It’s a frightening experience for owners to see their dog infested with fleas. Although small in size, fleas can cause some serious pain and discomfort, not to mention the possibility of disease transmission. Each time a flea bites into a dog’s skin, it drinks some of its blood while simultaneously injecting the dog with its saliva. This saliva often triggers an allergic reaction that’s characterized by itching, swelling and pain.
Thankfully, there are dozens of different products designed to treat and prevent fleas on dogs. These products range from topical sprays and shampoos to collars, pills and more. Now for the bad news: a large portion of the flea products available on the market contain insecticide chemicals that may cause illness in dogs. So even if you kill the fleas, you may inadvertently poison your dog.
You might be surprised to learn that oranges can be used to naturally deter fleas from a dog. Due to the highly acidic composition of orange juice, it’s able to repel them without the use of insecticides. If this is something you are interested in trying, you’ll first need to cut the skins off half a dozen oranges. Next, place the skins in a pot of water, bring to a boil, and then reduce heat and let simmer for three to four hours. Once this amount of time has passed, run the peels and water through a strainer to separate the liquids from the solids. Place the orange extract in a spray bottle and wait for it to cool (you can speed up the process by storing it in the refrigerator).
Once the orange extract has finished cooling, you can begin spraying it on your dog. However, it’s important to remember that orange extract — like any citrus juice — may burn open wounds. Check your dog for insect bites, scratches or other sores that may cause pain when exposed to orange extract. Avoid contact with any areas such as this when applying the orange extract.
Spray the orange extract on your dog, starting at the back of the neck and working your way down to the tail. Use caution to avoid getting the solution in your dog’s eyes, mouth or face, as it will likely burn. When you are finished applying the orange extract, reward your dog with a treat.
Have you tried oranges before? Let us know how it worked in the comments section below!