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NGD Care | Pets & Health<\/span><\/p>\n A step-by-step approach without chemicals: from flea comb to diatomaceous earth and essential oils.<\/p>\n NGD Care | Stefan Veenstra, DVM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Therefore, in the case of a flea infestation, the focus should be on cleaning the home \u2014 in combination with the treatment of the animal itself, of course. It is better to avoid treatment with conventional insecticides at all times: for your animal, for yourself and for the environment. You can read more about this in another blog. <\/p>\n Below is a step-by-step approach to getting your home flea-free again, in a completely natural way.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Always treat your animal and your home at the same time \u2014 only then will you really get a flea infestation under control.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Always start with a fine flea comb. Comb your dog or cat from head to tail, paying extra attention to the neck, behind the ears, the belly and the base of the tail \u2014 these are the favorite hiding places of fleas. <\/p>\n After each stroke, immerse the comb in a bowl of warm water with a splash of dish soap. The fleas drown immediately and cannot escape. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n A warm bath with a shampoo based on neem or lavender oil suffocates and removes fleas quickly. Leave the shampoo on for a few minutes before rinsing off. Not every animal loves a bath \u2014 certainly not cats \u2014 and not every household lends itself to it either. If a bath is possible, it is definitely recommended. Otherwise, treatment with a natural spray is a good alternative. <\/p>\n Comb the coat after the bath while it is still damp \u2014 fleas are less likely to run away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wash all of your pet’s bedding at a minimum of 60\u00b0C. Vacuum carpets, sofas and crevices daily \u2014 the more thoroughly you vacuum, the more effective. Dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag immediately outside. <\/p>\n You can easily make a flea trap yourself?<\/p>\n At night, place a small lamp over a low container or deep plate of soapy water on the floor. Fleas jump to the light and drown in the water. This way, you will have a good idea of how big the infection still is within one night \u2014 and you can catch a large number of them at the same time. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n By steaming the entire house and even the terrace, you can reach places with hot steam that a vacuum cleaner cannot reach. You will get deeper into cracks and corners where fleas can nest. You can also steam the sofa, rugs and baskets well with the right attachments. Steam kills fleas and eggs instantly. Do this at least once a week \u2014 daily at first. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Diatomaceous earth (food grade) is a fine, white powder of fossilized algae. It damages the outer layer of fleas, causing them to dry out and die \u2014 without toxins. <\/p>\n Scatter the light over carpets, sofas, your pet’s sleeping areas, and along baseboards. Do this after vacuuming and after steaming, and let it sit for 3 days. Then vacuum and steam thoroughly again. <\/p>\n Under the cushions of the sofa \u2014 where vacuuming is rarely done \u2014 you can thicken the soil a little and leave it longer, so that new fleas and eggs dry out immediately. You can also apply the soil carefully and in small quantities to the base of your animal’s tail. Make sure that no dust gets into your pet’s eyes or respiratory tract. <\/p>\n Only buy “food grade” quality \u2014 never the industrial variant for swimming pools. Sprinkle carefully so that the powder kicks up as little as possible. For extra safety, wear a simple mouth mask while sprinkling, as the fine powder can irritate the airways. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n There are ready-to-use natural products on the market, such as the Flea & Tick Guard<\/strong> from NGD Care. These work on the basis of plant-based ingredients and essential oils and do not contain synthetic pesticides. <\/p>\n We have developed an intense<\/em> variant with a higher concentration of essential oils. This is suitable as an environmental spray and as a spray for dogs. The gentle<\/em> Flea & Tick Guard is specially developed for cats: in addition to plant-based ingredients, it contains a microdose of essential oil that is absolutely safe for cats. <\/p>\n Natural products are typically less potent than chemical agents and require repeated application more often. Always read the package leaflet carefully and check that the product is suitable for the age and weight of your animal. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Addressing the environment and using repellents is essential \u2014 but it’s only half the story.<\/p>\n This means that building up resistance is not a luxury, but a structural part of flea prevention. A healthy immune system, good gut flora and the right diet make your animal less attractive as a host \u2014 and more resilient when a flea does land on it. <\/p>\nFleas out the door \u2014 the natural way<\/h1>\n
The step-by-step plan<\/h2>\n
Comb your pet thoroughly<\/h3>\n
Wash your pet with a mild shampoo<\/h3>\n
Clean the whole house systematically<\/h3>\n
Sprinkle diatomaceous earth in your home<\/h3>\n
Use Flea & Tick Guard from NGD Care<\/h3>\n
The forgotten factor: your animal’s resistance<\/h2>\n