Homemade solutions to repel dog's fleas

Consider aromatic leaves, wood shavings and soap the first defense in your arsenal of flea repellents for your dog.

• Fill small drawstring bags (available at cooking supply and natural foods stores) with fresh or dried chamomile leaves, walnut leaves or cedar shavings, and tuck them into your dog's bedding (where they can't be chewed) to repel fleas.

• Sprinkle garlic powder or mix a crushed garlic clove into your dog's food to ward off fleabites. Both garlic and chamomile are attractive flowering perennials, so for a free supply, try growing these herbs in your flower or vegetable beds.

• Sprinkling brewer's yeast on your pets' food daily is also generally thought to help them repel fleas. Brewer's yeast is available at health food stores.

• Soap kills fleas on contact. When bathing your dog, begin by lathering the neck area first and then work your way toward the tail, because fleas tend to congregate around the neck.

• After rinsing, rub apple cider vinegar through the fur to repel fleas, and add a teaspoonful of cider vinegar to the dog's drinking water.

This inexpensive powder will leave your dog fresh smelling and free of pesky fleas. It is safe to apply as often as needed. Mix and match the oils according to your own scent preference. Commercial flea powders cost much more and contain toxic chemicals.

What you need:

• 1 500 g (1 lb) box baking soda
• 10 drops peppermint, lavender, rosemary, cedar, eucalyptus or rose geranium essential oil

What to do:

1. Empty baking soda into a mixing bowl, sprinkle with your personal blend of oils and stir to blend.

2. Work treated baking soda into your pet's fur, beginning at the neck (where fleas congregate) and working toward the tail. Keep the powder away from nose, mouth, eyes and ears.

3. Allow the powder to remain on the dog for 10 minutes, then comb or brush it out, along with dirt and fleas.Makes one treatment.Note: If you have a large dog, you may need to make two or more recipes.