2. Keep your pet clean. Fleas prefer unhealthy, sour-smelling, foul, dirty animals, so you can prevent their presence by keeping your pet clean with monthly baths. Don’t overwash, or you will dry out the dog’s coat.

You can use an herbal shampoo with flea-killing and –repelling properties, however, fleas will die if they are simply immersed in the soap from sudsing up your pet, so you can use any shampoo that is safe for pets.

Look for these ingredients that destroy or repel fleas:
Orange oil—kills both larvae and adult fleas.
Essential oils of citronella, cedar, eucalyptus, and bay—effective insect repellants
Pyrethrum (crushed chrysanthemum blossoms)—a natural pesticide.

3. Use a flea repellant. Between baths you should treat your pet with a powder or spray.
Note what we have said about the powder getting around, though, and be prepared to vaccuum more often, and making sure you throw away the bag, to keep the flea population down in your home.

Natural herbal flea powders — dried, pulverized leaves of rosemary, bay, mint, lavender, lemongrass and rue are effective at deterring or repelling insects, and they are not toxic or noxious if your pet licks them. You may need to apply these coat treatments every day or two during flea season.

Herbal flea collars contain safe, natural oils such as citronella, eucalyptus, cedar, and bay. Citronella is an excellent natural insect repellent generally for humans, on your patios, decks, and in the great outdoors.