There’s a lot of information out there on natural flea treatments, much of it contradictory.  Some say to feed garlic to your dog or cat, others say this will seriously harm and possibly kill them.  Some say to use essential oils, others that this is harmful.  There are “herbal collars” out there which claim to use natural materials but which can also, apparently, be dangerous.  Some say that using pyrethrins is good because they are made form chrysanthemums, which are natural, but they also say that it can have the same toxic effects.

In this case there is really no substitute to doing your homework.  Don’t rely on just one source, because they could be wrong.  See if everyone agrees or if there is a dispute.  If there is a dispute, then who should you believe?  If you’re lucky you’ll come from a science background and be able to make your own mind up from the evidence presented.  If that isn’t an option, however, then you will have to take a look at the sources, and try to decide who is more credible.  Look at the design of the website, is it professional looking, or does it look amateur?  Looks can be deceiving of course, but it’s one thing to think about.  Secondly, who claims to be the author and does that seem reasonable?  For example, ideally you want to get the information from a vet or a professional, so is that who is writing the article or is it an amateur, merely passing on what they have heard?  If all else fails, you just have to go with a gut feeling and what seems right.

The reason it is worth taking the effort to look into natural flea treatments is that while their toxic effects may be disputed, nobody disputes that the chemical versions have a high possibility of having detrimental effects on your pet.  There are good ones and bad ones of course, but even the best chemical treatments are still chemicals you are putting on your pet.  A couple of natural flea treatments you can’t really go wrong with though are good grooming and environment control.

Good grooming will help to keep fleas away, and will also get rid of fleas if you use a flea comb.  Once the fleas have come off on the comb, simply dunk them in a bowl of soapy water to kill them.  The more healthy your pet is, the less likely it is to contract fleas.  Parasites tend to attack weak and unhealthy animals, and fleas are no different, so good grooming, along with a good diet and lifestyle, are excellent preventative measures. 

Similarly with environment control, it is a very good way of preventing an outbreak of fleas. If the carpets are regularly hoovered, bedding regularly washed and garden kept in good order then there will be little chance of a flea infestation taking hold.  Especially if this is done in concert with good grooming practices.  Creating a good environment is also an essential part of getting rid of fleas once there is an infestation as without clearing them out of the environment your pet lives in, they will simply attack again once you remove them from your pet.

Other than this, it is up to you to decide which natural flea treatments you wish to go for, although it is a good idea to talk to a professional, such as a pest controller or a vet, in order to make the most informed choice.