Many dog lovers will be spending more time outside due to warmer weather. Warmer weather is good for long walks, runs, and playtime. But, what else comes with warmer weather? Of course- pests. Fleas and ticks become abundant in warm weather and can have a significant impact on your dog. But, what route do we want to take to protect them against these parasites?

You may see the words 'Keep Pets Away from Contaminated Areas' owing to insecticides being sprayed. Many of these insecticides contain the same chemicals your dog's flea and tick preventative include, correct? Did you know the standard flea and tick treatments have been proven to increase cancer risk?

Despite being labeled “natural,” no pesticide is entirely safe. Choosing more natural methods may help you avoid using pesticides on your dogs resulting in a healthier, happier pup. 


Protecting a companion animal from fleas and ticks is a necessity. When our dogs run and play outside, parasites can take advantage of the opportunity and leap on.   Fleas and ticks are programmed to survive by finding animals who would host them and provide them with their source of nutrition (AKA blood). 

Some parasites can be difficult to manage, but if they take hold on your dog completely, there can be serious health complications. 
Fleas can spread tapeworms, allergic dermatitis, flea-borne typhus, and many other disorders.

Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and others are all common tick-borne ailments.

West Nile Encephalitis is also carried by mosquitoes. This is a condition that’s not only detrimental to our dogs, but to other pets and ourselves as well.

So, what can we do? Do we want to put toxic chemicals on our dog to prevent these conditions? From this perspective, it doesn’t sound like we have any good option. Either we risk our dog being infected with one of the above ailments, or we add toxic chemicals to their skin to make it ‘less tasty.’ 


Flea and tick products almost always contain pyrethrin or pyrethroids, which is also found in insect sprays meant for residential pest control. We've all seen the signs: Keep dogs away from the area. So, we are warned to keep our dogs from the sprayed areas, yet we put these chemicals on their skin to be absorbed into their bodies that way?

Pyrethroids alter nerve function, which leads to paralysis in the target insect, resulting in death. Unfortunately, there's no way to assure that the dog who was treated with these chemicals is safe. There have been growing complaints of illnesses, including twitching, hives, excessive saliva, vomiting, diarrhea, lack of coordination, convulsions, seizures, and even death.

Using any product certainly requires caution. There is no way to guarantee that your dog will not have an adverse reaction to the components in any products and if they do, the damage may be irreversible.

Most flea and tick products are applied on a monthly basis, meaning a monthly dose of a neurotoxic is given to your dog. Essentially, you're applying a pesticide around your dog's neck for weeks, and in many cases years, continuously. For dogs who don't have cancer, this certainly increases their risk. And, for dogs with cancer, these products can be extremely damaging to their already compromised immune system. 

Diatomaceous Earth, or DE, is a talc-like powder, white in color. Diatomaceous Earth is actually composed of the fossils of sea phytoplankton. Microscopically, DE is very sharp, and it is damaging to insects with an exoskeleton (like fleas), but not to mammals. If this is something you're interested in using, be sure to use food-grade DE, not the kind used in swimming pools.

The correct way to apply DE is to sprinkle it around baseboards, carpets, etc. to prevent flea eggs from hatching. Holistic veterinarians use it for deworming as well.


If you offer garlic to your dogs during flea and tick season, it may aid in the fight against fleas and ticks. Garlic takes a few weeks to build up in your dog's natural coat oil, so begin feeding it before bug season arrives. Garlic can also be used to keep mosquitos at bay. Small dogs can have half of a clove of garlic whereas larger dogs can be provided the entire clove. Slice the garlic into fine pieces and add to your dog’s food. Be sure to feed within 15 minutes to optimize the nutritional benefits.

Wondercide or Cedarcide are products that use a highly diluted essential oil mixture that repels fleas and ticks naturally.  

Apple Cider Vinegar balances a dog's pH levels, creating an environment that remains healthy for your dog but not sustainable for fleas.  Mix six cups of cider vinegar with four cups of water, sprinkle in some sea salt, and spritz on your dog's coat while avoiding your dog's eyes. 

The inside-out treatment is less noticeable yet extremely effective for treating fleas on our dogs. Half of a teaspoon of brewer's yeast can be added to your dog's food to improve the health of your dog while keeping fleas at bay. 

One teaspoon of coconut oil rubbed into your dog's coat will not only repel fleas, but it will also result in a healthier, shinier coat and smooth scents. If added to your dog's food, there will be an additional benefit of reducing the risk of internal parasites due to it's antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties.

Home-made flea collars offer flea protection continuously without spraying or rubbing on the mixture. If you want to buy a collar or bandanna, use a homemade lavender or cedar oil mix and apply it to the fabric directly for your pup to wear day-round.

Neem oil is extracted from the seeds of the neem tree. India has a long history of using this tree for medical purposes. It is all-natural and non-toxic, and can be used to repel fleas, mosquitos, and ticks on contact. You can use neem oil without dilution and placing it directly on the body (behind the ears, on the bae of the tail, in the middle of the back).

Not only is peppermint effective in repelling fleas, it also acts as a calming agent for itchy, flea-bitten skin. And, with it's plant-based compounds, it can aid in pH balance.

Rosemary offers an effective organic flea prevention method. Not only can it be used on your dog's coat, but it can also be used to get rid of light flea infestations in the home . Create a powder using rosemary, wormwood, fennel, and peppermint; mix these herbs and ground into a fine powder with a pestle and mortar. Then, rub the mixture into your dog's fur for pest protection.

Electrostatic characteristics help keep fleas and ticks away. It also has a distinct fragrance. Amber resin provides these properties, but it must be raw, and not jewel-like in appearance. 

A rosemary dip is an excellent option for dogs who enjoy bath time. First, steep the fresh rosemary leaves in boiling water. Then, strain the mixture and dilute it in warm water. Once the water is warm, pour the mixture over your dog and allow it to dry naturally.

Baking soda applied to your dog’s fur will dehydrate fleas and flea eggs naturally. Apply on a dry coat.

If you come across other natural products, keep in mind they must be used properly and follow the instructions carefully. For example, you don't want your dog to breathe in DE. You want it on her body. It's fine in texture and, although it's safe on the body and safe to consume, it's not safe for the lungs.


Preventing parasites is practically impossible, but there are things we can do to limit our dog's risk of disease and exposure to poisons. By using safe, natural flea and tick management alternatives, we can help our dog avoid cancer and reduce the risk of further damage in dogs who already have cancer. We wouldn't put something on ourselves that says "warning: poison," so why would we do that to our dogs?


Sources:
https://www.epa.gov/pets/epa-evaluation-pet-spot-products-analysis-and-plans-reducing-harmful-effects
http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html
https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/cvm-updates/animal-drug-safety-communication-fda-alerts-pet-owners-and-veterinarians-about-potential-neurologic
https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-019-2016-4
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/pyrethrin-pyrethroid-poisoning-in-dogs
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-18618-x
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6885593/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0731708511001609?via%3Dihub
https://malariajournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1475-2875-10-S1-S11


13 Natural Flea and Tick Preventatives For Dogs With Cancer

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