I think we can all agree that fleas are aggravating. Not only to our pets but to us as well! Like you, I asked myself questions such as 1) What is it I could be missing in my natural flea protection regime? 2) Is there one major key that would make a difference? 3) Are fleas more attracted to certain pets?

Whether you use chemical flea treatments or want to transition to holistic flea treatments, these tips could help you have flea free pet and home.

In this blog, I will share how I was finally able to go chemical-free and win the battle of having a flea-free dog. We will look at fleas from every angle, from your home environment to health and natural flea treatment to tips on how to get rid of fleas.

Warning! If you continue to read about fleas, you may get a case of the heebie-jeebies. I’m scratching already.

Flea season may be longer than you think!

Fleas can survive in 65 degrees or higher. For people living in an area that is warm all year round, your season is not limited to only the summer!!

To check your “season,” try searching it on the Internet. Ex: San Marcos, CA (in San Diego County) has a flea season that is not limited to summer. Fleas can be a problem for some pets for as many as 9-10 months of the year.

The life cycle of fleas

One important fact to know about natural flea control is the flea life cycle. There are 4 stages of the flea cycle. Eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults. The life cycle can be completed in as little as 12 days or take as long as 174 days.

Humidity plays a role in the flea cycle. 75% humidity will allow flea eggs to hatch, and 50% will allow flea larvae to survive.

Fleas favorite hiding places

They may be in your carpet, bedding, cracks, and crevices, and maybe on you. Getting them out of your carpet is not an easy task. Many will resort to bombing their home only to tell you bombing does not work or that they had to do it several times. Why? Because bombing only kills the live fleas, not the eggs.

To stop the cycle, carpets should be treated with boric acid or diatomaceous earth (human-grade not pool-grade). Word of caution. D.E. is a very fine powder so for safety, please use a face mask when applying, as it could be bothersome and remove pets temporarily.

Do fleas like long-haired or short-haired dogs more?

Yes and No. Long-haired dogs give fleas more places to hide and to keep warm, but they can be found on both types of dogs.

5 must-do tasks to get rid of fleas

1) Spring cleaning: Sweep and mop floors, vacuum, and treat baseboards and carpet with human-grade, not pool-grade, diatomaceous earth (remove pets and use a face mask to prevent respiratory problems). D.E. can be found in some private pet stores.

**TIP: Don’t skip any areas of the home just because you think your pet does not go in that room. Trust me, you will save yourself a lot of time and frustration if you do it all at once and then forgo one or two areas. Don’t believe me, you should! I did this, and guess what, my dog still had some fleas, although a lot less. So I had to start all over again. Yep, another several hours and money on cleaning stuff right down the drain. And you wonder why they are referred to as pests?!

2) Laundry: Fold up pet bedding before moving incase it has flea eggs. Wash any blankets, clothes, towels, and if your pet sits on your furniture, vacuum well or wash cushion covers if the cushion covers are removable. It is suggested to use hot water, although this may be hard for those trying to be eco-friendly. My feeling is that exposure to soapy water for over 10 minutes will be enough to suffocate them, and the heat from the dryer should work as well.

3) Yard: This is another important step in natural flea control that I think many miss. Your yard is possibly a major source of fleas and ticks. Treat the whole yard, especially areas where your pet frequents and are damp, bush-filled areas, with natural flea yard spray or beneficial nematodes. Nematodes are tiny worms that take care of flea larvae, pupae, ticks, and other insects. Keep the area free of debris such as piles of leaves, and keep the grass short and pet poop picked up at all times. [highlight]Pet waste attracts fleas[/highlight] and flies. Many find using something like this Pooper Scooper Bin and Rake makes cleanup easier.

4) Bathe your pet(s): All pets should have a bath, regardless of whether you “see” fleas or not. During bath time, it is imperative to keep the shampoo on for a minimum of 10 minutes to suffocate any fleas that are on your dog.

***TIP: Make the most of your ten minutes. You can spend the time flea-combing or playing games with your dog. I do something interactive to ensure my dog does not lick the shampoo. It is coconut oil-based, but I still don’t want him to lick it.

5) Flea combing:  I do it every time my dog comes in from a walk; this way, I can pinpoint where the problem may be coming from (i.e., in the house or outside, and which areas of grass my dog may be picking up more fleas). TIP: When using a flea comb, have a cup/bowl of water ready so you can clean your comb and drown those pesky little buggers. Also, lay the comb as flat as possible to catch the fleas.

3 important tips for natural flea protection for dogs and cats

1) Diet: In 2025, Dr. Karen Becker interviewed several other vets and this was the NUMBER #1 tip.  Why is this so important? Not only will your pet be healthier with better food, since you are what you eat, but your pet will also be less attractive to fleas. For food, the Vet’s top tip was to get clean, sustainable, and humanely raised food.

2) Natural flea treatment: Layering natural flea protection will be your best defense against fleas, according to top vets in Dr. Becker’s 2025 Natural flea prevention webinar.

On my pet products page, I have several options such as:

a) Natural flea sprays to apply topically to your dog

b) Beneficial nematodes for your backyard to keep it flea free.

c) Ultrasonic flea devices: Flea and tick tags. This line of flea tags comes in 2 versions: the original tick tag, and the mini flea tag that is rechargeable!

d) Natural flea protection for house: They also have an ultrasonic tick and flea device for your home that you can plug into your outlet.  This will be great for dog owners who tag their dog’s collar off inside the home.

3) Reduce your pet’s toxic load: Toxins are everywhere! They off-gas from appliances and cookware, furniture, and pet beds, toxins are in air fresheners, found in traditional cleaners, etc… A study found that pets’ toxic load is 5-20x’s higher than humans.

Dangers of real or fake flea treatments

Throughout the years, there have been recalls of flea treatments for different reasons, such as counterfeit flea treatments, burns, seizures, and more.

What would a Vet use if natural flea protection was not working?

In 2025, four vets weighed in on what type of chemical treatment they would use if they had to, because there was an infestation.

Their answers were all a little different because they lived in different areas of the US and therefore dealt with different climates.

For topical, Vectra flea medicine for dog was supposed to have the least amount of chemicals, AND it was supposed to make them jump off before biting. You have to get the dog, puppy and cat version NOT the 3d version.

Another said, to give only 1 capstar oral flea medication to kill the fleas and then return to layering natural flea preventatives.

The last vet said she will not give HIgh Risk animals such as ones who contain the MDR1 gene, isoxazolines, and ivermectin.

Is being free of fleas a requirement for pet care services?

All San Marcos dog walking and pet sitting clients must meet two health requirements. Those are proof of rabies and are free of fleas.

Please understand these requests are made in the best interest of your pet as well as other pets we may care for or encounter.

Originally published May 2009, reposted June 2012