Help hold fleas and ticks off your canine and cat with these 5 frequent components!
It’s virtually that point of yr once more…flea and tick season. Instead of reaching for chemical spot-on preventatives (which might do extra hurt than good), why not stop your canine or cat from being bugged in a extra pure style? Believe it or not, quite a few frequent components can be utilized to fend off fleas and ticks – they usually may already be in your fridge or pantry!
Apple cider vinegar
Is there something ACV isn’t good for? Because of its acidity, this ingredient is displeasing to fleas and ticks. That mentioned, its acidity additionally makes it a too bit harsh to use on to your animal’s pores and skin, so watch out! Instead of making use of it undiluted, you need to use ACV to make your personal home made bug spray utilizing the next recipe:
- 4 cups distilled water
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons aloe vera
- 1 tablespoon peppermint castile cleaning soap
Combine all components in a twig bottle and apply liberally to your animal’s coat as wanted.
Yeast
Brewer’s yeast is one other ingredient with excessive acidity, which makes it an important weapon in opposition to fleas and ticks. It additionally comprises many nutritional vitamins and minerals, together with magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, B nutritional vitamins, and antioxidants. You can add this ingredient to your pup’s meals — simply watch out to not give him an excessive amount of because it’s identified to trigger gasoline. Roughly one tablespoon per day for a 50lb canine is really useful.
Lemon juice
No dialogue about acidity could be full with no point out of citrus! Combine equal elements lemon juice and water and spritz your canine (and your self) to fight fleas and ticks. Don’t use this mix on cats – they have an inclination to not like lemon.
No lemon juice readily available? Boil some orange peels and use that water as an alternative…as soon as it’s cooled, in fact.
Why are spot-on flea and tick merchandise so harmful? Click here to seek out out!
Almond oil
This nutty oil comprises sulfur, a pure tick repellent. Just put some in your palms and therapeutic massage it instantly into your animal’s pores and skin and coat to maintain biters at bay. He’ll additionally reap the extra advantages almond oil has to supply – it’ll moisturize, situation and assist scale back pores and skin irritation!
Herbs
Common herbs like rosemary and mint are an effective way to taste your favourite dishes…and fend off bugs! Boil the leaves from these herbs and permit the water to chill earlier than spraying it in your animal’s coat.
Combat fleas and ticks with important oils
High high quality, therapeutic grade essential oils make an important addition to any bug-repelling regime. Certain EOs like citronella, clove, lemongrass, eucalyptus, cedarwood and lavender work to discourage most bugs. Simply combine a couple of drops in a bottle with water and spritz your indoor and out of doors areas. You can even add a drop or two on to your animal’s collar, mattress or coat. Again, be completely positive to make use of a high quality model that’s protected for canine and cats, and keep away from spraying important oils close to his face!
Already have fleas?
If your property is already flea-infested, it’ll take greater than a bit of lemon juice to rectify the issue. To rid your area (and animals) of those pests, observe these steps:
- Clean your area – Thoroughly vacuum all carpets, upholstery and mattresses, wash (and warmth dry) your bedding and garments, and wipe down all surfaces, together with partitions and baseboards, with a pure all-purpose cleaner.
- Bath your animal – Pick up a pure flea shampoo and wash your canine or cat from head to tail. Fleas sometimes gravitate towards the neck and base of the tail, so spend further time scrubbing these areas. Rinse nicely.
- Remove flea eggs – Using a flea comb, take away eggs and useless grownup fleas out of your animal’s coat.
Note: until you decide to make use of chemical-based merchandise round your own home and in your animal (which ought to solely be a final resort), this three-step course of might need to be repeated a couple of occasions earlier than you’re flea-free.
