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It’s challenging to find natural flea and tick prevention for dogs. You want to avoid using toxic chemicals or medications that can harm your dog … and yet you want to be sure you use something effective in keeping the pests off your dog.
The ultimate keys to natural flea and tick prevention for dogs are consistency and diligence ... and a foundation of good health through a nutritious diet, regular grooming and exercise. That keeps your dog’s circulatory, respiratory, digestive and immune systems in order so if he encounters parasites like fleas and ticks, he’s able to repel them on his own.
So here’s what you can do to ensure your dog can fight back naturally against fleas and ticks. Healthy Diet To Prevent Fleas And Ticks
Your dog’s diet and overall good health are his best defense against fleas and ticks.
Fleas and ticks are parasites that live and feed on or in a host organism … your dog. They have their best luck with weak and unhealthy hosts. If you keep your dog healthy, you should be able to keep the fleas and ticks away.
Feeding your dog a fresh, whole food raw meat diet with bones, organs and fruits and vegetables … is the foundation of good health. Avoid processed food and high carbohydrate ingredients like grains and starches.
Here are some natural supplements you can add to your dog's diet to make his blood less appealing to fleas and ticks. They can alter the odor of your dog's skin and discourage pests. Natural Supplements To Prevent Fleas And Ticks
Garlic: Garlic is safe for dogs when fed in the right amounts. Garlic has sulfur compounds that are said to discourage fleas and ticks. Use organic raw garlic, and it should be freshly chopped 15 minutes before feeding. Here’s how much to feed your dog according to his weight:
- 5lbs: 1/6 tsp
- 10lbs: 1/3tsp
- 15 lbs: 1/2 tsp
- 20lbs: 2/3 tsp
- 30 lbs: 1 tsp
Note: It’s best to limit garlic to 2 cloves a day, even for big dogs.
Apple Cider Vinegar: The acidic properties of ACV may create an unfavorable environment for fleas and ticks. You can add it to your dog's drinking water or dilute it 50:50 with water and apply it topically.
Foods With B Vitamins: It’s thought that B vitamins can alter the scent of a dog’s skin and discourage fleas and ticks. Meats, organs, oily fish and eggs contain high levels of B vitamins.
How to get started with raw dog food
Natural Flea And Tick Prevention For Dogs
Here are some natural flea and tick preventives for dogs:
- Diatomaceous Earth: This is a fine powder that may dehydrate insects. Gently rub it into your dog’s fur and avoid breathing in any dust. Make sure to use food-grade diatomaceous earth. You can also sprinkle it in your yard, especially in areas where your dog likes to nap.
- Essential Oils: Certain essential oils may be used in natural repellents for fleas and ticks. But essential oils can be toxic to pets if used incorrectly, so it's crucial to dilute them properly and use them sparingly.
- Herbal Sprays and Dips: Some herbal sprays and dips contain natural ingredients like neem, rosemary and citronella that discourage fleas and ticks.
- Yard Maintenance: A well-maintained yard with trimmed grass minimizes places for fleas and ticks to nest. You can also discourage wildlife that carries the parasites by removing debris and creating barriers to stop them from getting in.
You can make some garlic water to spray on your yard to discourage fleas and ticks.
What you need:
- 8 heads of chopped garlic (unpeeled is fine)
- 1 gallon of almost boiling water
Place the garlic in a large pot and pour the water over it. Cover and let it steep for 12 hours. Then strain it and pour into a garden sprayer. Lightly spray your lawn and garden area, and avoid soaking your grass or plants. Homemade Natural Flea And Tick Prevention For Dogs
When it comes to homemade remedies for flea and tick prevention, essential oils are quite common … and quite strong. And your dog's sense of smell is hundreds of times more sensitive than yours. So if you’re making your own flea and tick sprays for dogs, you need to make sure your essential oils are properly diluted. Let your dog sniff each oils first (keep the cap on the bottle to do this) and if he turns away or shows that it's unpleasant for him, don't use that one.
This is canine herbalist Rita Hogan's recommendation for diluting essential oils:
Use a 0.5% to 1% dilution. This means 3 to 6 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil. She recommends using almond, grapeseed or apricot kernel oil as carrier oils.
RELATED: How to use essential oils for dogs … Essential Oils For Natural Flea And Tick Prevention For Dogs
Here are natural flea and tick prevention for dogs essential oils.
- Cedarwood Oil: This oil is commonly used in natural flea and tick products for its repellent properties. You should use a species-specific cedarwood oil, as some types may not be safe for dogs. However, avoid using cedarwood oil on pregnant dogs or those with underlying health conditions.
- Lavender Oil: Lavender oil is generally well-tolerated by dogs and is known for its calming properties. It may also have mild insect-repellent effects to discourage insects, fleas and ticks.
- Lemongrass Oil: This is often used in natural repellants to discourage fleas and ticks. Some dogs may be more sensitive to lemongrass oil than others.
- Peppermint Oil: This strong scent that can be effective in repelling fleas and ticks. However, it is important to use peppermint oil with caution and in low concentrations, as it can be irritating to some dogs' skin. Always dilute it properly and avoid using it on puppies, pregnant dogs, or dogs with sensitive skin.
- Eucalyptus Oil: Eucalyptus oil is known for its strong scent and has been used as a flea and tick repellent. It should be used highly diluted and with caution.
- Geranium Oil: This oil has been used to help deter fleas and ticks.
- Rosemary Oil: This has a pleasant scent and contains compounds believed to have insect-repellent properties.
Warning: Don’t ever use wintergreen, pennyroyal or clove essential oils as they’re toxic to dogs.