Natural Flea and Tick Prevention for Dogs
Ticks and fleas aren’t just an irritation to the dog in your life, they can also cause serious harm to them. We’ve compiled a list of natural solutions for tick and flea control. Let’s get into it!
Mow Your Lawn Regularly
Ticks and fleas thrive in tall grass, especially when it gets damp or hot, so mowing your lawn is a must. Gardens are one of the most common spaces where dogs obtain fleas and ticks, so keeping this space tidy and the grass short is a vital line of defense.
Consider mowing your lawn at least once a fortnight to prevent clusters of ticks and fleas from making a home in your garden.
Put Cedar Mulch in Your Garden
Fleas and ticks hate cedar, so putting cedar mulch in locations across your garden is a great way to keep them at bay. Cedar mulch is cheap and easy to get hold of, making it a straightforward DIY remedy.
Cedar mulch has plenty of other benefits too! As well as flea control, it’s great for keeping your soil fertile and controlling weed populations in your garden.
Wash Dogs Weekly
Using soap and water on a dog’s fur is an ideal solution for killing fleas and ticks. It seems too simple a remedy, but it works! While this solution isn’t always 100 percent effective on its own, it can go a long way in the battle to ensure dogs have clean fur that’s critter-free.
To boost your chances of catching every flea and tick, use a fine-tooth comb and take your time. Remember to remove any critters after each motion before combing again.
Vacuum Often
It’s not just long grass where fleas and ticks enjoy living! These critters can also live in carpets, especially parts of your carpet that are less clean, such as corners.
That’s why, in the battle for a flea-free Fido, you should vacuum your home regularly — especially in those harder-to-reach places that dogs love exploring. Ensure floors under furniture are clean, as well as sofas and armchairs themselves.
Use Essential Oils
Fleas and ticks are highly sensitive to specific strong smells, so it’s valuable to invest in essential oils of these scents. These aromas that are effective in reducing flea and tick numbers in and around your home include peppermint, lavender and lemongrass.
Essential oils can be strategically placed in areas where you suspect fleas and ticks to be living. However, be aware that some essential oils are toxic to dogs!
Clean Bedding Religiously
Dog bedding can be a breeding ground for fleas and ticks, especially if they aren’t cleaned very often. To ensure that you’ve got a healthy pup living with you, wash their bedding regularly in hot and soapy water.
We find that washing bedding once a week is probably plenty, but there’s no harm in twice or thrice a week for extra protection. Not only will you prevent critters from getting comfy, but you’ll also have a healthier, better-smelling companion animal in general.
Remove Leaves During the Fall
Fleas and ticks love warm, dark and damp places — making Fall a tricky time for those trying to keep critters away. As leaves fall from trees in your garden and the wind blows them, they create piles. Once rain falls, these become those warm, dark and damp areas that ticks and fleas love.
Raking and disposing of fallen leaves is good practice anyway, as it keeps your garden tidy — but it’s great to know that you’ll be keeping your four-legged friend healthier too!
Use Heat to Create a Trap
You can use your knowledge that ticks and fleas like heat and dampness to create a trap. Simply fill a pan with warm water and place it on the floor in areas where you’ve identified a critter problem. Shine a light onto the pan to create additional heat and wait for the fleas and ticks to enter the water. By using soapy water, the fleas will be unable to exit after entry.
Flea and Tick-Free Fido
These are our top tips for keeping ticks and fleas away from doggy friends. Natural flea and tick prevention for dogs is not only effective but cheap and easy to achieve too!