Herbs to Treat Flea Allergies in Dogs

When a dog has fleas, it's bad enough. But when that dog has a flea allergy, it's even worse. Imagine how itchy your dog is from flea bites, then multiply that by a factor of ten. Flea allergies can cause hair loss, severe itching over the entire body, and inflamed skin.

Natural Flea Repellents

The best defense against flea allergies is to prevent flea bites. There are many herbal products that can help repel fleas, such as neem, cedarwood and citronella oils. Dilute these with water (2 to 4 drops per 2 oz. water) and use them as a spray on your dog's body. You can also put a few drops of the full-strength oil on a fabric collar. Used together, these treatments work well in repelling fleas.

Neem Oil

Neem oil comes from a tree native to Southeast Asia. It is full of antioxidants, and helps soothe skin inflammation and irritation.

Cedarwood Oil

Cedarwood oil (also known as Juniper oil) can soothe itching and skin irritation.

Citronella Oil

Citronella oil is best known for being an insect repellent, but it also has antiseptic properties which help with skin irritation caused by flea allergies.

Flea Baths

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, fleas still show up and affect your dog. In this case, you need to get rid of the fleas and treat the allergy as well. Using an oatmeal shampoo with a few drops of the above oils to bathe your dog will both kill the fleas and soothe any inflamed areas on your its body.

References

About the Author

Whitney Donohue is a freelance writer who writes for many different venues, including her local newspaper, The Moapa Valley Progress. Donohue earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and a professional writing certificate from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.