Natural Flea Treatment using Brewer’s Yeast
Homemade brewer’s yeast cubes are a natural flea treatment for dogs and cats. When using brewer’s yeast for fleas, along with a few other natural items, the fleas are repelled by the scent and unpleasant taste. As with any natural treatment, consistency is the key to staying on top of the issue. Your dog will thank you.
The desire to live a chemical free life for yourself and your family is important. We consume a clean food source by growing our own fruit and vegetables, raising our own meat, preserving the harvest, and preparing homemade meals.
I participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program (an affiliated program) and other affiliate advertising programs. This allows me the opportunity to earn a small amount on your purchase at no additional cost to you.
Yet, somehow we forget that our constant companions, our dogs and cats, deserve to live as naturally as we do.
Aside from feeding our dogs a complete raw diet and homemade dog treats, they also receive a natural flea treatment. Homemade brewer’s yeast cubes for fleas are given daily, in addition to homemade bone broth, coconut oil, and raw apple cider vinegar.
Brewer’s Yeast for Fleas | Flea Prevention for Dogs
This recipe consists of only 3 ingredients. Each item works together to create a natural flea treatment for your dog. Two out of the three contain amazing healthy qualities, whereas the the final ingredient adds an punch in fighting fleas.
Brewer’s Yeast
Independently, brewer’s yeast is extremely beneficial for dogs. It’s high in antioxidants and many vitamin B’s. Brewer’s yeast also promotes healthy skin, eyes, fur, and liver function. Due to the high levels of vitamin B, it is stated that brewer’s yeast could very well help reduce anxiety levels in dogs and cats.
Brewer’s yeast in combination of garlic work extremely well in repelling fleas. Especially when it is offered daily. Fleas do not like the ‘flavor’ of dogs which have consumed homemade brewer’s yeast cubes.
A small warning, because of the dosage amount brewer’s yeast can cause large dogs to become gassy. Also, it can counteract with many medications, including prescriptions for anxiety and depression. It is best to contact your veterinarian if your dog is taking medications prior to beginning a natural flea treatment which contains brewer’s yeast.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is the binding element for this natural flea treatment. Due to its amazing benefits coconut oil can also be offered in addition to this recipe.
When offered daily, coconut oil helps with skin issues, digestion and bone health. It also aids in weight loss, soothes joint and arthritis issues, and provides energy. Coconut oil is a powerful antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal agent which assists in preventing many infections and diseases from occurring.
Garlic
Garlic is a very controversy item when it comes to offering it to dogs. Yes, garlic can cause death though it must be consumed in high quantities in order to do so. For example, a dog must consume half of it’s body weight of garlic in order for it to become toxic.
With that said, I have never seen either of our pups show interest in consuming garlic, either fresh or cured. Nor have I ever seen our dogs show interest in consuming garlic bulbs found in the garden.
But that’s our dogs, your pups may be different. If offering garlic is not comfortable for you, simply leave it out of the recipe.
With that said, remember, garlic can safely be offered to dogs in a small amount daily. A large dog can consume 1 small clove, whereas a smaller toy breed should consume a quarter of a small clove.
Natural Flea Treatment – Ingredients
- 1 1/8-cup organic coconut oil, melted
- 1/2 cup of brewer’s yeast, or brewer’s yeast with garlic
- 5 large cloves minced fresh garlic, optional when using plain brewer’s yeast
Equipment
- 3 silicone molds, 1/4-ounce cubes
- silicone spatula, or condiment dispenser like these
Brewer’s Yeast for Fleas – Instructions
- Melt the coconut oil.
- Add the brewer’s yeast and minced garlic to the melted coconut oil. Mix by hand using a spatula, whisk, or an immersion blender until thoroughly blended.
- Slowly pour the mixed brewer’s yeast and coconut oil concoction into the silicon mold. Spread into the sections using a rubber spatula. Or add the mixture to the condiment dispenser and gently distribute evenly to each section of the mold.
- Place the silicone molds into the freezer until the homemade brewer’s yeast cubes have frozen. This process will take roughly 5 minutes.
- Once frozen, pop the homemade brewer’s yeast cubes from the molds and place into a Mason jar or freezer safe container. Store the cubes in the freezer.
- Offer this natural flea treatment daily base on the weight of the dog.
Notes
Offer 1/4-teaspoon (1 heart or cube) for every 10 pounds. Use the natural flea treatment as a treat or add to their food daily, make sure to not exceed the amount suggested.
Natural Solutions Requires Consistency
In addition to offering this homemade brewer’s yeast cube recipe consider incorporating the following natural items. Together these items will help to reduce the flea overload on your dog.
A quick note, in order to fight fleas natural you must be diligent and consistent with treatment daily.
Apple Cider Vinegar – Add 2 teaspoons of raw apple cider vinegar for every 50 pounds to your dog’s waterer or food. The ACV alters the smell and taste of a dog, which works to repel fleas.
Diatomaceous Earth (DE) – DE is made-up of tiny fossilized plankton. Once has been ground to powder sharp shards form. These shards are deadly to soft skeletal bugs such as fleas.
Gently sprinkle DE directly onto dogs which are heavily infected with fleas, combing through the fur using a flea comb. Diatomaceous earth works also works well as a spot treatment. The DE will kill fleas instantly, repeat the treatment as needed.
*note* Because of how fine DE is, inhaling a large amount can cause respiratory issues. Use caution when applying it. Never apply directly onto the pet’s head and if at all possible, apply outdoors.
Natural Flea Spray & Daily Vacuuming – Spray rugs, furiture, pet bedding, and even pets with this natural product, Wondercide Flea and Tick Spray. Wonderside is an herbal spray made with cedar, rosemary, lemongrass, and peppermint essential oils.
In combination with this natural spray make sure to vacuum rugs and furniture daily.
Essential Oils – Add a few drops of high grade essential oils to your pet’s collar. Oils such as, cedar wood, rosemary, peppermint, lemongrass and lavender work well in repelling fleas.
A natural flea treatment and all other natural remedies take time to work. But it is a million percent healthier than a chemical alternative.
Homemade Brewer’s Yeast Cubes – a Natural Flea Treatment
For your convenience a printable how to card is available.
Natural Flea Treatment using Brewer's Yeast
Homemade brewer's yeast cubes are a natural flea treatment for dogs and cats. When using brewer's yeast for fleas, and other natural items, fleas are repelled by the smell and taste of your pet.
Ingredients
- 1 1/8- cup organic coconut oil,, melted
- 1/2 cup of Brewer's yeast,, or Brewer's yeast with garlic
- 5 large cloves minced fresh garlic,, optional. Use in place of Brewer's yeast with garlic
Instructions
- Melt the coconut oil, making sure to have 1 1/8-cup total.
- Add the Brewer's yeast and minced garlic to the melted coconut oil. Mix by hand using a spatula, hand whisk, or an immersion blender.
- Slowly pour the mixed Brewer's yeast and coconut oil concoction into the silicon mold. Spread the mixture into the sections using a rubber spatula. Or fill a condiment dispenser with the mixture, evenly distributing into each section.
- Place the filled silicone molds into the freezer until the homemade brewer's yeast cubes have frozen. This process will take 5 minutes for the cubes to harden.
- Once frozen, pop the homemade brewer's yeast cubes from the molds and store in the freezer using a Mason jar or freezer safe container.
- Offer this natural flea treatment daily base on their weight. Feel free to provide it as a treat or added to their daily feed, making sure to not exceed the amount.
Notes
Equipment
3 silicone mold, consisting of 1/4-ounce cubes (see article for my suggestion)
silicone spatula, or condiment dispenser (see article for my suggestion)
Offer 1/4-teaspoon for every 10 pounds. A natural flea treatment such as these homemade Brewer's yeast cubs can be offered as a treat throughout the day or added to their food daily.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1 gramsAmount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g
This was excellent info thank you do much for sharing!
Welcome and good luck!
What about for cats???
Cats are quite picky and may not like the recipe, mine didn’t. However, you can make a small batch and set one within their food and see if they will consume it.
I made these using this recipe and 2 out of my 3 dogs won’t eat them! Any ideas!
Our old dog does not consume them either! We grab the amount he needs and melt it slightly and mix with his food; he never new the difference!
Thats brilliant and such a relief to find this. I garden and I use no chemicals. We were hit hard with fleas and he is on the best of the best chemical treatments for dogs, which I hate using on him and it doesnt work. The fleas still persist no matter what we do to the point where he is bleeding so bad from digging at them. Ive been at my wits end. Thank you so much!
The winters have been so mild these past few years in many locations, that I agree they are hard to be rid of! Natural remedies to be rid of fleas is an ongoing effort, but definitely worth doing.
Great information! Thank you! We just “inherited” 4 chickens from my in-laws and are now Urban Chicken newbies 🙂 Your site is a wealth of information and greatly appreciated! Regarding this article…do you know if this will work for cats as well? Has anyone tried this with felines?
Hi there, cats are very picky eaters, and I would suggest giving it as free choice. BUT! Make sure the Brewer’s Yeast does not contain garlic; galic is toxic for them.
Is garlic really toxic for cats? Just got everything to make them.
Please let me know…
My cats won’t eat it so I sprinkle it on them and pat it into their fur
Thank you! I added half a cup of melted peanut butter to mine to make it more appealing to my dogs. I might also experiment with adding some chicken bouillon.
I made these for my dogs but am wondering about the dosage. I have a 55 + pound dog and an 11 pound dog. What would be the dosage for each?
Thank you
1/4 of a teaspoon per pound.
The correct dosage is 1/4 TEASPOON PER 10 LBS. BODY WEIGHT!!!
Thank you for this great information, but I still have questions about cats. There are many recipes for dogs, and very few for cats where I search. We have multiple cats, our precious rescues. Many ferrals, so I need a measurement to sprinkle on their food. All our cats are spayed or neutered and doing well and this will help them to be more healthy getting a relief from fleas. I have been using a flea medication on some that are blind and handy cap, but this is very expensive and the last dose I gave our new baby made him sick. Thus I am on a mission for a healthier flea treatment. I would appreciate any help you can give me. Thank you
There is nothing in this method which would unsafe for cats. However, due to their picky disposition they may not consume it. A thought to try would be to crumble up the cubes and add to their feed, or simply allow them to consume it as a free choice item. My cat consumes it in her feed if I crumble it, though there are days she is extremely picky about what she eats!
Hello! Am currently using Brewers yeast tablets. It’s what I found first .. had no luck locating the powder at Walmart.. so I have been just crushing up the tablets and adding it to just a bit of coconut oil and peanut butter and oats kinda rolling g it into a ball and it’s her favorite morning treat! I chose this way o my because I have not purchased the molds yet. However it only takes a couple minutes to whip up while the families breakfast is cooking.. thanks for this sight! Jesus loves you!
Hi I’ve seen two other similar recipes that say it’s a teaspoon and half per 10 lbs, while yours only calls for a 1/4 teaspoon per 10lbs just wondering which one I should go with. Thanks!
Brewer’s Yeast can upset the tummy and cause constipation when consumed in high amounts. I have 2 dogs, both weighing over 75 pounds each, and provide only 1/4 teaspoon per 10 pounds.
I only have one indoor cat now, but I’m planning to get a dog (or two) when we move to a more rural area. Have you ever heard of flea nematodes? They are tiny organisms that burrow into the soil and eat flea larvae. I’ve never used them before, but I’ve found several resources online that sell them. I will be trying them out on our property. I would rather destroy fleas at the source than have to put stuff on my animals. My second line of defense will be a flea comb. And our new house will have no carpet. When I had more pets in the past, I had a canister vacuum cleaner that didn’t use bags. I would vacuum daily, dump the contents of the vacuum cleaner in a plastic grocery bag, tie it tightly shut, and take it directly out to the outside trash can. We never had a problem with fleas. I believe there are so many people using chemicals against them now, that the fleas are becoming resistant. And I believe those chemicals are harming our pets, us, and our planet!
I have never heard of nematodes, however, I do use Wondercide outdoors and on our pets (cats and dogs). In additional to the brewer’s yeast I do use a flea comb a few times a week.
Nematodes are great for attacking and stopping fleas at the start. Be sure to get them just before you distribute them, and watch the outside temp and rainfall. They worked wonders for my pets!
Do you have a recipe for homemade tick treatments?
The only natural, truly effective method I have found is to incorporate Guinea Fowl to your homestead. It is said that 1 guinea can consume up to 4,000 ticks a day. I am actually looking at an essential oil blends which are applied to the collar that may help.