Once you’re positive you have a flea problem, bathe all the cats and dogs in the home (even those that aren’t scratching) with a mild soap (Hansen suggests Dawn dish detergent because it can cut the surface tension of water, making it easier for the fleas to drown), then comb out any fleas with a metal flea comb. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) advises you to consult a vet “if your pet excessively scratches, chews or licks their coat, or persistently shakes their head or scratches their ears.”
Some pet owners may want to go natural and apply essential oils topically in order to rid their animals of fleas. Los Angeles-based veterinarian LaDissa Moore of IVS Mobile Vets and Grooming Spa urges caution: “Essential oils can be very irritating to pets,” she says, adding that a vet consultation should always come first.
Certain cat breeds can be particularly sensitive to botanicals. According to a study in the journal Insects on controlling cat fleas, plant-derived flea products, such as tea tree oil and peppermint oil, have been reported to have adverse effects on both cats and dogs, including depression, weakness, or seizures.
If you’re going to take the over-the-counter route, veterinarian Cecily Jennings of Haven Veterinary Clinic in Houston says to make sure the product you use is suitable for your pet’s weight range and age, and follow the label instructions carefully. “I would not recommend anything without an EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] or FDA [Food and Drug Administration] approval,” Jennings says. “These agencies require stringent testing prior to products being approved for use.”
According to Moore, it’s important to keep your pet’s flea cleansing regimen simple. “Don’t douse your animal in flea powders or topical flea sprays, because a lot of times they’ll lick themselves and get really sick,” Moore says, noting that, too often, pet owners will drench pets in powder, then put powder on the flea collar and add flea spray on top of it all. A better option is to choose one of those methods, Moore says.
