Flea and Tick Prevention for Dogs and Cats
Five Ways to Get Rid of Fleas and Ticks on Pets Naturally
Dogs and cats may benefit from a natural or more holistic approach to flea and tick prevention when the weather gets warmer. Many flea and tick products are dangerous. April is the prevention of Lyme disease month, and ticks carry Lyme! If your pet eats a flea, he may suffer from tapeworms. So it’s essential to find a natural product for flea and tick prevention.
How Do I Know My Dog or Cat Has Fleas and Ticks?
If your dog or cat starts to itch or lick certain areas of the body, fleas may be an issue. You can also see fleas jumping around! The sign of ticks is a small lump or bump on your pet’s skin. A tick may feel like a bump as these nasty critters attach themselves to areas around a pet’s head, neck, and feet.
Some animals are allergic to a tiny flea bite!
Other animals may not be bothered at all.
Fleas: Look for hair loss and tiny red bumps.
Ticks: Lumps and bumps, especially if you think there are ticks present in an area your pet spends time during the day.
Major Signs
The symptoms in some cases are subtle! On the flip side, a dog with a flea allergy is likely itching all the time. A tick may be a severe health issue if the tick isn’t removed carefully.
Fleas:
The major signs of fleas are scratching and biting.
Ticks:
There are many signs to consider if your pet has a tick attached to their skin, ears, and feet.
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Reduced energy
- Lameness (can be shifting, intermittent, and recurring)
- Generalized stiffness, discomfort, or pain
- Swelling of joints
Ways to Naturally help with Flea and Tick Prevention
What isn’t apple cider vinegar good for? Each of these tips has specific instructions so pay attention to how each of these is applied. Some of these need to be diluted! The science behind why these all work is acidity. Fleas and ticks don’t enjoy acidic ingredients.
1) Recipes with Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
Combine 3-4 cups of distilled water with one cup of ACV. Add this to a spray bottle with a few tablespoons of Aloe Vera. Apply to your animal’s coat.
Why it works: Highly acidic
2) Brewer’s yeast for fleas
You can add brewer’s yeast to your pet’s meals. You can sprinkle this on kibble. This only works on fleas!
Why it works: High acidity
3) Concoction with lemon juice (dogs only)
Use equal parts lemon juice and water. Lemon juice and water work well with fleas and ticks as neither pest enjoys lemon. Never use citrus on cats.
Why it works: Acidity
4) Herbs: Use mint and rosemary
Herbs are always an excellent way to get rid of pests. Growing herbs in the garden is also a ton of fun, and many are easy to get started. Mint can grow like a weed! Grab the leaves and boil them. After you allow them to cool, you can add this water to a spray bottle.
Why it works: The properties of mint and rosemary both work because fleas and ticks hate the smell!
And let’s not forget about diatomaceous earth!
Treat Your Yard with Diatomaceous Earth (DE)
Diatomaceous earth causes insects like fleas to dry out. The pests die by absorbing the oils and fats from the cuticle of the insect’s exoskeleton. You can buy this just about anywhere that sells pet food or chicken feed.
How to use it? Sprinkle this around areas and bedding where fleas are hiding. Your pets will thank you. Find diatomaceous earth at our stores.
Natural Products Our Stores Carry
Our three stores carry all-natural pest products you may want to consider for your pets. For example, the latest flea and tick collars are getting a lot of attention as they’re causing harm to our companion animals. Consider these products instead:
Earth Animal:
Earth Animal has a whole line of flea and tick prevention products. These range from collars to topical powders for bedding.
TropiClean:
TropiClean’s natural line of flea and tick products are wonderful options! Try the collar, shampoo, and a spray.
Wondercide
Wondercide designs flea and tick sprays for both pets and the garden. Ask our staff about their lemongrass sprays!
Mad About Organics:
Based in Eugene, Oregon, this brand also carries natural flea and tick products. Their herbal spray repels ticks and fleas.
Diatomaceous Earth (DE):
Our stores also carry diatomaceous earth as we mentioned above so please ask staff if this product is something you’d like to try.
Our staff can answer questions about any of these flea and tick prevention products. Stop by and chat!
*Some of the DIY ideas were mentioned in the latest April/May 2021 issue of Animal Wellness Magazine.