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Does Tea Tree Oil Kill Fleas on Dogs?

Tea tree oil resting on a yellow circle, a folded hand towel, and some leaves on a green background

There are lots of options when it comes to non-chemical anti-flea products, you may be inundated with the amount and variety of natural options you can use. The drawback to using natural products is that not all of them are very healthy for your pets.

This is something you cannot rely on word of mouth to help you. You should do your own research to see if a natural product is safe to use or not. To help your research, keep reading our article. It provides good information on a few of these natural options.

Does Vinegar Kill Fleas on Dogs

Repel, yes; kill, no. That is the latest word on this product. Fleas are not supposed to like the smell of vinegar and when they do, they beat a hasty retreat. Unfortunately, vinegar’s acid compounds are not strong enough to kill fleas.

The fleas may return to your pet once the vinegar odor has disappeared. What vinegar may do is relieve your pet of any itching that comes with flea bites. It may also relieve any discomfort your dog may feel while fleas are still using them as a host.

Does Baking Soda Kill Fleas on Dogs

Clear glass jar full of baking soda isolated against a white background

Yes, this is a very safe home remedy you can use to protect your pet from fleas. The key to using this product is to make sure your pet has no open sores or wounds. If he or she does, then you may be giving them some pain while trying to help them

You can mix a little salt in with the baking soda to boost the killing power. Just rub the baking soda in the fur so that it reaches the skin. That is all there is to it. Then you just wait for the baking soda to do its work.

Does Apple Cider Vinegar Kill Fleas on Dogs

Bottle of apple cider vinegar laying on its side surrounded by whole and halves of apples and mint sprigs

No, like regular vinegar, the acid compound in this vinegar variation is also not that strong. It may repel the fleas because of their odor, but the fleas will live to come back another day.

Apple cider vinegar will also help relieve the itching and discomfort your dog is enduring. It will help them relax a lot more and get more rest at night, but those fleas will still be lurking nearby waiting for the chance to return to their host.

How do flea collars work? Check out our post “Do flea collars kill fleas already on dogs?” to learn more.

Does Garlic Kill Fleas on Dogs

Wooden bowl full of garlic bulbs

Maybe in an indirect way. The garlic makes your dog’s blood taste terrible to fleas and they should stop biting your pet. If the fleas do not eat, they cannot reproduce, and you will be cutting down on the flea population.

You can feed the garlic to your pet in different ways. However, you should be aware that too much garlic, over 15 to 30 grams per kilo of dog weight can poison your pet.

This may not be the best method to try. Check with your vet to see if it will be safe for your dog to eat garlic.

Does Eucalyptus Oil Kill Fleas on Dogs

Medicine dropper laying across the top of a brown glass bottle surrounded by eucalyptus

It is said that eucalyptus oil is safe to use on dogs but not cats. You have to make sure before you do this as the size of your pet may play a role in how much of this oil they can handle. You also need to know which type of eucalyptus oil to use.

After doing that, you will find that this oil is more of a repellent than a flea killer. It may be safer to use this option as an air freshener and drive those fleas away from your pet and your home.

Does Tea Tree Oil Kill Fleas on Dogs

brown glass bottle with liquid in it in front of a branch of tea tree

This is a tricky option to use. While it can repel and kill fleas, you must be careful when using it. You need to dilute the oil carefully before using it.

This process is very hard to do in a home kitchen and if you try it, you may not get the right formula for it to work on your pet. Part of the problem is that if you spray it on your pet, they can lick it off and get sick. You need less than 1% of tea tree oil in the water but even that may be too much for some dog species to handle.

Some Final Words

eye dropper dripping liquid into a brown medicine bottle

Just because it says natural does it mean that it is safe for pets. Dogs and cats treat different products in different ways than humans do. If it is safe for you it still may not be safe for your pet.

Do your research first before acting and some people on the internet can be wrong.

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