11 Natural Ways to Prevent Fleas in Shih Tzu Dogs for Good
Published 10 November 2020. Updated 4 March 2026
Natural Ways to Prevent Fleas in your Shih Tzu dog for good, here are a few?
Natural Ways to Prevent Fleas - Fleas are the pain in the neck of any **Shih Tzu owner’s **life. Not only would fleas irritate your precious Shih Tzu and trigger excessive scratching once they infiltrate your home, but they would also lay eggs in your carpet, furniture, and basically any nook and cranny they could access.
We suggest following the recommendation of your vet, but if you prefer a more Natural Ways to Prevent Fleas approach, there are actually a lot of ways to prevent fleas on Shih Tzus naturally without using chemical repellents or treatments. If you are wondering how to prevent fleas on Shih Tzu dogs for good, here are our tips:
Dish Soap
To clear your house of a nasty flea infestation, you could try this trick. Put a plate on the floor in every room of your house and fill each plate with water. Add a capful of ordinary dish soap to every plate and put a lit tea candle in the center of the plates. Fleas would be lured into the candlelight, but the soapy liquid in the plate would trap and kill the fleas. The best and safest way to do this method is to stay awake while the candles burn as a safety measure. Keep the kids and pets out of the rooms with the flea traps.
Herbal Spray
Refrain from using harsh treatments and chemicals and instead choose this herbal spray to purge your home of nasty fleas. Mix a gallon of vinegar, half a gallon of tap water, a cup of witch hazel, and 2 cups of lemon juice to make your solution, then vacuum your home meticulously to remove errant fleas prior to spraying your concoction.

Wash everything that could not be vacuumed, like linens and towels, on the hottest setting. Next, for a wonderful herbal flea treatment, spray the mix all throughout your house and repeat regularly or as needed.

Salt
For a natural flea remedy, you can try sprinkling finely ground table salt over the carpets in your house, and then vacuum thoroughly after 24 to 48 hours. However, keep in mind that even though this flea remedy would eliminate living fleas, it would not destroy flea larvae.
Rosemary Oil
Rosemary is a natural flea repellant and could be used in powder or oil form. To get fleas off your Shih Tzu for good, a little rosemary oil on the base of your Shih’s neck should help prevent fleas. You could likewise bathe your Shih Tzu in rosemary water as a herbal flea bath. You could also make a flea powder from equal parts peppermint, fennel, rosemary, wormwood, and rue. These could be ground into a fine powder and sprinkled all over your home. Nevertheless, this would only deter fleas and not kill them.

Lemongrass and Rosemary Spray
Another Natural Ways to Prevent Fleas or repellent choice is to prevent fleas in the first place, this is an easy to make and quick solution spray. Put about six thinly sliced lemons in a large bowl, and then add a handful of chopped rosemary leaves and throw them into the mixture. Boil a liter of water and pour it onto the bowl, and then put about four drops of geranium oil. Leave the solution covered overnight, and strain the liquid in the morning before pouring it in a spray bottle. Spray this holistic flea repellent option all over the house to prevent fleas in your Shih Tzu dog for good.
Citronella Mixture
Citronella oil is a great natural flea deterrent, and concocting a mixture from this and other oils would be sure to kick the fleas to the curb. Add about twenty drops of citronella oil, ten drops of lemongrass extract, five drops of tea tree oil, and ten drops of geranium oil to a bowl of warm water, and use the mix to mop your house.

Horse Apples
For another natural flea repellant option, cut horse apples or Osage oranges in half and place a half in every room and hallway of your house. These should deter not only fleas but other insects as well and would last up to ten weeks in an air-conditioned home.

Cedar Oil
To eradicate fleas off your Shih Tzu, dilute five drops of cedar oil with about three teaspoons of water, then wet your dog’s collar five to ten drops of the solution. These oil extracts are also safe for treating Shih Tzu pups with fleas, provided that it’s used in moderation. Reapply the solution once or twice a week.
Lemon Juice
Here’s an effective flea dip for your Shih Tzu: Slice up a big lemon and put it in a pot of boiling water. Then, remove the pot from the heat and cover it. Leave the solution overnight, and then dip your Shih Tzu’s comb in it the next day and run the comb through their coat.
Vinegar Spray
Add shine to your Shih Tzu’s coat with this flea repellent. Mix a cup of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar with about three cups of water, then add three drops of cedar oil. Mix well, then pour the solution into a spray bottle. Gently spray your Shih Tzu, but be very careful to avoid their eyes, nose, and ears. If you are concerned about spraying on sensitive areas, moisten a cloth with the mix and wipe it around your Shih’s neck and behind his or her ears instead of spraying the solution.
Pennyroyal Herb

Natural Ways to Prevent Fleas
The pennyroyal herb is a wonderful natural remedy to get rid of fleas in your yard. You can try planting pennyroyal herbs in your yard or anywhere near your Shih Tzus love to play. Nevertheless, carefully watch pets and kids in the yard if you decide to plant pennyroyal herbs because it could be toxic to both animals and humans when consumed. A few drops of pennyroyal oil or extract could be added to your Shih Tzu’s collar if it is not in direct contact with his or her skin. However, if you start to notice your pet showing signs of allergy, like itching excessively, remove the collar promptly.
