Homemade Flea & Tick Repellent for Pets

It is that time of year for fleas and ticks and preventing the issue is key and doing it all naturally is ideal as chemicals in some flea and tick products can pose potential short and long term health issues.

Ticks are external parasites that feed on the blood of unlucky host animals such as our canine companions. Like mites and spiders, ticks are arachnids. The brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) and the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), examples of ticks that commonly affect dogs, require three feedings to complete their life cycles.

How Are Ticks Transmitted to Dogs?

Ticks are most active in from spring through fall and live in tall brush or grass, where they may attach to dogs playing on their turf. These parasites prefer to stay close to the head, neck, feet and ear area. In severe infestations, however, they can be found anywhere on a dog’s body.

How Do I Know if My Dog Has Ticks?

Ticks are visible to the naked eye. During the warmer months, it’s a good idea to check your dog regularly for these parasites. If you do spot a tick, it is important to take care when removing it. Any contact with the tick’s blood can potentially transmit an infection to your dog or even to you! Treat the area with rubbing alcohol and pluck the parasite with tweezers, making sure you’ve gotten the biting head and other body parts. Since it may only take a few hours for the disease to be transmitted from an attached tick, it is ideal for your dog to be evaluated by a veterinarian soon after any ticks are found.

With a Border Collie, I spent a lot of time outside as the Border Collie is known as a 50-mile a day dog and the fact is they are hardwired to be on the move and when they sit idle you will have issues in their behavior. My Bella is a long hair so I have a second issue. I take the time to treat my Bella with a non-toxic homemade Flea & Tick repellent. I also take the time to clearly check around her ears, eyes, month and carry a brush to brush her out before we load up in the car. Don’t let spring ticks and fleas prevent the enjoyment the outdoors offers.

Make it a fun, safe and healthy spring and summer. Eli Enki