Spring is finally here, and along with the warmer weather come nasty disease-carrying critters that are the bane of dog and cat owners everywhere: fleas! A single flea is all it takes to quickly build a major household infestation. No matter how carefully you try to prevent fleas on your pet or in your home, you may easily bring a hitch-hiking flea home on your shoes or clothes from a friend's house, or the park, or your pet may bring them in from the great outdoors.

There are lots of chemical flea control products that are available and yes, they can be very effective in getting rid of fleas. Unfortunately, by using these chemicals you are exposing your beloved dog or cat, and your family, to toxic chemicals that can be stored in the body and affect the central nervous system. Fortunately, there are many natural products that prevent and control fleas that are effective and nontoxic to you and your pets.

Believe it or not, most flea infestations are a result of fleas being carried in to the house on your pet or even on your clothes. The first step in natural flea control begins in your own back yard. Keep your grass mowed short, especially in shady areas that remain moist and damp. Fleas prefer moisture and they don't tolerate hot, dry conditions well.

Next, spread a natural product that contains diatomaceous earth over the lawn in areas your pet is likely to play. Diatomaceous earth is a substance made of the fossilized shells of microscopic organisms. It is found in many natural and organic flea repellants, or you can buy it as a single product. The slightly abrasive dust will cut the exoskeletons of the fleas, and its absorbent properties dehydrates them. The dust is a natural substance that is safe for people and animals to walk on, but wear a dust mask when applying it so you don't inhale it when you are spreading it on the lawn. Diatomaceous earth is also useful in killing fleas by spreading on carpets, allowing it to sit for several hours and vacuuming it out.

Many plants also plants have natural flea-repellent properties, such as lavender, mint, and eucalyptus. Surround your yard with these plants to ward off fleas. Use the stems and leaves to stuff your dog's bed to make it naturally flea-repellent also. Eucalyptus can be toxic to dogs, though, so be sure not to let them eat it!

Another natural flea-control method is to add beneficial nematodes to your lawn. They will burrow into fleas as part of their life cycle, killing the host. Nematodes are harmless to animals and people; our temperatures are too warm to suit them. You can find nematodes in most gardening stores or online.Place the nematodes in shady areas, since they can't survive the hot sun and this is where the fleas in your yard are hiding.

Regular daily care can keep your pet's flea problems at a minimum. Feed your dogs or cats a high-quality food that will keep them in optimum health and maintain their immunity to fleas. Consider supplements that contain brewer's yeast, garlic or both. A few weeks of these supplements will make your pet's coat glow and will make them naturally repel fleas.Bathe your pet regularly, but not a great deal more than once a week to keep his skin from drying out excessively.

Fighting fleas can become a full-time job if you let them get in and around your home.Allowing your pet to remain flea-infested is irresponsible pet ownership and can threaten the health of your cat or dog by creating serious skin infections and anemia, which can create monumental vet charges or even cause the death of your pet. Take care of your pet's quality of life as well as you may your own child's.