There’s a wide variety of different myths surrounding pet care that have continued to spread amongst pet owners, some as old as the’50′s. One of the big ones involves a cure-all “organic” dog flea solution. This flea removal myth comes from the belief that organic practices are somehow more ‘pure’ and sometimes even more effective than any synthetic/non-organic pet product. The organic dog flea solution may also come from the misguided principle that all the currently available flea treatment products are potentially harmful to your pet. After a recent email asking for clarification on whether or not using all organic/natural flea treatments can be an effective alternative to chemical based products we decided to weigh in on the phenomenon.

Will using only organic or natural flea remedies work with your pet? There’s not really any sort of definitive way of answering that other than by saying the answer depends on a few factors such as the level of involvement you’re willing to dedicate to treating your pets’ flea problem, the current living-space that the pet lives in and the type of treatment you choose to go with. By choosing to go the organic route you need to realize that it doesn’t just limit your options to organic-based flea shampoos and by-hand flea removal, there are a few other natural treatments that you can use in combination with each other.

If you think that only using organic-based flea products will get rid of your flea problem in just a single treatment or shampoo-bath then you might want to reconsider your options. In some cases limiting yourself to this small window of treatment options can result in worsening the flea problem rather than solving it. Temporarily getting rid of the fleas that are bothering your dog is an easy task that can be achieved in countless ways (baths, sprays, etc..), the main hurdle that you’ll face is making sure that the fleas are gone for good. Relying on regular baths to keep any fleas at bay is simply not a plausible option for most pet-owners. Sometimes using a small amount of non-organic pet products is recommended in conjunction with the initial organic-pet-shampoo remedy. You can find more information on flea treatment products at Flea Treatment Reviews

Treating your pets flea problem means more than just removing the pests from your four-legged friend, it also involves making sure that they won’t return anytime soon. The main way to do this involves a proper cleaning of your home and/or your pets’ living area. Making sure that there aren’t any lingering flea eggs or larvae will mean your pet will be able to stay parasite free.

Removing the fleas that are bothering your pet is one thing but making sure they stay away from your pet after you’re done is a whole other task. Regularly vacuuming any rugs or carpet in your home will greatly reduce the risk of any re-infestation. You should clean with hot water any bedding that your pet uses, letting it dry in the sun before returning it. Steam cleaning is an option that works best for cleaning any bedding or rugs that they use frequently. Another flea prevention step is to keep a well-maintained lawn. By keeping the grass/hedges low you’ll help stop flea infestations from harvesting where your pet goes to play.

By combining both organic and non-organic tactics you’ll be best prepared for treating any flea infestation so that it will never return. If you’re determined to stick with purely-natural remedies than a combination of various at-home remedies should be explored from applying diatomaceous earth to different types of all-natural baths available for your pet. The amount of time that is necessary to be successful in treating a flea outbreak using only natural or organic treatments is high, but if you don’t mind spending the time it can be a rewarding experience for both you and your pet.

For more information on flea treatments and other pet-care questions visit the At Home Flea Control Blog