If you want to add something extra to help repel the fleas and ticks from your pet, add 2-3 drops of lavender or cedar oil to the mixture. The scent of the oil will help keep the fleas and ticks off and also give the solution a pleasant smell. You can also add 2 ounces of aloe vera to the mix as well. It will help moisturize your pet’s skin and repel the fleas. [1] X Research source ACV is nontoxic to dogs and cats. However, if your pet has sensitive skin, change the ration of ACV to water in your rinse to one part ACV, three parts water.
You may want to tie your pants around the ankles to prevent fleas from biting you there.
Make sure you don’t get the solution into his/her eyes. It will irritate them. If you’re dealing with live fleas and ticks, it’s best to work outside. If it’s too cold to be outside, use your bathtub. If you’re dealing with a bad infestation, have a second batch or two of the ACV solution mixed up so you can give your pet a double treatment.
If your pet has particularly thick fur, you may have to go over her body twice with the comb. After the first combing, rinse your pet and apply a second round of ACV treatment. Wait ten minutes, then start again. Make sure you use a comb designed for flea removal. A regular comb will not effectively remove the fleas and their eggs.
Disinfect the bite site with rubbing alcohol right when you pull the tick off. You should also keep a check on the bite and put more on it every few days so it doesn’t get infected. Place the tick in a plastic bag. If your pet shows signs of infection, you’ll want to have it to bring to the vet for testing. Monitor your pet for a few days for redness, swelling, or illness. If you see any of these signs of infection, take her to the vet. Have a partner help you hold your pet steady. The procedure might make her uncomfortable. [2] X Trustworthy Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Leading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty Go to source
Once the fleas are gone, repeat it once every week to ensure your pet doesn’t get a new case of fleas. [3] X Trustworthy Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Leading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty Go to source
This is so your pet doesn’t get re-infested with fleas from her environment as you are working on getting rid of them. You should wash any other materials that your pet has come into contact with, including blankets and pillows. [4] X Research source
Make sure you vacuum off upholstery and fabric, crevices in your furniture, corners of the room, and any place that your pet has been. [5] X Research source
You may need to repeat this method for 2-7 days depending on how bad your flea infestation is. If you are just trying to prevent infestation, you can do this once a month. [6] X Research source Let the spray dry before you return objects to the wet areas.
Check the dish every morning for dead fleas. Throw out the fleas and fill the dish with fresh soapy water every night. You can use this method to check how well the natural spray is working. Once there are no more fleas in the dish, you can stop the spray treatments. You can use tea light candles for this method as well, but you have to be around the flea trap all night so you don’t risk the possibility of a fire. [7] X Research source
Make sure the bottle is completely clean and did not formerly contain cleaning solution or other chemicals that may harm your pet. You can make more if you want, depending of how many pets you have. Just like with the wash, you can add lavender or cedar oil to your spray. It makes it smell better and gives your spray an added boost of repellent. [8] X Research source
Make sure you avoid the face when you spray your pet. To get her ears and face damp, wet a cloth with the mixture and rub it along her face. [9] X Research source If you don’t bathe your pet often, you may need to use the spray more frequently than you bathe her. Try to spray your pet every one to two weeks, especially during seasons when your pet spends a lot of time outdoors. [10] X Research source Cats, and some dogs, may not like the feeling of being sprayed. If your pet is sensitive, treat her fur by saturating a clean washcloth with the ACV solution and using the cloth to apply it gently.
If your pet weighs less than 40 pounds, use less vinegar. For example, if your dog weight 12 pounds, only use 1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon in her water. Some pet owners feed ACV to cats, but others fear that ACV upsets cats’ internal pH balance. In order to make sure your cat doesn’t become ill, it’s best to use ACV only topically on cats. If your dog refuses to drink water with added ACV, don’t force it. Using ACV topically works just as well.
If you are cleaning surfaces where you prepare food, don’t mix the vinegar with baking soda. The two react to neutralize their bacteria fighting capabilities. You can spray your carpets as well to continue to help keep the fleas off. [13] X Research source Your home will smell like vinegar until the solution dries. As soon as it dries, the smell should go away.
