Say ‘No’ to chemical treatments and keep your pets safe with natural tick repellants.
By Meghna Jain (Ratified by Dr Indu Bhushan Dey)
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Not all soul mates are human. Pets are our four legged soul mates—our best friends, with whom we forge unbreakable bonds. The connections people form with their pets are often some of the more strong and satisfying relationships of their lives. Needless to say, it is unsettling when our beloved furry friends become infested with ticks and suffer from unnecessary tedium and discomfort. Granted, there are a myriad chemical tick treatments, powders and lotions available in the market, but using them leads to not only poisoning ticks, but also someone else (even if not fatally)—your pet!
For the discerning and resourceful, there are many natural ingredients and remedies that work as effectively to eliminate ticks, are easy to use, and can be prepared in your own home. Here is a sextuple:
1 Tobacco
Tobacco is a perennial herb that contains nicotine, which is also a potent insecticide (it is not cancerous if you use it wisely!). Tobacco leaves can be directly rubbed on the body of your pet in order to get rid of ticks. A water extract of leaves or any other part of the plant can also be sprayed on pets. The juice of the tobacco leaves works wonders as a tick repellent when rubbed on the body.
2 Mint Leaves
Mint not only smells heavenly but is also a great natural defense against ticks. To prepare a mint infused spray, squeeze juices out of 2 lemons, and mix it with 10 teaspoons of apple cedar vinegar in warm water. Soak 10 to 15 mint leaves in the mixture and leave it to sit overnight. Next morning, strain the mixture in a squirt bottle and spray it over the fur/coat of your pet. Continue to do so for two months to get rid of ticks completely.
3 Bay Leaves (Crushed or Ground)
Bay leaves is a strong repellant for ticks. Rub crushed or ground bay leaves all over your pet’s fur 3 to 4 times a week. The smell of this great culinary spice will keep away ticks! You can also add the leaves to their bedding so you can get to the nooks and crannies of where the ticks find ways to multiply.
4 Neem Leaves/Oil
The anti bacterial and antiseptic properties of neem leave or oil fight well against harmful ticks. Pour a few drops of neem oil on your palm and gently rub it on the affected region of your pet. If your pet is sensitive skinned, dilute the neem oil by mixing jojoba or almond oil in it. Dab a few drops on your pet’s affected area before heading out. You can also bathe your pet with water boiled with neem leaves.
5 Cloves
Another effective natural product against ticks is cloves. The anti inflammatory and anti bacterial properties of cloves help in killing ticks. To prepare the clove spray, you’ll need to mix 3 camphor crystals and 3 dried cloves in 1 litre ethanol/alcohol until they fully dissolve. Add 1 cup of apple cider vinegar to it. Pour the mixture into a squirt bottle and spray it onto your pet’s fur, taking care to protect its eyes and mouth. Let it stay for 2 hours, and then rinse with water.
6 Lemon
The citrus present in lemon helps removing ticks naturally. You can prepare a disinfectant solution for bathing your pet with the help of lemon juice. Squeeze out the juice of lemon in a cup of water. Also add peels and pulp in the water. Put it on simmer for a few hours and pour this solution in regular bath water.
Or take 8 cups of water, 2 cups of lemon juice, and 1/4 cup of any kind of a natural shampoo. Mix all of these up and bathe your dog with it. Also, you can slice a lemon and put it in a bowl of boiling water and leave it overnight. Dip a sponge in the solution and apply it on the specific area troubling your pet.
In these simple, natural ways, you can ensure that your poor darling fur ball isn’t always occupied with the discomfort of scratching away profusely at those pesky ticks.
Dr Indu Bhushan Dey is a Veterinary Physician practising at Animal Planet, Salt Lake, Kolkata
This article appeared in the October 2015 issue of Pure & Eco India
In doterra we also use an essential oils blend called TERRASHIELD which is amazing and contains essential oils of slang slang,tamanu,nootka,cedarwood,catnip,lemon eucalyptus, litsea, vanilla absolute and arborvitae – it will keep the pests away but not the humans!! http://www.doterra.com/US/en/p/terrashield-spray-oil?OwnerID=809475
Thanks,for effective medicine,suggest for bile water in gsd,
We recommend you see a qualified and reputed vet for the issue at hand.
Very good and excellent article.ALoot of thanks for this article and information sharing.
Thank you for the remedies. I am from Sri Lanka. I have a Tibetan terrier. My mother advised me to bathe him with red onions, neem, sulfur, and coconut oil. She actually recommended this mixture for skin rashes. But it was very effective against ticks also. This is the method to make the mixture. You have to take few red onions (I took about 10) and remove the cover, wash them and crush them thoroughly until it makes soft. Then add neem leaves and sulfur. You can crush red onion and neem leaves together. Leaves also must be properly ground well. Then take ground mixture, add sulfur powder into it (about 3 table spoons) and fry them in coconut oil for about 1o minutes. Nice smell will come like we make a curry. Take the mixture out of the hearth, and leave it to cool for few minutes until you can touch with bare hands. Then thoroughly apply all over the body of your dog, try to apply on the skin rather than on the fur. leave for minimum half an hour. Then wash him. No need of shampoo. It is not harmful even if your doggy licks it. Try this method and see the results.
May I pls reach you for more info about this method? we have a long ongoing tick infestation and need help !
Thank you.
How to make use of it ?
[…] have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties —and they are the natural answer to how to kill ticks on […]
Thank you so much for tbese remedies it is a boon for me going through covids financial crisis buying medicines is buying medicines are too expensive now for me
Great article! This blog is full of information related to dogs. There are several ways to get rid of ticks and fleas from your dog and the best way to is to cure by home remedies by which you can solve out the ticks and fleas issues.
Hi, thanks for sharing these great tips.
Can neem oil be used as a natural alternative to chemical tick prevention products for pets, and are there any potential side effects or risks associated with using neem oil on animals?
We recommend you consult a reputed vet for the same.