Fleas and ticks are every dog owner’s nemesis. They can not only wreak havoc in your furry friend’s daily life, causing excessive itching, skin damage, and other health issues, but also become a long-term problem for you if they enter your house and lay eggs. Natural remedies to get rid of fleas and ticks can be as effective as store-bought insect repellents minus the harmful side effects.

Below we’ve listed some effective natural remedies for fleas and ticks that you must try.

1. Essential oils

Essential oils are one of the most effective natural remedies for fleas and ticks on dogs. Oils like lavender, peppermint, lemongrass, citronella, eucalyptus, peppermint, and rosemary work well. However, you must remember to dilute the oil with a carrier oil like olive or almond oil. Then pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray it all over your dog’s coat, avoiding the area around their face. Additionally, you can add a few drops of diluted essential oil to a bandana and make a flea collar that your dog can wear all the time.

2. Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar makes your dog’s skin and coat slightly acidic, creating an inhospitable environment for fleas and ticks. You can either add apple cider vinegar to your dog’s drinking water or make a solution to spray onto your dog’s coat. Stir in 2 tablespoons of vinegar in your dog’s drinking water. If your dog finds that smell offensive, reduce the quantity of vinegar. For spray, mix equal proportions of water and vinegar, and spray all over your pet’s coat.

3. Garlic

Fleas and ticks do not like the smell of garlic, and you can use that to your advantage. If you feed your dog garlic daily, these insects will avoid settling on their skin. However, remember that excess garlic is harmful to your dog. You can safely feed half a clove to two cloves of garlic, depending on your dog’s size. Experts recommend giving them only half a clove of garlic per 20 pounds of body weight daily. Also, keep in mind that even if your dog is huge, don’t give more than two cloves of garlic daily.

4. Flea combs

Flea combs are traditional but quite effective for removing fleas and ticks on your dog’s skin and coat. Since teeth in a flea comb lie close together, it can easily remove these insects as well as their eggs from the skin surface. Gently run the comb from the top of the head to the neck, underbelly, legs, and tail.

5. Diet

Feeding your dog a healthy, balanced diet is also one of the most effective ways to eliminate fleas and ticks. Remember, fleas and ticks are parasites that feed on the blood of unhealthy animals. If your dog’s diet is nutrient-dense, the risk of infestation is significantly reduced. Experts suggest feeding them foods containing lots of B-vitamins, probiotics, sulfur, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acids. These nutrients can be obtained from meats, organ meats, fatty fish, eggs, flaxseed, goat kefir, hempseed, poultry, and veggies like cabbage, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts. You can also speak with your veterinarian about the healthy diet plan.