Fleas? Try These Flea-Be-Gone Treats For Your Pet!
Try these homemade treats your dog will love that contain brewer's yeast, a natural flea repellent.
Flea season peaks around late summer and early fall, although these parasites are found year-round. Try these homemade treats that contain brewer’s yeast, that has been shown to be a natural flea repellent.
Flea-Be-Gone Dog Biscuits
Flea-Be-Gone Dog Biscuits
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup wheat germ
- ½ cup brewer’s yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup chicken broth
Instructions
- Directions:In a large bowl, mix oil with dry ingredients. Slowly stir in 1 cup of chicken broth when the mixture gets too dry. Mix thoroughly until you get a doughy consistency.Roll dough onto floured surface to about ¼ inch thick. Use a knife to cut dough into squares, or use cookie cutters to make special shapes. Place cut dough onto large, ungreased baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes, or until edges are brown. Allow to cool 2 hours, then store in plastic bags or airtight containers.Administer treats as you would any other treat, after a walk, etc.
Important note: The garlic powder has been removed from the original recipe. Many dog owners wrote to us, expressing their concern, citing raw garlic can be toxic to some dogs. While others have read of garlic’s many health benefits. If you choose to add it, the recipe calls for 1 TBL garlic POWDER (not fresh garlic). But please check with your vet first. The brewer’s yeast in this recipe is the most important component of this recipe for natural flea repellent.
This article was published by the staff at Farmers' Almanac. Do you have a question or an idea for an article? Contact us!
-
Farmers' Almanac Staffhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/fa-admin
-
Farmers' Almanac Staffhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/fa-admin
-
Farmers' Almanac Staffhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/fa-admin
-
Farmers' Almanac Staffhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/fa-admin
You also need to be careful with the chicken broth. Most prepared chicken broth has onion powder in it. Onion can be deadly to dogs.
Can this be given to cats?
Hi L, yes, but they probably won’t eat them.
Can this work on cats, kittens, squirrels?
How to keep midges from biting you, pets & your fowl??
should be whole wheat flour.
Another good flea treat is 1/2cup brewers yeast( I get mine on amazon) and 1 cup melted coconut oil. I make more me in paw print molds the small one are one treat per ten pounds you dog is.
This is also a good flea treat for cats. Just put one in their bowl for them to lick on. They will eat it as needed.
Before I viewed the recipe I was expecting an ingredient such as food-grade diatomaceous earth.
Our household ended up with fleas when we let a stray kitting in to stay warm while he waited for animal control to pick him up. He left fleas for us. I needed to find something natural and safe for the well-being of everyone in our household. What I found was diatomaceous earth. I brought a package home where I sprinkled some on the carpeting on the main floor of our home. Instructions said to leave it set and that it will be tracked around the house by foot traffic. That stuff is truly amazing!! It is took care of the flea problem in no time at all.
Hi Beth, you’re correct! We recommend it all the time: Natural Ways To Combat Fleas and What The Heck Is Diatomaceous Earth?. It really helps with so many pests!
Glad you found something that works for you.
We buy brewers yeast at the bulk barn (I take it for the vitamin B), it’s dirt cheap.
How can this be modified for cats?
Hi Jennifer, because of the size of the biscuits, they are not suitable for cats. If you broke them up, you might end up with sharp edges. And keep in mind, if you have an infestation, these treats won’t help with that, they’re just a gentle way to make your pets unappealing to fleas. Good luck!
Ok I’m a little lost here, everything I’ve read says use “brewers yeast”, but there is one hitch to this for me. I live in a really small town and no brewers yeast to be found anywhere within 60 miles of me. This is frustrating because I don’t use chemicals on either my 9 yr old beagle or my 5 yr old shizuterrior mix. What is another way to rid my two babies of their flea problem. If I got to bake it, cook it, or whatever I have no problem doing so. My beagle is diabetic so whatever it is has to be suitable for her as well as my mixed male. If anyone knows of anything that will work please please help it will be so appreciated.
Hi Jennifer, you can buy “nutritional yeast” or “brewers yeast” online if you can’t find it in stores; https://www.amazon.com/Bobs-Red-Mill-Large-Flake/dp/B000WLCHDA/ref=sr_1_7_s_it?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1489504802&sr=1-7&keywords=nutritional%2Byeast&th=1
Is it safe to substitute the brewers yeast with Active Dry Yeast when preparing the flea-be-gone treats? And if so, what would the measurement be?
Hi off2florida2 – No, do NOT substitute active dry yeast. This is a completely different product as brewer’s yeast. Take a look at this article here: What the Heck Is Nutritional Yeast?
We have also emailed you this information.
Many people will not realize there is a difference between Brewers Yeast and Active Dry Yeast. If there is any any risk to an animal due to this confusion, I feel you need to clarify this in your recipe.
Hi Carol. Try http://www.arbico.com This is a great company for all natural needs
Does this formula protect the dogs from mosquitoes as well? Southern Mississippi, and we have lots of them, nearly year around.
I have seven cats every day I use a comb on them but still they havev fleas can anyone help
I’ve used Apple cider vinegar in small amounts. I’ve been told you can soak them in it; but my cats hate baths and I hate getting scratched up. Hehe… so I give them small drops..
Hi Pauline Blackburn: Try some of these remedies here: Natural Ways To Combat Fleas
I have been a licensed dept of agriculture dog bakery for the past 12 years. They monitor every ingredient I put in every treat. Garlic is safe for dogs, most people assume that because it is part of the onion family it is toxic to dogs but that is untrue.
I think the garlic depends on the dog. I gave our 13 lb dog some garlic powder according to her weight and she spent the next 24 hrs throwing up. The only thing different she had was the garlic.
I am a certified veterinary technician that works as a ER nurse and I run a blood bank. Garlic is not ok for your dog. Any plant in the onion family is not ok for your dog. In small quanties it won’t do permanent damage but it is harmful. Onion/garlic ingestion causes Heinz body anemia. If your dog has enough of a reaction, the red blood cells in the body won’t work properly and won’t be able to circulate oxygen throughout the body. Further more, your pet my need a transfusion. At home remidies like these don’t work for fleas anyways. You pet should be on proper flea and tick preventatives.
2 dogs & 1 cat inside–1 cat outside. Had a horrible flea infestation after moving into current home. Bought & applied beneficial nematodes last summer & this spring. Zero fleas on any of the animals. Completely non toxic to people & animals. Best money I’ve ever spent.
Hi Connie. Where do you buy this stuff and if you don’t mind how much is it? I have 1 cat that is in/out, 1 only inside, and right now 3 babies trying to fi homes for homes for. All have fleas bad.
Where can I get nematodes and how were they applied?
http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/garlic-for-dogs-poison-or-medicine/
Hey Kim J from Texas…I live in the Houston area and the fleas are horrible. What have you used that is successful? 2 dogs with fleas are enough to drive a nondrinker to be an alcoholic.
Doesn’t work in Texas. 🙁
How often do you give these treats and does this work on cats?
Many Treats and how often should be given?
Is the flour called for plain or self-rising?
Can active dry yeast be used in place of brewers yeast?
I would strongly suggest NOT using active dry yeast, as it can be incredibly toxic to dogs. Use only brewers yeast.
L.shel – that is correct. Brewer’s yeast, or “nutritional yeast” is a completely different source. What the Heck Is Nutritional Yeast?
Kelley, wheat germ is in the cereal isle. Usually near the top.
I’m going to try this with olive oil and vegetable broth. My dog is allergic to chicken…
This is listed below the recipe.
Important note: The garlic powder has been removed from the original recipe. Many dog owners wrote to us, expressing their concern, citing raw garlic can be toxic to some dogs. While others have read of it’s many health benefits. If you choose to add it, the recipe calls for 1 TBL garlic POWDER. But please check with your vet first. The brewer’s yeast in this recipe is the most important component of this recipe for natural flea repellent.
Does the flour in the mix make a difference? I have gluten issues and dont keep flour in the house but i have other types as options like almond coconut rice etc
I have also given my horses 1-tsp. Garlic powder sprinkled with their food. It helps with flies. I had 3 horses, one lived to be 35-1/2 years old. So all the years I used must garlic must not have harmed them. The other 2 are 16 & 7
read Dr. Pitcairns book, my dogs #75 lbs plus get a clove of garlic every day, I don’t use brewers yeast it’s stuff that’s swept up from breweries floors, use nutritional yeast from health food store, I don’t use heart worm meds or flea treatments, all can cause cancer, i will not put chemicals on my animals, I have them tested for heart worm once a year, in 30 years never a positive, never any fleas, ticks or heart worm, don’t believe everything you read, research the source
My dogs haven’t had a rabies shot in many years. I live in a rural area, no problems……..ever. Now days you almost can’t get and kind of medicine for your dog/cat unless a vet sees them……..$45, just a way to get them in office, then there’s a medicine bill too. Social Security, I can’t pay those prices. No stray dogs around and no animals that have rabies. Not even opossum get rabies, used to shoot them, don’t any more.
I have just mixed the brewer’s yeast with their wet food – about 1 t.
Does not list garlic powder in ingredients but in the directions it says mix garlic powder with vegetable oil.
Brewers yeast tablets fortified with garlic also work for fleas. You see results once your pet gets these into their system month or so. They go by your dogs weight. I used these for 3 of my dogs and never had a flea issue. Find them at pet and farm stores.
Does this also work for cats?
Garlic powder is not listed in the ingredients
They have dosage chart for the safe amount of garlic. I believe it’s on this site somewhere. It goes by the weight of your dog.
We’ve turkey treats for our girls over the years and they always include a moderate amount of granulated garlic. I made a batch of these flea treats and included the garlic (1 T.) and the girls love them, and no more itchy and scratchy.
If you’re not using a monthly topical flea treatment, make sure to give your pet a monthly heartworm preventative.
I plan to make these and will be including the garlic powder. Gasp!–our three dogs regularly eat leftovers that contain garlic and have had no problems. As with all things in life: All things in moderation!
there is no measurement given for the garlic in the defiance list.
Hi Valerie, we removed this optional ingredient from the recipe due to an outpouring of concern over feeding dogs garlic. Despite our research findings and consultations with several vets, who tell us that small doses of granulated garlic pose no threats (in fact many dog owners use garlic in holistic treatments), we felt it was better to simply take it out of the recipe altogether since it was optional.The recipe originally called for 1 tablespoon for the batch.
DE – diaoromaceous earth should be of food quality! Only use the food quality!!!
What bout cats can they eat it or what kinda treats for them…I always see things for dogs…come one there is cat owners out there too w cats who have fleas
We use DE ( diatomaceous earth). Put in on their fur, on their food. We sprinkle it all over the yard. It kills anything with an exoskeleton. And it’s cheap. We get it at a feed store. Plus, it’s human consumption safe.
garlic CAN be toxic to dogs. Not is toxic, Can be toxic. All things in moderation. We have treated out dogs with garlic for more than 15 yrs and never had any trouble. We’ve never had trouble with fleas. Ticks are more difficult and require a higher dosage of garlic. Some small dogs are just too sensitive to give any garlic to. But do your own research, don’t just take people’s knee-jerk reaction of NEVER give garlic to a dog. Its just not true!
For then to be effective how many and how often. I have two 100# babies and two Chihuahua babies as well. Any thoughts would be great.
Dipping them in water with dawn dish soap in it will kill them, also Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo! Also white vinegar will repel them, you can try putting a little in their water bowl or in the water you rinse the dish soap off with! (All works for both cats and dogs!)
Never put garlic in food for dogs and cats. It’s highly toxic for them! Try just mixing the brewers yeast into wet food. They actually love the taste. https://www.petinsurance.com/healthzone/pet-articles/pet-health-toxins/Garlic-Toxicity-and-Pets.aspx
like to knw more about this
I had problems with fleas on our newly adopted kitten that we rescued last October. She was half a pound, and only 4 wks, so too young and small for treatments. I bathed her in dawn dish soap and added a drop of lavender essential oil. This worked! Now, I bathe all of the cats (we have 4) in baby soap mixed with a couple of drops of lavender. It’s gentle on their sensitive skin, and the lavender does repel fleas. Then use frontline and haven’t had any problems
I’ve never heard of dawn soap, I live in uk what’s the equivalent here please?
Blue Dawn dish soap……..works great
Fairy Liquid
Garlic is poisonous to dogs!! It may be good to keep fleas away but can cause blood trouble with dogs
‘@kelly. Garlic is NOT good for cats. It is a poison to cats.
I used to sit down on the bathroom floor with my cats and remove fleas with flea comb and dump them into the toilet with Pine-sol. It killed them. I applied brewer’s yeast into their coat with my bare hands. I bought the brewers yeast at a local health store. My vet didn’t like that. He said it didn’t work, but it did.
Could you send me a recipe for cat fleas Thank you