During the tick season, it’s likely that your dog will pick up some ticks as you take them for a walk or they spend time outdoors. There are many different types of products on the market that are designed to kill ticks quickly and easily, but many of these products contain harmful chemicals that can have a negative impact on your pet’s health, especially if they have an adverse reaction. Fortunately, there are many natural ways to keep ticks off your dog. These methods are safe and gentle and can help you get a handle on your pet’s tick problem. They will also work for coats of all types including fine, dual coats, long coats, and short coats.
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Prevention and Safe Treatments
Nothing can help quite as much as you or another member of the family regularly inspecting your pet’s coat, especially once the hot weather hits. If you’ve had a problem with ticks each season, then keeping a close eye on your pet’s coat will be a must. But you’ll also need to take some extra steps to ensure your pet doesn’t become infested with this dangerous parasite. Ticks carry fifteen different types of infectious diseases, the most common being Lyme disease. These diseases can be transmitted to both pets and people, so preventing a tick infestation will be crucial. There are many safe ways to go about handling ticks, some of which work, while others don’t.
If you search online, you’ll find no shortage of tips and tricks that you can try that are designed to naturally treat your tick problem. Some of these methods will work, while others won’t. If you don’t have time to try all the home remedies you come across that are designed to naturally treat your pet’s coat to remove ticks, you’re not alone. Since ticks can transmit diseases that can be fatal, many pet owners want a sure solution. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. The natural treatment methods that I’ve included here do work, although you’ll need to treat your yard and your pet more often compared to if you were to use a chemical treatment. However, the treatment options and prevention methods that I’ve included here are gentle, will not cause health or skin-related issues, and will kill ticks instantly. The key here will be to consistently use these tips and tricks throughout the summer to ensure your dog remains happy, healthy, and tick-free.
Yard Care
Ticks prefer to live in shrubs, weedy areas, and tall grass. In these places, the tick is able to easily catch a ride on people and your dog as they walk past. In order to control the tick population in your yard try keeping the grass mowed and shrubbery well-trimmed. In the garden, you can pull weeds, which will allow you to maintain space between shrubbery and other plant life. This will also cut down on the places ticks will have to hide, so it will make it much easier for your dog to walk through the garden without being forced to brush up against plants.
Essential Oils
Essential oils have reached a whole new level of popularity in the past few years. But did you know that many of them can work to repel and even kill insects, including ticks?
Rose Geranium
This essential oil not only smells amazing, but it can also be used as a strong natural tick repellant. To use, apply two drops between your dog’s shoulder blades and two more drops on the base of your dog’s tail.
Lemon Eucalyptus Oil
Even if you have a tick-free yard, lemon eucalyptus oil is a great essential oil to use as a prevention tool, or you can try it the next time you take your dog for a walk in a heavily wood area. This oil works as a natural insect repellent, so it will work not just on ticks, but biting flies and mosquitoes. To use, mix eight drops of the essential oil with thirty-two ounces of distilled water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and liberally spray your dog’s bed with bedding, their spot on the couch, and even the backseat where they often sit. You can also apply it directly to your dog’s coat, in between the shoulder blades, which will prevent them from licking it off. Essential oils should never be ingested, so be careful not to apply it to an area that a dog can access. Additionally, it should always be diluted with water or in a carrier oil. Carrier oils are very gentle and will not cause skin irritation. Coconut oil is a great carrier oil that’s antibacterial and antimicrobial. It will also leave your pet smelling pretty amazing.
Neem
This is a type of oil that’s pressed from the seeds and fruit of the neem, which is a type of evergreen tree that’s commonly found in India. It can be used on your pet’s coat, between their shoulder blades, to repel and kill ticks and fleas. Many all-natural tick sprays that you’ll find on the market contain neem oil as the active ingredient. If you want to save money and make your own neem oil, you can. Add twelve drops of the oil to one liter of distilled water and use a spray bottle to spray the mixture on your furniture, your pet, your carpet, and around the yard. This is an affordable solution that’s effective and safe to use around pets and small children. You will need to reapply this oil once a week since it tends to lose its effectiveness after seven to ten days.
Other types of essential oils that can work to repel ticks include:
- Eucalyptus
- Citronella
- Lemongrass
- Geraniol
- Thyme
- Peppermint
- Rosemary
- Cedarwood
Avoid using tea tree oil on your dog since it can be toxic.
Dog Grooming
If your pet has a long coat, then your tick problem is going to be much worse, compared to a dog with a short coat. This is because the long, thick coat makes it much easier for a tick to grab onto as they hitch a ride. It also allows them to easily hide. For the upcoming summer months, consider giving your dog a short cut. Avoid shaving the coat since a dog’s fur can protect them from a sunburn. If you don’t want to cut your dog’s coat, then consider purchasing a tick comb. This will allow you to run a comb through your dog’s coat in order to remove any ticks that are hiding and have latched on yet. Try to keep your pet indoors as much as possible, and regularly run your hands over your dog’s body to check for ticks.
Tick Removal Tools
The best dog tick remover tools will allow you to easily and quickly remove a tick that is feeding on your pet. These tools are very easy to use and a much better option than using a pair of small tweezers. Most tools feature a design that’s similar to tweezers, however, they often come equipped with long handles and an innovative design that will prevent you remove squeezing the tick too hard, or leaving behind the tick head under your pet’s skin. Improperly removing a tick can cause the body to rupture, which will allow the tick to potentially transmit an infectious disease to you or your pet. If you’re looking for a tool that’s easy to use, I recommend the Tick Tornado Zen Pet Tick Remover.
If you’ve tried to remove a tick unsuccessfully with tweezers, and the head has broken off under the skin, then click here to read my article on How to remove tick head after the body is gone.
Diatomaceous Earth
Use food-grade diatomaceous earth on your lawn and in your garden, scattering it all over the ground. DE works by dehydrating insects, eventually killing them. This is a great natural solution that will work for most types of parasites, including ticks.
Lint Roller
If your dog has a fine coat or a short coat, then try using a lint roller on their coat after you’ve taken them for a walk, or at the end of the day, when they’re finished playing in the yard.
Final Thoughts
The natural ways to keep ticks off your dog that I’ve included here can help to keep you, your family, and your dog healthy and tick-free. Regularly checking your dog will be important since this can allow you to easily spot ticks before they’ve had a chance to latch onto your pet and begin feeding. Check your pet at least once a day during the late spring and summer months. Properly maintain your yard to remove any potential hiding spots that will give ticks a place to lay low until your pet walks by. Use essential oils on your dog’s body, their bedding, and any spots they love to sleep in the home. By following the steps I’ve included here, you should be able to easily manage your tick problem this season and minimize the chances of your dog contracting an infectious disease.
