Pet owners are really familiar with the sight of their pets bothered by ticks and fleas and they are willing to do anything in their power in order to see their pets feeling relieved, healthier and happier. If you too are owner of a pet you surely understand what’s our point here.
In this article you will learn how to make your own flea powder using only four ingredients. You can use this powder for your garden as well. It will repel and kill ticks, fleas, ants, spiders, mosquitoes and other insects. Feel free to use this powder on your pets because it is highly recommended by holistic vets.
As a contrast to a popular belief – fleas are not able to fly. Instead, they are easily passed from one pet to another, or from plants and furnishings onto pets. After your pet experiences flea bite, it will start scratching and itching.
Flea bite causes red circle occurrence, sometimes skin inflammation, hair loss or infection to your beloved four legged friend. Some chemical solutions may cause allergic reactions and even start resistance which can be overcome in time. Anyway, the method of using chemical solutions is less effective.
The following homemade remedy’s recipe consists of 4 ingredients. Each of these ingredients is well known to be an insect repellent. In addition, there is a short description of each ingredient:
Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus (eucalyptus citriodoro, eucalyptus globulus) is a well known natural insect and bug repellent. If you want to get rid of fleas in your home use eucalyptus oil, it will do the trick.
This oil is made from eucalyptus tree’s seeds and produces very strong scent unbearable for fleas and other insects. Studies showed that eucalyptus oil can sometimes be more effective than DEET. An additional benefit of eucalyptus oil – since it is an antiseptic, is the possibility to soothe bitten skin.
(Please remember that this ingredient must be omitted if you apply it to your cats because they are extremely sensitive to many essential oils. You should never let your pet ingest eucalyptus oil. Also, never allow your pet to chew on collars, bedding or toys which were treated with the oil directly).
Yarrow Powder
In times of war in the past, yarrow used to be herb of vital existence. It represents a healing herb having anti-inflammatory properties and can be used to treat wounds. Yarrow also has anti-microbial and pain relieving effect. Pets suffering from flea infestation are likely to get new infected bites, but yarrow powder can help in soothing and healing the irritated skin by stopping the scratching and itching caused by the vicious circle.
Neem Powder
Neem is another herb with many benefits. It has been used for many centuries due to its blood-purifying, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and antiseptic properties.
Neem powder can be used on pets in both powder and oil form as herbal insect repellent. It repeals ticks, mites, ants, fleas, lice and mosquitoes.
This powder is actually inhibiting larvae’s metamorphosis thus preventing these bugs’ rapid breeding. It also has moisturizing properties which are great in healing any scaling or dry skin which may occur due to skin’s irritation.
Food Grade Diatom Flour
Food grade diatom flour is also known as Diatomaceous Earth (DE). It is formed naturally and it is a siliceous, soft sedimentary rock which consists of diatoms’ fossilized remains.
These diatoms’ fossilized remains are a type of hard-shelled alga which can easily be crumbled into a fine white to off-white powder. This flour’s particles are so small that they feel like a fine baby powder to humans and pets. Simply said, it is mineral silica.
DE’s structure is crystalline and is harmless to both pets and humans because it is not a poison, bugs do not ingest it. It works in a very unusual way – it scratches insect’s bodies and causes them to dehydrate. Since food grade diatom flour can be very drying, use neem in order to counteract the dryness. Neem usage will protect your pet from excessively dry skin.
This powder can be purchased in many plant nurseries but make sure you explain specifically that you want food grade (not filter or crystallized grade). DE products are registered to be used against fleas, cockroaches, bed bugs, crickets, spiders, ticks and many other pests.
Ingredients needed for the recipe:
20 drops of essential eucalyptus oil (omitted if used for cats)
Half a cup of yarrow powder
Half a cup of neem powder
1 cup of food grade diatomaceous flour
Method of preparation and instructions for using the powder:
Put all of the above mentioned ingredients in a shaker and shake them well. Apply the mixture by sprinkling it onto the pet’s skin. You will achieve this by brushing the pet’s fur in the opposite direction.
Make sure you apply this mixture along the pet’s spine because this area is the most important. It is also recommended to rub this powder onto the pet’s tail, legs and belly always making sure it gets to the pet’s skin.
You can use tools like cotton wool pad or powder puff when applying the powder. Avoid any contact between the powder and your pet’s nose and eyes.
Keep your pet flea-free by applying this powder once a month as a preventive measure. You will manage to make your pet bug-free throughout the whole spring and also in the summer months when ticks and fleas are most prevalent. However, make sure you re-apply the powder after bathing your pet.
If you use this powder in order to relieve your pet’s bite symptoms, or to treat an active infestation, you need to apply it every other day. Do this until there are no traces of flea bites anywhere on your pet’s body. After this, apply the powder just for maintenance.
In order to prevent re-infestation, apply this same powder onto the soft furnishings, pet’s bedding, floors and windowsills. After applying, leave the powder to stay there overnight. Vacuum those places the following day. Repeat this procedure once a week for a whole month.
