Fleas and ticks are ectoparasites that bother both dogs and pet parents like you, so the initial action is to find the best flea and tick treatment for dogs.
These pests steal your dog’s nutrients by attaching to their skin. They also carry ailments such as Lyme disease and Bartonellosis, which afflict dogs and stress you out.
It is natural for you to search for effective flea and tick solutions. Unfortunately, many of these products on the market are synthetic and chemical-based. It is time to remove your dogs from the bubble of hazardous chemicals.
There are natural ways to get rid of fleas and ticks from your beloved canines. Know more about the contrasting traits of chemical and natural treatments. This way, you could save your dogs from these ectoparasites without compromising their health.
Conventional Pharmaceutical Treatments
Manufacturers come up with synthetic flea and tick treatments that are filled with harsh chemicals. These products may eliminate these ectoparasites, but they also deteriorate your dog’s health. Here are some of them:
| Treatments | Description | Side Effects |
|---|---|---|
| Oral Treatments | Simparica, NexGard, and Bravecto are a few of the preventives | Destroy the nervous systems of ectoparasites. Cause the neurons of pests to malfunction, leading to death. |
| Spot-on Treatment Products | Powders, sprays, and shampoos, which can be used with your main anti-flea product | Contain pyrethrins, fipronil, pyrethroids, and imidacloprid (products that damage the health of dogs). |
| Flea collar | Prevents fleas from anchoring onto your dog’s face, which these parasites like most. | Can contain toxic ingredients that lead to harmful side effects. |
You should not resort to these treatments at all. It may be true that they will eliminate the ectoparasites, but they will destroy your dog’s health as well.
There are natural, safe alternatives to these hazardous chemicals. Once you use these organic flea and tick treatments, you and your household will be free from the health hazards of toxic chemicals.
Eliminating Fleas from Your House and Yard Naturally
01
For Fleas in the house
- Vacuum thoroughly every other day. Always be certain that you reach every inch of carpets and rugs. Pay more attention to the dark, shadowy areas because fleas thrive in darkness. Dispose of the vacuum dust immediately, so that the fleas you vacuumed won’t get out again.
- Make use of a steam cleaner. Do this once every month to clear the carpets and drown the fleas. Feel free to use the steam cleaner on your furniture as well.
- As much as possible, wash everything in the washing machine. Include the sheet, towels, beds, toys, and pillows your dogs use. Wash them for about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Spread human grade DE (diatomaceous earth) all around your home. Leave it there for 2 days before vacuuming again. It is necessary to isolate your dog from the places where you spread DE. If you have no access to DE, feel free to use coarse salt or baking soda, which will desiccate the flea eggs, killing every last one.
It is best to make this type of cleaning a daily routine to make certain the fleas don’t get the chance to reproduce and multiply again.
02
For Fleas in the Yard
- Take time to remove the twigs and dead leaves from underneath the bushes and flower beds. Expose the dark areas to bright sunlight because fleas thrive in darkness.
- Put nematodes to work. Nematodes are worms that love to ingest organic matter. In doing so, they can decrease the areas that are frequented by fleas. Steinerma carpocapsea species of these worms are indispensable for this purpose. They eat all the bugs that live in organic matter. Their diet includes fleas. Spraying nematodes in the garden or on the lawn and wipe out 90% of fleas in just a day. They are safe for pets, garden plants, and the environment.
- Trim bushes and mow the lawn. Doing so will clear out the damp and dark areas fleas like to frequent.
- Grow plants that repel fleas. Sage, rosemary, lemongrass, and peppermint are plants with essential oils that ward off fleas. They can effectively keep these ectoparasites away from your dogs and from your property.
These natural means to remove fleas and prevent them from taking over your living environment and pets are healthier and safer. Vigilance is the key.
Eliminating Ticks from Your Home and Yard Naturally
01
For Ticks in the house
- Seal the cracks. You can prevent ticks from thriving in your home by eliminating hiding places, such as small cracks. These parasites usually take shelter in crevices all over the house. It is best to seal them up, so they do not have any entry points or bunkers in which to stay.
- Vacuum at least once daily. Remember that a tick can spend a lot of time away from its chosen host, but they do not go far at all. They can stay in places where your dog stays all the time, usually on furniture, carpets, window frames, door casings, baseboards, and rugs. It is best to use the different attachments of your vacuum to truly get into tight corners, walls, and ceilings.
- Use your dryer. Heat can kill ticks effectively. Washing bedding, clothes, or any fabric in the home suspected of having ticks and then using the dryer on them can eliminate the parasites. Dry heat (129-185°F or 54-85°C for 6 to 7 minutes) is more effective than wet heat.
- Use DE (diatomaceous earth). You can combine DE with vacuuming daily. DE is a lethal, white powder that targets arachnids and other insects. The powder pierces the tick’s exoskeleton as the insect crawls over it. It dehydrates the ticks from inside out without any harsh chemicals. It is effective, but not a quick one. It should stay untouched in places where ticks hide for at least one week. Vacuum first then scatter DE. Leave it for a week or so and then vacuum again.
It is best to make this type of cleaning a daily routine to make certain the fleas don’t get the chance to reproduce and multiply again.
02
For Ticks in the Yard
- Tidy up the yard. Ticks love clutter and filth, especially if they are vegetative. They tend to stay on forgotten wood, bushes, grasses, and trees, waiting for their prey patiently. When the time is right, they catch their warm-blooded victims in a surprise attack. Mowing your lawn and trimming your hedges is a great way to cut down the tick population in your yard.
- Remove wildlife from your property. Mice, chipmunks, raccoons, and even stray cats can bring or attract ticks. As much as possible, do not encourage them to stay in your yard. Do not feed them at all to keep them and their parasites off your property.
- Use nematodes. These worms can target ticks and kill them from inside out.
- Spray essential oils. Rosemary oil, cedar oil, and rose geranium oil can help eradicate ticks. Spray a solution of 90% water and 10% essential oil all over your yard.
- Grow tick repelling plants. Sage, chrysanthemums, lavender, garlic, peppermint, and eucalyptus can help ward off ticks.
- Make a barrier. A barrier against ticks made of wood chips, pebbles, and rocks can help prevent ticks from entering your yard.
All-Natural Flea and Tick Treatments for Your Dog
Forget about using harsh chemicals on your canine pets. Here are some effective flea and tick treatments you can use on your dogs:
- Mix in garlic in your dog’s diet. Just put 1/3 teaspoon of minced garlic (per 10 lbs.) into your dog’s food. This is a safe dose.
- Give an apple cider vinegar rinse. Mix 6 ounces of apple cider vinegar and 4 ounces of warm water. Place the mixture in a spray bottle. Also, add apple cider vinegar (half a teaspoon for every 25 lbs.) to your dog’s food.
- Use a flea comb. Running this comb through your dog’s fur daily can help decrease the flea population your dog has.
- Bathe your pet with organic, lathery shampoo. The lather itself can drown the fleas. Just leave the lather on your dog’s skin for about 3 to 5 minutes and then rinse thoroughly. You can also add a drop or two of cedar oil, eucalyptus, lavender, citronella, or other essential oils.
- Make your own flea and tick collar. Do this by mixing two drops of palo santo or rose geranium essential oil with 2 tablespoons of almond oil. Put a few drops of the oil mixture around your dog’s neck or on your dog’s bandana or collar. Re-apply weekly.
- Make your own citrus repellent. Do this by slicing a lemon in wedges. Place them in a jar and let them steep in very hot water overnight. Next day, pour the lemon water into a spray bottle. Spray your dog with it, avoiding the nose and eyes. Apply on the base of the tail, around the head, armpits, and behind the ears.
- Make your own tick shampoo. Combine organic lavender shampoo with drops of palo santo essential oil. Lather it on your dog and let the suds remain for about ten minutes before rinsing thoroughly.
- Apply diatomaceous earth on your dog. Sprinkle some DE on your dog’s skin. Pull back the fur slightly to make sure the DE comes in contact with the skin’s surface. Avoid getting this powder into your dog’s mouth, eyes, or nose. Do not use it too much or your dog’s skin will become dry.
Your dogs depend on your care. It is your job, as your dog’s primary caregiver, to make sure that fleas and ticks do not infest him while seeing to your dog’s optimal health.
Consider the guidelines above. Remember that in ensuring a happy and healthy life for your pet, you should only use the best flea and tick treatment for dogs.
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