It’s my favorite (not!) topic that never goes away! And it seems the problem gets worse every year. Even my puppy had a tick on her at just 13 weeks! So what’s a girl to do?
Lately I have been comparing notes with my friends on this exact subject. I would be curious to hear back from our fans to learn what is – and is not – working for them.
I am especially desperate for a few reasons: 1) I have really hairy dogs! And the odds of finding one on them in time are not in my favor. 2) I have decided I don’t want to apply any more pesticides on my dog (like the liquids applied to their skin monthly – not mentioning brand names). My breed just has too many health issues and I don’t want to add to them. 3) Ticks gross me out. Period.
On our recent camping trip I put a natural/herbal collar on both dogs and sprayed them each morning with a natural flea/tick/mosquito deterrent. Then when I brought them home I gave them a flea and tick bath deciding the harshness to their skin was outweighed by the nastiness of the ticks. I didn’t find any on them, but …
Since then, I have heard a few other tips that I may try:
- Spray a Deet insect repellent on a bandana and tie around their neck.
- Spray them with rose geranium essential oil diluted in water.
- Spray then with garlic oil diluted in water. (Will they smell like pasta?)
- Feed them garlic oil. (watch the amounts per their size!)
- Add brewer’s yeast with garlic to their food.
What are you doing to combat the beasts from hell?
