Natural Flea And Tick Prevention For Dogs

Fleas and ticks are serious issues for all dog owners to consider. Fleas can bite the dogs and these bites, at their best, cause irritation in the skin. Unfortunately, dogs can contract many diseases and parasites from flea bites, including tapeworms, anemia, and bartonellosis. Ticks will feed on the dog’s blood. They will cause the dogs to scratch at their skin. Their bites also transmit diseases, including Lyme disease, to the dog.

Although there are several options for flea and tick control, dog owners need to repeat treatments at least once a year, but often more than that. Even the best flea spray needs work for dogs to truly benefit from it. Tick and flea medication for dogs, including natural flea medicine, is available when they have been bitten. However, avoiding expensive veterinarian bills and getting cheap flea treatment for dogs starts early: with natural flea and tick prevention.

Natural Tick And Flea Spray

Many dog owners turn to medicated flea and tick sprays to get rid of these insects. However, there are a few reasons that they may wish to choose a natural option instead. One of these reasons is to avoid potential allergic reactions in the dog as well as for themselves and other humans in their home. Additionally, some individuals believe that there are more preventative measures they can take with natural tick and flea sprays.

Some natural flea and tick sprays can be used on the dog’s bedding, towels, and other surfaces found in the home rather than being limited to the dog’s fur. This may help more since it can repel and get rid of fleas and ticks that may be hiding on other surfaces. Some companies intend the sprays to work similarly to the way bug spray does for humans. It is vital, however, to follow the directions on the spray bottle to achieve any benefits from using the spray.

Get the details on the right type of comb for flea and tick treatment for dogs next.

Tick And Flea Comb

Dog owners will only have a short time to remove fleas and ticks from their dog’s fur before these irritating pests bite them and cause serious complications. This is why they need to use a method such as a tick and flea comb to get them out. These combs are finer than a regular brush, which is how they can capture more ticks and fleas than others.

Dog owners must regularly use tick and flea combs on their dog to get rid of the insects. During the peak flea and tick season, this should be at least once a day, especially when their dog has spent some time outdoors. It is also vital for dog owners to wash the comb thoroughly with soap and warm water. Not doing this can put the fleas and ticks back into the dog’s fur.

Discover what dog owners must do with their backyard if they want to try getting rid of fleas and ticks before they're on their dog.

Keep The Yard Clean

Fleas and ticks are often hiding outside waiting for dogs to come by so they can attach themselves to them. These insects typically hide in areas with a high amount of moisture and shade so they can grow. This is often in the tall grass, especially after a strong thunderstorm. Dog owners need to keep their backyard as clean as possible to prevent fleas and ticks from attaching themselves to their dog.

This means mowing the lawn to keep the grass short. They should also rake the lawn after mowing to get rid of the pieces of grass that have just been cut. Removing debris from the yard is also important, as is keeping garbage cans tightly closed. Fleas and ticks may get into the yard by riding in on rodents such as rats or raccoons, who are attracted to garbage.

Continue reading to reveal more strategies dog owners can employ for flea and tick prevention now.

Wash Bedding And Towels

Reports indicate fleas and ticks can live indoors for up to a year without a host. They can get into an individual’s house in many ways, including on the bottom of shoes. Since fleas and ticks can exist inside the home, dog owners need to take extra precautions to ensure they do not attach themselves to their dog. Specifically, they need to do more than just wash their dog’s bedding. They must also wash their own bed sheets, duvet cover, towels, and other fabrics in hot water regularly.

Doing this will help kill any fleas and ticks that may be hiding around their home. Dog owners who have an active dog should wash all of these items at least once a week. They should also wash these items whenever they look particularly dirty. This is especially important for the towels their dog uses, since the fleas and ticks may have become dislodged from their dog and attached to the towels instead.

Get the full details on balancing the benefits and risks of using essential oils for flea and tick prevention next.

Essential Oils

In certain cases, dog owners can dilute essential oils as a method of preventing fleas and ticks from infecting their dog. The essential oils used the most for this purpose are cedarwood, peppermint, lavender, and lemongrass. These all have strong smells that can repel fleas and ticks. Unfortunately, however, they are easy to misuse. When misused, dogs can also be repelled by the smell. This is why dog owners must dilute the essential oils appropriately. This is particularly important if owners intend to put the essential oils directly on their dog. Dogs, like humans, can have sensitive skin and allergies.

Other options to use essential oils and avoid potential reactions include putting a few drops into the dog’s shampoo or on a collar, as well as mixing a homemade spray for their bedding. Carrier oils, such as olive oil, should be used for applying essential oils to the dog’s collar. Water and vinegar should work for creating a natural spray.