Lemon juice, which is a more concentrated version of the fruit, contains high amounts of citric acid, which is toxic to dogs. In addition, It's important to keep your dog away from lemon rinds and skin. The rinds of lemons contain psoralen, which is also toxic to dogs.
Combine equal parts lemon juice and water and spritz your dog (and yourself) to combat fleas and ticks. Don't use this blend on cats – they tend to not like lemon.
How do you make homemade dog repellent? In a clean spray bottle, mix two tablespoons of distilled white vinegar and 20 drops of any citrus scented essential oil into one and a half cups of cold water. Mix well and spray in the places around your home that you want the dog to stay away from.
Lemon Juice
Citrus juice will kill fleas and repel new fleas. To make a mix to get rid of fleas, poke small holes in a lemon and then slice it, but do not peel. Set the lemon slices in a bowl, pour a cup of boiling water over the slices, and allow to sit over night.
An oral fast-acting tablet that contains Nitenpyram is the safest way to kill fleas on dogs instantly. You can also bathe your dog in hot soapy water with Dawn to kill adult fleas, but this is not a good long-term solution.
Apple cider vinegar can't kill fleas, but it can help to repel them. Fleas don't like the smell or taste of it, so they're likely to avoid your pet if they have it on their fur. Dilute apple cider vinegar in water and add it to a spray bottle.
Lemons and lemon products can harm a dog's digestive system and wear down their teeth enamel. Additionally, lemon trees and fruits contain psoralen compounds—chemicals that can cause adverse gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea or vomiting.
Vinegar. Combine 1 quart of water, 1 cup of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar, and 1 cup of baby shampoo or liquid dish soap. Use this mixture to bathe your dog once or twice a month. Vinegar kills fleas and ticks on contact and can prevent future infestations.
Baking Soda - Mix together half a tablespoon of baking soda and salt. Then combine this with 4 ounces of apple cider vinegar and pour it in a spray bottle to spray directly on your pet.
Just like with garlic, using vinegar to kill fleas is not recommended because it is unsafe and doesn't work. The smell and stickiness from spraying apple cider vinegar on your pet's bedding or directly on your pet is enough to keep you away, but fleas and ticks aren't as picky.
Lavender and Chamomile:
Dogs who are exposed to these scents spend less time moving around and tend to behave in a relaxed manner. This results in lower levels of barking and is most beneficial when used in your home. It has also been shown to reduce stress levels.
For dogs, citrus scents are the enemy. Citrus scents like lemon, lime, oranges, and grapefruit–especially in high concentrations often found in household cleaners or essential oils–can cause irritation to your pup's respiratory tract, so keep any fresh citrus fruits out of your dog's reach.
It is also an insect repellant and kills fleas," says Jose. "This is the major substance in Vicks, aside from Vicks use in upper respiratory infections, that can be used to repel mosquitoes and even fleas."
To make this flea spray, slice a lemon thinly and add to a pint of water and bring to the boil. Let the citrus solution sit overnight and pour into a spray bottle. The next day take the citrus solution and spray it on the infested areas in your home – sofas, pet bedding, chairs etc. Do not soak, only dampen.
Mix 1/4 cup of distilled vinegar with 3/4 cup water in a spray bottle for a homemade flea spray. Use the spray on any water safe surfaces you've noticed fleas on. You can also add vinegar to the wash when cleaning color safe pet beds and linens.
Lemon Components Toxic to Dogs
Citric Acid: Citrus fruits, including oranges, grapefruits, certain berries and lemons have high levels of citric acid. While humans are fully capable of ingesting citric acid, dogs are different. Just a few pieces of these fruits can cause your dog to have an upset stomach.
One member may love the scent of lemon essential oil while another feels it smells too antiseptic. Essential oils are extremely potent, especially for dogs as their sense of smell is significantly better than our own. For every one drop of oil we smell, our pampered pooches are smelling a teaspoon full.
Apple cider vinegar is made from just apples and water, making it completely safe for dogs. It is slightly acidic, with a pH of 3.1 to 5, which gives it properties that can soothe a dog's overly alkalized digestive tract.
Baking soda is a known flea killer, so if fleas or other parasites are a problem, a baking soda bath can help kill fleas naturally and neutralize odors as well.
Therapeutic coconut oil is different. It repels and kills fleas and ticks on contact – eliminating harmful side effects. Since therapeutic coconut oil is non-toxic, free of chemicals and soothing to your pet's skin, it's the perfect solution to the pest problem.
You can use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar, which is both effective in dealing with pests. Mixing essential oils like cedar or lavender can make the solution powerful. You can damp cloth with a vinegar solution on infested areas and on your pets to ensure that all fleas will be gone for good.