dish washing detergent, to catch fruit flies. It’s also a great skin toner, when watered down of course
Holly – it definitely is! I’ve heard of people catching fruit flies with it before. Those little buggars are so bothersome! I’ve never thought of using it as a toner. I might have to give that a try
Thanks for the heads up!
I wonder if you could use it for cats? They are so hard to get anything on in the summer time. I wonder if mixing it in their wet food would work?
Marsha, honestly I have no idea. I’ve never had cats so I’m not sure but I’d think it would be alright. I’d definitely research on Google before just to be on the safe side.
Hi,
Popping back in again. I add it to my cats drinking water & they don’t mind. I also rinse them (diluted) after a bath. (My cats don’t mind baths, haha) If you’re cats don’t like baths you could wipe it on down to the skin.Start off gradually in the drinking water. Maybe an 1/8th tsp and work up from there. It’s also great for cleaning ears.
Great to know Leah! Thanks for updating for us!!
Can this be used on cats too? If not does anyone have suggestions for them.. I have both, dog and cat in the house and they seem to just pass them back and forth..
Pam, I’m not certain about using this method for cats. I don’t own any cats (I’m allergic) so I would definitely ask your vet prior to using. It may be fine, but I’d rather be safe than sorry. Good luck and let us know what you find out!! It would be helpful to others I’m sure!
Gave this a try after using shampoos and sprays on my puppy and it worked perfect for the South Florida flea fields.
That’s great!! Glad it worked well for you. I hear those buggar’s are pretty bad in Fl.
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