Tick season has arrived…
As a dog owner, you know how important it is to protect your dog from these nasty pests.
Ticks not only carry Lyme disease. They also carry dieseases like …
- ehrlichiosis
- anaplasmosis
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever
And these could be just as harmful to your dog.
There are many ways to prevent ticks. But as a dog owner you must consider the effects that chemical tick treatments. They can endanger your dog’s …
- digestive tract
- internal organs
- overall health
That is why more dog owners want natural tick repellent.
If you’re concerned about the impact these chemicals have on your dog and want a safer solution, then read on.
But first let’s talk about why you want to avoid traditional solutions like:
- Bombs
- Sprays
- Dips
- Spot Ons
- Chewables
- Collars
Why You Should Say No To Chemical Tick Treatments
Like antibiotics, pesticides and herbicides, pests become resistant to certain chemicals.
As a result, companies have to look for new solutions. And these solutions are often more harmful.
And while you may think … “I have used these for years and have never had a problem”, this is not the case for many.
In fact, every year, the EPA reports thousands of poisonings.
So how do you protect your dog from ticks?
Use natural tick preventatives to keep your dog and your family safe.
3 Natural Tick Repellents For Dogs
1. Dietary Tick Preventatives
Garlic
If you feed your dog garlic, it can make him less appealing to pests. The smell escapes through the skin and repels both ticks and fleas.
You may have heard that garlic contains sulfoxides and disulfides. And that these can damage red blood cells and cause anemia in dogs.
This is true but …
But only when it’s fed in large amounts.
It’s safe in moderate amounts.
Peel and chop the garlic and let it sit for 15 minutes before you add it to your dog’s food. This releases allicin, the active ingredient in garlic.
Use a level measuring spoon and feed garlic to your dog based on his weight.
5 lbs ⅙ tsp
10 lbs ⅓ tsp
15 lbs ½ tsp
20 lbs ⅔ tsp
30 lbs 1 tsp
Caution: Don’t give garlic to pregnant females, puppies under 6 months, or Akitas and Shiba-Inus.
RELATED: Can Dogs Eat Garlic? The Bottom Line
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) can make your dog’s blood less attractive to ticks and fleas.
Always buy organic ACV if you can.
Add 2 tablespoons of the apple cider vinegar to the dog’s food or water bowl as a natural tick repellent.
2. Topical/External Tick Preventatives
Herbal Flea And Tick Powder
There are many tick powders (and sprays) that use herbal combinations to prevent ticks.
You can also make your own powder at home with just three ingredients
- Diatomaceous Earth
- NEEM
- Yarrow
To learn how to make it yourself, check out our flea and tick powder recipe!
Herbal Flea/Tick Collars
Like powders and sprays, you can also buy herbal flea and tick collars.
But you can also make your own at home.
Mix 2 tablespoons of almond oil with Rose Geranium Oil or Palo Santo. Then, dab a few drops on your dog’s neck area before you head out.
Or, put it on his collar once a week.
Tick Shampoo
You can also make your own tick shampoo. Mix several drops of Palo Santo with your favorite organic lavender shampoo.
Let the suds sit on your dog for 20 minutes before you rinse them off. This will kill any ticks and prevent new ones.
No time to make it? Try this.
Citrus repellent
Cut a lemon into quarters and put into a pint jar.
Cover with boiling water and let steep overnight.
Put the solution in a spray bottle and spray all over the dog. Be sure to spray …
- behind the ears
- around the head
- at the base of the tail
- in the armpits
3. Environmental Tick Preventatives
Nematodes
Beneficial nematodes are microscopic, worm-like organisms that live in soil. They feed on tick larvae so break their life cycle and kill off the parasite.
You can buy nematodes at garden centres and online.
When they arrive, add water and spread them around your yard with a sprayer or watering can. They will help naturally repel ticks.
Mow The Lawn
While it may not be your favorite chore, short grass can help prevent ticks. Especially if you live in an area where they’re more common.
Diatomaceous Earth
Food grade diatomaceous earth (DE) is a non-toxic powder. It consists of …
- ground fossils
- marine life
- freshwater organisms.
While non-toxic to humans and animals, this powder is lethal to ticks and fleas.
Use diatomaceous earth on your …
- carpets
- furniture
- bedding
- anywhere your dog likes to hang out
Leave the dust on the surface for about 24 hours and then vacuum it up.
You can also put DE right on your dog. To sprinkle DE on your dog, pull back the hair to get it on the skin. But be careful! You want to avoid the nose, eyes and mouth.
Use Several Natural Tick Repellents At Once
All-natural tick prevention products are most effective if used in combination.
Dietary solutions, combined with topical and environmental products, provide broad-spectrum protection. And it avoids the complications that chemical products can cause.
Tick prevention doesn’t need to be a chemical-based treatment. There a many natural repellents that you can use to give your dog a healthy, chemical-free life.
