Some people want to avoid flea collars for their pets for personal reasons, while some of our furry friends are outright allergic to flea collars and flea medications (my cat included!).
Not only is coconut oil good for your health, but coconut oil helps to keep nuisance pests out of your pet’s fur. There are many other natural deterrents that also act as flea prevention, and while coconut oil kills fleas, it acts as a natural repellent against other insects.
Mosquitos can’t get through to your skin and often get stuck themselves and suffocate, while ticks can’t bite through to your skin and will also suffocate trying to bite through the coconut oil.
Does coconut oil kill fleas and ticks instantly?
Yes, depending on how you look at it. The coconut oil isn’t toxic to fleas, humans, or your cat(s) or dog(s). In fact, coconut oil is good for your skin and your dog’s skin in many ways, but it also does prevent fleas from calling your pet’s fur home.
The right coconut oil actually suffocates fleas. It also acts as a deterrent and can be used regularly to protect you and your pets.
So the next time you go out hiking, remember that coconut oil is a great natural alternative to bug repellent. Dogs love to get into the most random of brush and weeds, the perfect locations for a tick to reside.
How does coconut oil kill fleas and ticks?
Coconut oil has a compound called lauric acid. When this acid comes into contact with fleas, it hardens over their exoskeleton, suffocating them in less than thirty seconds.
So coconut oil suffocates fleas and ticks over your pet’s skin using lauric acid, but you still need to wash and clean excess oil from your dog’s coat after the coconut oil has had time to absorb into their skin to remove the debris of the dead fleas.
What kind of coconut oil kills fleas?
You must specifically use unrefined, virgin coconut oil for a coconut oil treatment on you or your pet’s skin. If you can, splurge and get the organic brand of coconut oil. This type of coconut oil is the highest in lauric acid, the new compound that has become your new friend. You want the unrefined coconut oil to keep as much lauric acid as possible.
Fleas avoid lauric acid, so as a cat or dog owner, it would be wise to always keep some on hand with a flea comb for the best treatment for naturally killing fleas and preventing fleas from ever calling your pet’s coat home in the first place.
Is coconut oil safe for my cat’s and dog’s skin?
Most dogs and cats don’t have any issues with coconut oil on their skin. A pet may have an allergic reaction in rare instances, but that is highly unlikely.
Coconut oil is non-toxic and good for both your skin and your gut! Many people supplement their diet with coconut oil to reap the many health benefits.
Similarly, you can treat your pets’ various skin issues with coconut oil.
- Raw skin patches from chewing or itching? There’s coconut oil for that.
- Dry skin during the winter months? Coconut oil will seep deep into your pets’ skin, keeping them moisturizing throughout the cold seasons.
Coconut oil for fleas on dogs
Like treating a current flea infestation, put some coconut oil in your hand and rub your hands together to melt it down. Then, rub your fingers and hands through your dog’s fur, massaging the skin as you go along.
Be sure to focus around knooks and crannies like in and around the ears, under the arms, between the toes, and don’t forget the tail! You can do this several times, getting every inch of your dog (within reason).
Don’t be afraid if your dog starts licking your hands or their skin, cleaning up the coconut oil after you because it’s delicious. Coconut oil is safe for consumption and is recommended in a healthy diet for humans and our furry friends. But try to limit how much they lick; too much coconut oil can cause digestion issues rather than healing them.
Some pet owners suggest putting a sweater on your dog after putting on the coconut oil to give it some time to settle into the skin without your dog licking it off too soon. It may not be the most flattering, but it certainly works! There’s always the option of “the cone of shame”, but your pet only has to wear it for a few minutes to let the coconut oil settle.
Coconut oil for fleas on cats
Like with a dog’s fur, you rub coconut oil on your hands and melt it, then brush your hands through your cat’s fur.
Cats can be trickier to handle than dogs. Some cat owners will put coconut oil on their cats’ favorite grooming brush to apply it.
Sometimes just petting your cat in small doses gets enough of the coconut oil on those tough-to-reach spots for your cat.
Another quick tip is to add citrus or tea tree oil to coconut oil, which will act as a carrier oil for the citrus and tea tree oil. Lots of oils.
What other alternatives kill fleas?
One of the best forms of flea treatment is not just the flea comb, but flea combs used in conjunction with regular hot and warm water baths with dish soap are key in maintaining flea control. The flea comb also doubles as a grooming tool, so flea combs can really help you maintain flea control for such a cheap investment.
Background:
If you are currently suffering a flea infestation in your house brought on by your furry friend, give him or her regular baths for a few weeks while you treat other areas of the home.
You must understand that the female flea lays 50 to 100 eggs per day. So you can wash your dog or cat one day, and then the next day, any remaining eggs may hatch, and just one living female flea is enough for the cycle to start again.
Steps to take:
- Wash all of the fabrics your dog or cat will rest on
- Comb and wash your pet with warm water regularly when dealing with an infestation
- You should always consult your local veterinarian with your concerns as soon as you find fleas on your pet. They can guide you to the best choice of medications for your pet.
Be aware: some pets are allergic to some medications, and it’s important to give your veterinarian a thorough health history on your pet with every visit.
Some choice shampoos include those with ginger or oatmeal in the ingredients; those products generally cater to pets with more sensitive skin but will still skill ticks and fleas on contact.
There are even parasite shampoos that contain an Insect Growth Regulator or IGR. This insecticide is basically an engineered insect hormone that disrupts the growth cycle of ticks and fleas. This way, the insecticide works to kill all stages of the insects, not just adult fleas or just egg sacs; even those in the molting process are not left unaffected.
Don’t forget to clean the house
Where there is one flea on your pet, there are 99 more fleas throughout your home and vehicle. You will want to steam and clean your carpets and fabric furniture. Don’t forget bed spreads and curtains, any place that is fabric and especially around moisture will attract fleas.
You can use the same shampoo you use to kill the fleas on your pet to wash your carpets, towels, bedsheets, mattress covers, and throw pillows. Remember to put your pillows through the wash a few times a week and vacuum daily for a while.
Natural alternatives that kills fleas and ticks
If you want to avoid toxic chemicals to prevent and kill fleas and ticks, coconut oil has some other all-natural friends, like a variety of essential oils.
The most well-known natural insect repellents are essential oils. A few drops of eucalyptus, lemongrass, citrus, peppermint, or lavender can deter many home and garden pests, parasites included!
Essential oil diffusers are a great nighttime relaxation aid that deters unwanted household pests.
Rose geranium oil is a lesser-known choice that’s just as efficient at deterring unwanted house guests and treating a flea infestation on your pet when used in conjunction with the correct carrier oil.
Even better, try mixing tea tree oil with neem oil, or you can use coconut oil to make some truly natural alternatives to parasite treatments and bug repellents.
What health benefits does coconut oil have for humans?
Applying coconut oil to your skin has many health benefits and acts as a bug killer and deterrent.
Coconut oil is antifungal and antimicrobial, meaning it’s also a cleanser for your skin. In addition to protecting your skin from fungal and bacterial attacks, it aids the digestive process, so add some to your morning coffee for clear results!
Not only does coconut oil have benefits for your skin, but it aids in having a healthy digestive system. The fatty acids in coconut oil are actually a healthy supplement to a human’s diet, so not only will lauric acid kill fleas, but it will help our digestive systems. Just be sure you are only ingesting organic coconut oil.
You can use coconut oil for your skincare routine and for repelling fleas from you and your pet’s coat and skin. Just be sure to follow up with flea combs through your pet’s coat to ensure any dead insects have been removed.
Fleas can’t detect lauric acid, so when fleas encounter coconut oil, they have no idea that this oil kills fleas; it’s the ideal flea prevention treatment.
What else is coconut oil good for treating?
- Coconut oil can repel fleas, but ingesting coconut oil is healthy for your insides.
- Coconut oil naturally kills fleas, has great anti-inflammatory properties, and can be used to treat minor skin irritations, like razor burn!
- Use after shaving or after being out in the sun for an extended time. Coconut oil will speed up the healing process. Just be sure to leave coconut oil on your skin long enough to be absorbed.
- Coconut oil is used by people as an appetite suppressant for hair and skin health. It aids in cognitive function and capabilities as well. Some research is underway for using coconut oil to treat dementia in the elderly.
Things to consider when using coconut oil on your skin
Coconut oil can clog pores if used in excess, so it’s not recommended on people with oily skin or skin prone to acne. Ironically, it is also used to treat acne, but I guess it depends on the source or reason for the acne.
There is a light coconut oil spray bottle you can buy over the counter that is a good alternative to putting coconut oil directly onto your skin in a thick layer.
Conclusion
Coconut oil is not only good for killing ticks and fleas but also for preventing them. You can put coconut oil on you and your pet’s skin before walking near the woods to prevent any unwelcomed hitchhikers that may find you interesting and cause flea allergy dermatitis.
Coconut oil is also a literal health benefit when ingested; it has been known to suppress hunger, improve digestion, and speed up healing.
You can use warm water compression to help heal insect bites, but coconut oil has the same effect plus more. It’s excellent for preventing fleas, skin repair, treating parasite issues, and managing flea control.
Using coconut oil is an ideal alternative to harsh chemicals and chemical pesticides for tick treatments on your dog’s hair and skin, which can cause bacterial infections.