7 Natural Remedies for Fleas and Ticks in Dogs
Fleas and ticks are parasites that could make your dog’s coat their home. This has nothing to do with hygiene or cleanliness as they can latch on to any passing dog. The question is whether the dog’s coat provides the right environment for them to stay and breed.
Fleas can also live in household furniture, upholstery, beds, clothes, and your yard. They can lay eggs and create enormous colonies that are almost impossible to clean out completely. Ticks can live for years without tasting blood and are carriers of dangerous illnesses and allergies. So, the best thing to do is to ensure that you deal with the first sign of a flea or tick infestation effectively. Your vet may prescribe standard chemical medications, baths, and shampoos, but you can also try some home remedies to get rid of fleas and ticks in dogs:
- DIY lotion
An effective DIY flea and tick repellent that you can make at home is one that contains arrowroot, patchouli, neem leaf powder, geranium, lavender, and vitamin E. These ingredients can be thoroughly mixed and stored in a mason jar in your fridge. Apply this regularly to your dog’s coat and massage it well into the fur. Fleas and ticks detest strong odors and aromatic herbs, so this is a potent home remedy to get rid of them in dogs. - Geranium or vodka collars
Purchase an ordinary dog collar and soak it in geranium essential oil mixed with water or in a teaspoonful of neat vodka. Let the collar dry and then put it on your dog. These two products are highly effective repellents for fleas and ticks. - Lemon or essential oils
Soak the dog’s leash and collar in lemon juice and let them dry. The strong odor of citrus is hateful for fleas and ticks, and any aromatic essential oil is equally effective. For instance, lavender, citronella, rosemary, and patchouli oils give off a strong scent that repels insects like fleas and ticks. - Combs
Dipping your dog’s brushes and combs in fresh lemon juice and letting them dry before use is a great home remedy to get rid of fleas and ticks in dogs, and it also keeps your dog’s coat in great condition. - Sachets
You can make a potpourri bag from muslin or cotton and fill it with lemon rind, cedar chips, lavender, and such and place it in the dog’s basket or bed. Another effective home remedy to get rid of fleas and ticks in dogs, it prevents fleas from hiding in these places and breeding. - Diatomaceous earth
This is a highly effective treatment for carpets, beds, your yard, and places frequented by the dog as it prevents fleas from breeding and also repels them. - Grow plants
Lemon, sage, catnip, lemongrass, rosemary, and mint plants give off a strong scent as they secrete natural essential oils. This scent repels fleas and ticks and prevents them from living and multiplying in areas where these plants grow. You can grow them close to the house so that fleas don’t enter.