Natural Flea Repellants

I have been thrilled with the approach and care at East York Animal Clinic which uses a holistic approach. Here is a partial copy of their online notes concerning natural flea products:

ALTERNATIVE FLEA PRODUCTS
§ Please refer to the end of this brochure to find out how you can make your own natural flea 
collars for dogs and cats. 
§ Following shampooing, you can spray your pet using Solvarome (diluted). Add 50 drops of 
Solvarome per every 1.0-1.5 liters of water in a spray bottle. First, test a small patch on your 
pet to check for reaction to Solvarome spray. If no reaction, spray all haired areas on your 
pet (avoiding the eyes, nose and mouth) a few times a day. 
§ Although diatomaceous earth is effective, it can be very irritating to breathe and is not 
recommended for humans who have asthma. 
§ If your cat and dog has a favourite area in the garden, you can use parasitic nematodes (tiny 
worms that eat flea larvae) on that area. Search online for retailers. Prevention and control of fleas and ticks 
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CAUTION:
§ Avoid desiccants, unless they are specifically formulated for flea control in homes with pets. 
§ Borax and borax powders are toxic to fleas. However, they are also toxic to cats and dogs. 
§ Diatomaceous earth, as mentioned above, can be very irritating to breathe and is not 
recommended for those with asthma. 
§ Rotenone, naturally derived from derris root, is more toxic than some synthetic flea 
products and is poisonous to aquatic animals once it enters waterways or ponds. 
§ Limonene and other citrus extracts, although natural flea repellents, have been known to 
cause poisonings—particularly in combination with other flea products. 
§ Electronic flea collars are not usually effective. 
§ Pyrethrum, derived from the chrysanthemum flower, is available in both natural and 
synthetic form such as permethrin. Permethrins are toxic to cats. 
TICKS 
Avoid letting your pet on areas with long grass during tick season. Keep lawns mowed short. Groom and 
check your pet daily for ticks, checking ears, under the tail, and between toes. In regions where paralysis 
ticks or disease-carrying ticks are common, use a tick product such as Advantix. When using a tick 
product, make sure to use when incidence of ticks is highest during April and May and again during 
October and November. Prevention and control of fleas and ticks 
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REMOVING TICKS
Ticks can carry disease such as Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, tick paralysis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, 
and Bartonellosis. Contact your vet immediately for advice as tick poisoning (tick paralysis) can be life 
threatening. Use tweezers to grasp the tick at the base of its body, keeping the tweezers as close to your 
pet’s skin as possible. Avoid crushing the tick and pull it out gently and slowly. You can place the tick in 
a jar and bring it with you to the clinic for identification. If the tick’s head remains under the skin, 
monitor the area for a few days as the remaining part will usually fester out on its own. Seek veterinary 
attention if there is pain and/or swelling. Monitor your pet for the next few days and contact us if you 
have any concerns.
ESSENTIAL OIL FLEA COLLAR FOR DOGS 
This flea collar is potentially toxic if your dog chews it—supervise your dog initially. If your dog seems at 
all distressed with the collar on, remove it immediately as some animals are very sensitive to smells. It is 
important to note that this collar provides a repellent effect and will not be useful for animals with flea 
allergy dermatitis. 
1. Purchase a soft cloth collar. 
2. Mix together: 
§ 2 tsp Vodka 
§ 2 drops Lavender 
§ 1 drop Cedar 
§ 1 drop Rose geranium 
§ 2 Garlic capsules 
Note: For dogs weighing between 15 kg – 30 kg, double the amounts listed above. For dogs that 
weigh more than 30 Kg, triple the amounts. 
3. Soak collar with the mix, then allow collar to dry. Repeat each month as the smell wears off. Prevention and control of fleas and ticks 
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DOG FLEA-FREE BLEND 
Place 4 drops of mixture per 5 kg of body weight onto a bandana daily, and 1 to 2 drops per 5 kg of body 
weight to the base of the tail. 
Mix together: 
§ 15 ml Sweet almond oil 
§ 4 drops Lavender 
§ 1 drop Citronella 
§ 5 drops Peppermint 
§ 3 drops Lemon 
§ 2 drops Clary sage 
Use an amber bottle to store mixture. 
ESSENTIAL OIL FLEA COLLAR FOR CATS
This is potentially toxic if your cat chews the collar, make sure to supervise your cat initially. If your cat 
shows any signs of distress with the collar on, remove the collar immediately as some animals are very
sensitive to smells. It is important to note that this collar provides a repellent effect and will not be useful 
for animals with flea allergy dermatitis. 
1. Purchase a soft cloth collar. 
2. Mix together: 
§ 2 tsp Vodka 
§ 5 drops Lavender 
§ 5 drops Rose geranium 
Soak collar with mix, then allow collar to dry. Repeat each month as smell wears off.