Using a variety of remedies, both prescription medications and home remedies to get rid of fleas and ticks in dogs is only half the battle won.
Once fleas and ticks attach themselves to your dog, it’s only a matter of time before they quickly spread through the house and yard, begin breeding and forming giant colonies. Fleas and ticks can transmit a variety of serious illnesses and allergies.
Chemical Treatments are Harmful To Dogs and Humans
Conventional flea and tick treatments include collars, sprays, powders, washes, shampoos, dips, etc. Some treatments known as “spot” treatments involve applying small quantities of the chemical directly on the coat. The active ingredients in chemical treatments include products such as imidacloprid, fipronil, permethrin, etc. that are toxic and cause harm to the pet and humans, especially children. A study reveals that more than 2000 animals were killed because of adverse reactions to chemical pesticides applied/ingested. A better alternative is to seek natural home remedies to get rid of fleas and ticks in dogs.
Natural and Home Remedies
These consist of a variety of products that can be formulated from common household ingredients found in your home or the neighborhood supermarket.
- Sprays and Washes
Salt/Vinegar/Salt spray solutions, lemon juice washes and dips, rosemary and lavender oil rubs, coconut oil massages and lemon water sprays are all very effective in preventing flea and tick attacks. They also help to repel insects that are already nesting in your dog’s coat. - Essential Oils
Essential oils used as shampoos and sprays are effective. Lavender, peppermint, lemon-grass and cedar oils are to be diluted with water or mixed with a carrier oil like almond/olive oil and sprayed on the coat. They can also be added to your regular dog shampoo. Apart from pest control, they also keep the dog smelling fresh. - Flea and Tick Combs
Although using these requires some amount of work and patience, they’re a low-cost, effective natural remedy against mild attacks, especially if you make them part of your regular grooming routine. - Traps
Place a low-power night lamp along with a bowl of dish-wash soap and water solution in places that you know are infested with fleas and ticks. This has to be done at night since these are nocturnal creatures. The viscous soapy solution is an effective trap and killer for fleas and ticks who get attracted by the light. - Flea and Tick Dips
Make a strong solution of rosemary essential oil and water and pour it over the infected dog. Let it dry naturally and you can see fleas and ticks falling dead almost immediately. - Food and Drink
Adding certain products to the dog’s food and drink can help its immune system to be stronger to fight off pestilent attacks. Apple cider vinegar added to the dog’s drinking water in very small quantities helps to get rid of ticks and fleas since they don’t like the smell. Similarly, garlic is also an effective repellent though you have to consult your vet before you add it to the dog’s diet. Garlic in large quantities can harm the dog. Brewer’s yeast helps improve digestion and boost immunity.
