With the spring and summer months coming up, ticks and other pests will be on the rise. These little parasites can cause significant harm to pets and humans. There are many prescription medications available for pets to prevent fleas and ticks. However, many pet owners are interested in a more natural approach. While we do not discourage prescription medications, we want to offer a discussion on natural flea and tick prevention for dogs.
Jump right to the product recommendations!
Preventing Tick Bites
The most important step in dealing with ticks and fleas is avoiding bites in general. For ticks in particular, this is especially important in order to prevent tick borne diseases such as Lyme disease and Anaplasmosis. These tick borne illnesses can be extremely detrimental to both pets and humans. According to the CDC, 476,000 people may be diagnosed and treated with Lyme disease each year. This is particularly prevalent in the North Eastern United States.
Ways to Avoid Tick Bites
Avoid highly wooded areas with tall grass especially in areas with a high deer population, as the blacklegged tick (aka the deer tick) is one of the main transmitters of Lyme disease
If you are going to hike through densely wooded areas with your pup, use a natural flea and tick repellent spray before heading out to deter these pests from crawling on your dog
Check your dog and yourself for ticks after walks outside to try to get any ticks off before they bite
Use a flea comb to run through your dog’s fur after coming back inside. This will help comb out any fleas, ticks, or other unwanted pests that are crawling on your dog
Wear long sleeves and long pants that are tight fitting if able and tuck your pants into your socks
Try to get any ticks off before they have time to transmit diseases (36-48 hours generally for Lyme disease, more or less for other tick borne illnesses)
What To Do If A Tick Bite Does Occur
Use a tick remover tool to extract the tick from the area, being sure to get the whole body including the head.
I can’t recommend this Tick Key Remover Tool enough! This has saved countless headaches trying to remove ticks from our dogs. You can remove ticks in seconds using a tool like this. (I do earn a small commission from Amazon if you use this link)
If you don’t have a tick remover tool, you can use tweezers, again being sure to remove the whole tick
If you pull the tick out but still see the head left attached to your dog’s skin, you can try to gently pull it out with tweezers. However, if can’t get it out you can leave it there and the skin will likely heal itself. See your veterinarian if the skin remains very irritated or appears infected.
How to remove a tick: Grab the tick as closely to the skin as possible with tweezers or tick remover tool and pull in an upward motion without twisting
Once the tick is removed, dispose of it properly according to the CDC by “putting it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag/container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet.”
In certain states in the US, you can send a tick to a lab, and they will test it for diseases. For example, in Pennsylvania you can send ticks to the Pennsylvania Tick Research Lab for free to be tested for a variety of diseases such as Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Powassan virus.
Fleas Spread Disease Too
While we may think of fleas more as general pests than harmful, they can actually transmit a number of diseases as well. Fleas can transmit harmful diseases such as cat scratch disease, typhus, and even tapeworms if an infected flea would be accidentally ingested! Aside from diseases, flea bites are often very itchy and irritated and can sometimes cause allergic skin reactions for both dogs and humans. It can be extremely difficult to eradicate these pests once dealing with a full on flea infestation, so stay ahead of this by using natural flea prevention products.
Did you know? The Bubonic Plague (Black Death) that you learned about in history class is spread mostly by fleas and is still around today!
Natural Flea and Tick Prevention Options
With how prevalent fleas and ticks can be, it is important to be proactive about prevention. You may find many products available on the market for this, but some can be completely ineffective or even harmful to dogs and humans with dangerous chemicals. Look for plant-based products that are gentle on your furry friend, but hard on pests. Many of these types of products will use dog-safe essential oils that are excellent at repelling fleas and ticks. (check out our post on Pet Safe Cleaning Products to read more about dog-safe essential oils)
Wondercide Flea and Tick Prevention Products
Wondercide uses plant-based ingredients, making their products safe for dogs and humans. Their products are excellent for natural flea and tick prevention for dogs. They have an array of products available from flea and tick spray, to collars, to yard spray and more! Because they don’t use harmful chemicals, these products are safe to use around your family as well. Wondercide boasts that their products are excellent flea and tick repellents. However, if your dog already has fleas and ticks, you may need to use the flea and tick shampoo first to kill the pests, then follow up with the other products for prevention.
Wondercide Product Recommendations
(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases if you use these links to make a purchase.)
For flea and tick infestations – Wondercide’s Flea and Tick Shampoo
Use this chemical-free shampoo to kill fleas and ticks on your dog
For flea and tick prevention – Wondercide’s Flea and Tick Spot On
Try this natural spot on flea and tick treatment to repel harmful pests instead of potentially toxic chemicals
For outdoor and yard – Wondercide’s Flea and Tick Yard Spray
Use this outdoor yard spray to deter fleas and ticks from hanging out in your yard where your dogs and children play
For inside the home – Wondercide’s Indoor Pest Control Spray
If dealing with indoor pests, use this natural pest repellent to keep your home free of fleas, ticks, and other unwanted insects
For the family – Wondercide’s Insect Repellent
Going on a family hike? Grab this DEET-free all natural insect repellent to safely use on your family
While fleas and ticks can be a huge problem if infestation occurs, taking preventative measures can help keep you and your pup safe and healthy! Don’t let these pests take over by using natural flea and tick prevention for dogs.
Have any other helpful tips for pest prevention? Drop them in the comments below to help fellow dog moms!
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