Every pet owner in the world has two enemies: fleas and ticks. These are nasty parasites that can create havoc in your furry friend’s daily life. While there are many flea and tick repellents available in the market, most of them contain chemicals harmful to dogs and cats. These toxic chemicals can trigger problems like skin irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures in pets. Your best bet is to keep your pets safe with the help of these natural fleas and ticks deterrents.

Garlic

Garlic is one of the most effective deterrents for fleas and ticks on your dog. But some pet owners are scared to feed their dog garlic, as they think it can harm them. Well, that is only true if they happen to overeat garlic at once. Experts say that depending on the size of your dog, you can feed them anywhere from half a clove to two cloves of garlic without any problem. However, remember that no matter how big they are, never feed them more than two cloves. Also, cats are very sensitive to garlic, so you must not add it to their diet.

Natural oils

Essential oils such as lavender, peppermint, rosemary, lemongrass, and cedar make a great flea and tick deterrent. However, make sure to dilute them with water before spraying them on your pet’s coat. Also, remember not to spray around their face. You can also apply a little diluted essential oil to a bandana and make a flea collar for your dog’s and cat’s to wear.

Citrus juice

Citrus juice can be used as a daily flea and tick deterrent for your dogs and cats. It’s inexpensive and very easy to prepare. All you need do is add a small amount of water to citrus fruit juice. You can choose any easily available fruit – lemon, orange, or grapefruit. Apply the solution to your pet’s fur, especially to the infestation-prone areas like belly, tail, legs, and ears. Also, ensure you do not sprinkle the juice on their eyes.

Flea comb

If your furry friend is already infested with fleas and ticks, don’t forget to try this traditional yet potent solution. Teeth of a flea comb are designed to easily remove fleas, ticks, and their eggs from your pet’s coat. You can use it daily to check whether new insects have settled on their coat. Before using the comb, place your dog or cat on a light-colored towel to spot the insects easily when they fall off.

Healthy diet

Lastly, it’s crucial that your pets are healthy and eating only nutritious food. Fleas and ticks are parasites that majorly attack weak and unhealthy animals. If your pet is healthy, these insects will most likely leave them alone. According to experts, the healthiest pet diet is one that is full of unprocessed proteins and fresh whole foods. Your pets must receive essential nutrients like B vitamins, probiotics, sulfur, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acids. For this, you need to feed them organ meats, fatty fish, eggs, flaxseed, broccoli, cauliflower, poultry, and goat kefir.