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Years ago, when I was still taking my dogs to a traditional vet, the veterinarian combed through my dogs' hair for the longest time, repeating, “they don't have fleas.”
“Of course, my babies don't have fleas! They're raw fed.” I didn't say that out loud.
Although fleas are a year-round problem for many dogs, we only start preparing for Flea Season (Spring through Fall). Guess what! There is no flea season because, in the winter, the fleas that laid eggs or were chilling in the heating ducts will wake up and start popping around on our dogs (and us).
We've dodged the flea problem for years by doing a few easy things for our dogs and home.
5 Things I Do to Protect Our Dogs from Fleas
They don't believe me when I tell people my dogs have never had fleas. A flea may have landed on one of them, but it never sticks around. I learned about free prevention from other dog owners using natural prevention. When someone first told me what to do, I was skeptical – fleas are unavoidable. – but they were right.
1. Raw Fed Dogs (and Garlic) Aren't Tasty to Fleas
Our dogs eat a raw food diet. Someone told me that fleas don't like the taste of raw fed dogs; I think they're right. But I'm unwilling to accept that this is all I need to do to prevent fleas on my dogs and in our home.
According to Dr. Peter Dobias, the reasons dogs fed processed foods attract fleas are…
- fleas love sugar highs, and kibble diets cause severe blood glucose spikes, attracting fleas.
- fleas are attracted to animals with stronger odors and less healthy skin.
That sounds great and all, but I know many raw feeders who are still battling fleas. A friend raves about adding garlic to her dogs' diet and the benefits. We're often told that garlic is toxic to dogs, but the study this myth is based on was feeding dogs garlic at amounts we would never do in reality.
I began regularly adding Springtime garlic granules to my dogs' diet earlier this year because of the fantastic benefits. I chose a garlic supplement versus fresh garlic because it's more accessible and served, and I'm not worried about giving too much to my dogs. Fresh garlic in my area is often imported, and garlic from some countries is high in arsenic, which I want to avoid.
Benefits of Garlic for Dogs
- garlic is a natural antibiotic, antifungal, and antiparasitic (flea/tick repellent)
- garlic helps to boost the immune system
- garlic has cancer-fighting properties
- garlic acts as a natural detox
- garlic promotes healthy gut bacteria
- garlic helps to reduce inflammation
- garlic supports cardiac health
- garlic supports cognitive health
Garlic increases a body's anti-clotting properties, so it's unsuitable for dogs diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma. It also shouldn't be fed to puppies, pregnant dogs, or dogs with anemic conditions.
Learn more about the misleading study about garlic and dogs.
2. Natural Flea and Tick Repellents ROCK!
I used to alternate between Wondercide and Cedarcide natural flea-repellent products. What I love about these brands is that their products also repel mosquitos. We don't have to worry about heartworm in Washington state, but this could change. I don't want to take a chance with three ponds on our property. The fish and frogs can't catch every bug.
A couple of years ago, I switched my dogs to a product by Kin+Kind, which is very effective and smells great. I switched when Wondercide made an ingredients change that freaked people out. I still don't know if the ingredient change was a big deal, but I'm happy to have a third option for my dogs.
Below are the products that I alternate with our dogs today:
- Kin+Kind Flea/Tick Repellent
- Away Essential Oil by animalEO
- Evict Essential Oil by animalEO
- Oust Essential Oil by animalEO
- Wondercide Home & Pet Flea & Tick Spray
I treat my dogs weekly, massaging the product into their coat. I've even used these products on myself to keep mosquitoes away.
3. Regular Grooming Repels Fleas
Recently, I learned that if you're using the right shampoo (not human shampoo, not dish detergent), you can shampoo your dogs weekly (daily if necessary) without harming their skin and coat. My dogs get baths when needed today, which isn't that often. I switched to natural dog shampoo years ago because it's healthier and safer.
I alternate between 4-Legger Dog Shampoo, certified organic and all-natural (not a marketing gimmick), and Skout's Honor Probiotic Shampoo. If fleas hitch a ride on our dogs, they go down the drain before I see them.
Coconut Oil Kills Fleas
When not bathing my dogs, I massage their coats with therapeutic-grade coconut oil, a natural flea and tick killer. The coconut oil coasts the exoskeleton of fleas and ticks, slowing them down and suffocating them while healing any bites, thanks to its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial benefits.
- For prevention, I massage a small amount into my dogs' coats. The antibacterial properties of coconut oil also take care of the doggy odor. I do this once a week (or every other week) year around. My dogs' coats are shiny but not greasy.
- To address an outbreak, it's advised to massage a generous amount of coconut oil into our dogs' skin and coat and wash off 8 hours later using your favorite natural shampoo. I choose to do an overnight treatment when the dogs are sleeping.
Regular dog grooming is a great way to bond with your dog; it also keeps them clean and relaxed and can serve as an at-home exam.
4. House Cleaning Keeps the Fleas Away
We removed the carpet on the home's main level (where the dogs are); today, we sweep and mop the floors every other day. I vacuum our floors, too (it works better than sweeping sometimes). It sounds overkill, but we have four dogs and one cat.
If you're worried about an infestation, Febreze kills fleas and eggs. I know it's terrible for us to inhale, but it does work. Put the dogs in the yard for the day, and spray the furniture (underneath, too), rugs, and carpet. Years ago, two treatments killed all the fleas a new kitten (Jaffrey) brought into my apartment. Not ideal, but I thought it was better than using a flea bomb.
A natural solution that has mixed reviews is diatomaceous earth. You can sprinkle it on dog beds and flooring, let it sit for a few hours, then vacuum. The issue with diatomaceous earth is that breathing in is unhealthy, which would impact the dogs since they're closer to the ground.
5. Dog Parks are Full of Fleas (IMO)
This tip may have something to do with the lack of fleas on our dogs, or it could just be my tainted view of the dog park and my weak attempt to provide an excuse to go on an entirely unnecessary rant. But here goes…10 Reasons Dog Parks SUCK!
- Some people fail to pick up their dog's poop.
- People are more focused on their phones than their dogs.
- Misguided dog owners think the dog park is all they need to socialize their dogs.
- People bring their aggressive or anxious dogs.
- That butt munch who did an alpha rollover on this dog endangered himself, his dog, and the rest of us.
- The crazy couple who brought toys to the park and got mad that other dogs wanted to play.
- The lady who carries her small dog the entire time while screaming as the dogs are attracted to her.
- Retractable Leashes.
- The morons who brought their Kentucky Fried Chicken and dropped the bones “for the dogs.”
- The couples who bring their toddlers to the dog park to “play with the pretty dogs.”
Rant Over.
More Ways to Repel Fleas
- Plants that Repel Fleas and Ticks
- Debunking the Top 10 Common Flea Myths
- Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth, Flea Killer We Can Eat?
When Fleas are Still an Issue
Our lack of fleas could be luck, good Karma, or it could be that the advice I received a few years ago was spot on. Someone once told me that fleas hate the sun, and our property is 95% sunshine and 5% shade. If this theory is correct, we live on a flea-unfriendly property. Whatever the reason, I'm thankful I don't have to use chemical flea and tick repellents.
Sadly, not everyone has the same luck that I have. I know people who feed raw, bathe their dogs regularly, and keep a cleaner house than we do, and they still have fleas. While I'd love to think that there is a simple list of things to keep fleas at bay, the reality is that what works for our house may not work for others. If this is the case for you, I'd love it if you'd share how you're keeping fleas to a minimum. I don't know when my good luck will run out, and I want to be prepared.
I live in suburban Chicago, feed raw and use BugOff Garlic supplement from Springtime, Inc year round for about 15 years. In that time we’ve had multiple dogs and cats, no fleas and one tick.
Debby, if you find something that works for your dogs, please let me know because I get this question ALL the time. It seems to really depend on where you live for many of us.
Nice. Love Dr. Kelleher. I read her recent book and gained even more respect for her and other veterinarians. I’ll have to look into her vitamin powder.
Great, I’m so glad that this was helpful. Best of luck with your pup.
I love your blog! I have been looking for info on tick, flea and heart worm prevention for my rescue from Korea. The vet we saw when we first got him sold us Simpática Trio and after researching I can’t bear to give this to him. We are in BC so I’m not to concerned with heart worm but your article is exactly what I needed. Thank you!
My dogs get bathed once a week because we hike in the woods daily, rain or shine. They get muddy. I often use Tropiclean made with essential oils. I also use Dr. Donna Kelleher’s vitamin powder which I attribute most of my no flea life to. Levi did get fleas at the conventional vet office while getting a procedure once and DE did the trick.
I wish I could say I don’t have fleas. Mine two are raw fed, I clean the house, bedding regularly, I use natural repellents – have used Kin & kind, essential oils- both evict and away, (didn’t work) and I treat the yards, all hot sun. Our fleas must like the sun. My poor guy gets one flea and scratches and bites like crazy as does my cat! My golden doesn’t seem to attract them.
I recently have used project Sudz which Dr Judy Morgan sells. I use the flea spray and shampoo and that has seemed to work. We will see this summer. It’s a constant battle that drives me crazy. And my guy hates the strong smells. He runs around and rolls on all the beds when I spray him.
The longer I have dogs, the more I realize that I don’t have to bathe them all the time. I save it for when they roll in something unpleasant or after too many swims in the pond. I massage their coat with coconut oil once a week to kill any odor causing bacteria and they’re good to go.
I have had dogs for many years, My dogs never get bathed, I have been told they do not smell just have a faint dog smell. If they get rained or roll in bird do, I immediately dry them off with a towel and they are inside most of the day. They are always on clean bedding and sleep in my bed and they never get fleas. they are mainly on my property , They even spent a month in the Kennels and no! Fleas. Am I lucky or what??
I live in Central Florida on a farm. My dog is not isolated from other areas since he often travels with us and we often have family and their multiple dogs staying with us. Treats are usually a one ingredient dehydrated type such as lamb or fish, etc. I feed raw and also change proteins i.e., beef, turkey, etc. usually each month or every other month to avoid deficiencies down the road. I bathed my dog only once in the five years I’ve owned him but visitors think I just bathed him and remark how clean and beautiful his coat is. He is an OTSC and is always busy keeping everyone in sight on the farm! He takes no medication and has only received puppy shots from the breeder. He does not get fleas. As a breed he runs hot so I have no idea if that is another component that may dissuade feas.
Thanks for sharing! I’ve never thought that proper dieting can help with flea prevention. When there is a sign of fleas on our dog we use hypoallergenic shampoo. Thanks for describing other natural remedies, I think they are definitely better than chemical ones.
Did you find a solution? My poor girl has an allergy to them and we cant seem to get rid of them no matter what!
Thank you for saying this!! We have had a terrible time with fleas in SC.
You may want to try spraying your yard with nematodes. They eat fleas, flea eggs and a lot of other bad bugs in your yard. They are completely harmless to people and pets. There are three varieties- so make sure you get the flea ones.
Our rescue Doberman came to us at 15 months. He has never had fleas – not one. He has gone to doggie daycare with 15 other dogs, multiple times. We have raccoons, cats, deer and other dogs on our property, which he runs around on all the time. I walk him around our rural area where there are tons of dogs being walked. How do I know he has no fleas and never has? If there is one in the house it will bite me. Never have had any bites. Our vet tried and tried to find fleas by combing him over and over and was stunned to find nothing. She wished to sell me flea treatments, but when I think of it maybe she should have asked me instead what we do or don’t do with him. We never bathe him – he gets wiped down a lot when he has been wet from the rain. We feed him Iams with salt-free chicken broth and water added and twice a week he gets a tin of water packed sardines (no flaky dandruff for him, which our previous Dobies all had. But honestly, he came to us after having been found abandoned and wandering in a field. I would like to know why he is flea-less as having him has been such a treat.
My 2 dogs don’t have fleas, never have and they are 11 years old.
My dogs only get washed twice a year – when they have rolled in something dead at a farm.
I feed them anything – dry food, canned food – medium range brands- nothing expensive and table scraps.
I don’t use any tick or flea repellent
But I have wooden floors downstairs – vacuumed weekly, washed once a year, and carpets upstairs vacuumed twice a week – where they spend a lot of time lazing around.
And they swim in the ocean about 3 times a week in summer.
And they don’t hang around other dogs, except who also has no fleas, and our house rabbit has no fleas either.
I sound like a grub, but I’m not – my house and dogs are beautiful
Hello:
Thank you for the honesty and intelligence of this article.
( Especially the list about the Dog Park:).
We’ve found feeding our dogs “human food” including fruit & veggies has significantly reduced any itching we’ve seen no fleas or flea dirt for almost six months!
Take care and be well.
DAMMIT! That is such a disappointment and I’m so sorry. I have always wondered if it was diet or location. I thought it was the diet, because I have friends locally who would have a horrible time with fleas all summer and we didn’t have any issues and the difference was diet. But maybe there was something near their home that encouraged flea growth.
I know how disappointed you must feel and I’d feel the same way, but you have to do what you have to do to keep your dogs healthy, because fleas can cause a huge issue too. What sucks even more is that fleas are getting more resistant to treatments in certain areas of the country. Sounds to me that you tried EVERYTHING there is to try.
I have been raw feeding and teaching how to raw feed dogs for over 23 years now. I do not vaccinate, or use chemicals on my dogs. I use homeopathy and herbals when needed. I have done dog rescue for over 42 years now. I lived in Enumclaw WA for the past 15 years and have had from 5 -13 dogs on any given day with 6 dogs as part of my own pack and the rest being foster dogs. Only 1 terrible flea issue in over 20 years. Got that cleared up with Cedar Oil. Then I moved to North Carolina and have used Cedar Oil on my 5 dogs DAILY. Using ONE GALLON per week. You read that right. 100.00/gallon. I have bathed each dog every 2 days for over 3 solid months. Treated my yard with DE and Cedarcide and also GALLONS of Wondercide. Nothing has helped or worked. I only have wooden floors and a smaller manageable yard where only my dogs live. It is fenced to keep wildlife out. When I take my dogs out for daily walks I have them on leash and walk them in the middle of the road as not to attract fleas from the grass and areas more likely to host fleas. Yet for the past 12 months I have had a flea problem. I have tried the Soresto brand collars on two dogs and it has not seemed to help. I am at wits end and must say that feeding a RAW k9 diet makes not one bit of difference if you live in the South. I am a HUGE beliver of feeding dogs a raw diet but here is the truth..I hate to say it and it makes me sad but I have come full circle and after months of using a vacume 2x a day in a small home and baths for 5 LARGE dogs every 2 days (6 hr job) I am fed up and can not take the stress anymore. I feel like I am being a bad dog mom, after having preached against chemical use, and vaccines and killer kibble food for so many years but now I am going back to the horrible poisens that will kill fleas. While living in WA it is easy to say that raw fed dogs don’t get fleas. LIving in the South I say that is not my truth and God knows I have tried EVERY single holistic option. So as a holistic raw feeding k9 mom, who uses Organic supplements, bathes dogs who every 48 hrs and uses Cedar Oil daily and flea combs the dogs daily , I can say this…. it makes zero difference in my world. ZERO. The South is a whole different ball game re: fleas.
Your area might just not be conducive to ticks. We do not have them at the cabin either. You would think we would, sandy soil, trees and tall grass, but we don’t. Storm did get one last Fall (after we stopped treating for the season) because we had a wet muggy Fall. That is not normal and the first one we have seen in 8 years despite spending a lot of time hunting in the forest. Now that farm we train on has ticks and more ticks.
Good to know! I love walking with our dogs in the woods.
LOL – I was looking at the pictures of everyone who is brushing out the winter coats and I am humbled. I will have to brush my dogs and post a picture, it barely makes a mound unless I put all four dogs’ hair together.
I’ve never noticed ticks in our areas, but I’ve wondered about if there are in the woods that surround our property. Sometimes the dogs have a romp in there, but no ticks or fleas yet. The worst they’ve encountered is a skunk.
Love Wondercide. We don’t travel with our dogs (or go hiking or camping) so our risks of fleas and ticks is a lot less. We’ve been very lucky.
Neeko had fleas once as a puppy, pre raw.
No fleas here in nearly six years. No ticks, either, and we spend a good deal of time in the woods!
That should read ‘ticks and fleas’
I hate ticks, and ticks love my dogs and me… So we’ve switched to using the Seresto collars. I’m loving the results honestly. While I hate using chemicals keeping up with five double coated dogs that we take out hiking, camping, the local Greenway, and pet-friendly functions it’s just easier. My schedule is just too crazy busy for me to try and do that, it takes me a solid week to brush out and bathe the dogs as is, then another week for me to recover (My back is killing me right now after brushing them out I haven’t even got started on their baths yet).
I think I mentioned before that our dogs don’t get fleas. I think it is the oil in the Chessie coat. If we did not train in tick central we would never have to treat the dogs.
Great post. My dogs did get fleas while visiting Oregon last fall. They also eat a raw food diet, but I was not proactive with any natural flea control. I was not schooled in flea prevention, so this helps a lot. I’ll be ready when I enter a flea area again with some Wondercide. Thanks again.