It is the time when the flea and tick season disturbs the calm as it is annoying for a dog to deal with these pests. The warm body and soft fur lure these insects, and thus they attack your pets. They start feeding on your pet’s blood and can cause many health and skin problems. Preventative medication is a great way to relieve pets from these pests. As a responsible pet parent, you must regularly consult your veterinarian to know about flea and tick prevention measures, treatments, and other related information.
Fleas prosper in a warm, humid climate and can lay dozens of eggs every day, resulting in a serious problem for your pet. The average flea is so small in size that preventing fleas from infesting your home or your pet is a tedious task. The summer and fall seasons witness a peak in the number of ticks. Ticks can spread multiple diseases with a single bite. Thus it’s important to learn tips and tricks to prevent ticks and fleas from bugging your pet.
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Regularly Bathe Your Pet
Shampooing your pet is one of the quickest ways to rid fleas and ticks of their fur. Shampoos with medicinal properties to kill ticks and fleas are readily available at an affordable price. You can also make a homemade shampoo by combining all the desired ingredients like vinegar, lemon extract, baby shampoo, etc. You need to repeat this every two weeks for the best results.
Flea Collars
You can easily make a natural flea collar at home using cotton or nylon. You can add some vodka and essential oils like lavender, lemongrass, peppermint, and cedar oils that help eliminate these pests without any side effects.
Treatment Of The House/Lawn
The dog usually gets these pests while playing outside the home, so the pet’s yard must be unfavorable for pests. You can spray various natural products or other natural ingredients to prevent fleas and ticks from breeding in the yard. It would help if you also didn’t allow the grass to grow too high, as fleas and ticks usually breed in tall grass.
Cedar mulch in your lawns acts like a natural barrier because the fleas hate it. Fleas and ticks develop and breed in dark and moist areas. Removing all the dead shrubs and pruning the plants allow sunlight to light up the backyard. You can also approach the lawn spraying service of your locality that can spray 100% organic products to ensure that the environment is pest-free, without any harmful side effects.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Adding two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to the pet’s water is one of the easiest ways to kill fleas and ticks. Just be sure that your dog is not allergic to vinegar. You may add a few drops of vinegar to your pet’s tongue to check for allergies.
Lemon Spray
It proves out to be a very effective treatment to repel fleas and ticks from dogs. Cut a lemon into four parts and place it in a jar. Pour boiling water and leave it overnight. The next day, pour the solution in a spray bottle and spray it all over the fur of your pet, its ears, tail, below the arms and legs to see the magic.
Trap Inside Your Home
To get rid of these pets, you can create a small trap inside your home. Simply fill a pan with soapy water and place it on the ground. Place a lamp directly over the pan. The heat will draw the fleas towards the lamp, and they will land up in the soapy water, causing them to die. Another home remedy involves the use of diatomaceous earth to kill fleas quickly. It dehydrates the flea because of its absorbing capacities and also creates holes in their body. You can vacuum the treated areas regularly to remove the dead fleas. Food-grade diatomaceous earth is usually safe for pets, but sprinkling it directly to your pet’s fur may cause dryness and irritation.
Essential Oils
Some essential oils act as an excellent repellent to pests. Diluted essential oils can be added to your dog’s shampoo or liquid soap and can also be applied directly to the coat. You must consult a veterinarian before using essential oils to know about the safe brands you may use. Essential oils should never be applied in a concentrated form unless directed by a veterinarian.
Few common essential oil options include:
- Lavender – Lavender oil is a great repellent for fleas and ticks and does not allow them to breed. You can add it to the pet shampoo to help relieve the irritated skin and prevent infection.
- Lemongrass – The citrus extract of lemongrass acts as a natural flea repellent. You can spray the extract mixed with water on your pet’s fur, carpet, or garden.
- Peppermint – Peppermint oil spray is a great way to reduce skin irritation and inflammation. It also aids in killing the larvae of fleas and ticks from home.
- Rosemary – Rosemary oil is an excellent repellent and also helps to heal flea bites. You can add it to your pet’s shampoo to wash away all the fleas off him.
- Cedar – Cedar oil is another great repellent for fleas and ticks, so adding a few drops to your pet’s shampoo can help to wash them away from your pup.
- Citronella – Citronella is great oil used to get away from fleas, mosquitoes, and ticks. You can easily mix it up with water and place it in a sprayer bottle to be used on your pet, inside your home, or in the backyard.
- Eucalyptus Oil – The smell of eucalyptus oil is powerful, so it acts as an excellent repellent. Add a few drops of oil to the pet shampoo and get magical results.
The Bottom Line
A dietary solution, combined with these organic products, will provide a great solution to ticks and fleas without causing a negative impact on the environment. With these natural measures, you can not only keep your dog free of pests but can also spend a lot of time outdoors! It is crucial to use an effective combination of these natural remedies to assure maximum safety.
