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Fleas and ticks can cause serious health problems for our pets, but ongoing use of these pesticides may be linked to even more serious disease.
Meaning you need to find a balance, and use holistic alternatives when you can.
One good option is Diatomaceous Earth.
It’s an all natural product safe for even your pet to consume, and it will kill the unwanted pests by drying them out.
Dr Jones’ Diatomaceous Earth Powder for Pets is a good option
Organic | Food Grade | OMRI Certified
For Natural Internal & External Parasite Control in Dogs and Cats
Fleas and especially ticks are linked to a host of diseases affecting our dogs and cats, so preventing them is important.
There are now New Flea and Tick Preventives, but they can come with serious side effects.
These preventives—Simparica, Bravecto, NexGard, Comfortis, and Credelio—fall into a class of drugs called isoxazolines (except Comfortis, which is classified as spinosad). Both classes of drugs work by targeting the nervous system of the fleas and ticks to cause paralysis and death.
Isoxazolines (Simparica, Bravecto, NexGard, Credelio): These drugs block chloride channels within nerve cells, which leads to uncontrolled stimulation and ultimately paralysis of the parasites.
Spinosad (Comfortis): This drug works by overstimulating the nervous system of fleas and ticks, leading to their death.
While these drugs are designed to target only the parasites, unfortunately, they don’t always stay confined to the fleas and ticks. In more and more cases, they affect our pets too.
While medications like Bravecto are convenient—offering protection with just one pill every three months—there are unintended consequences. When your dog ingests the pill, it enters the bloodstream and can cross the blood-brain barrier, affecting the dog’s brain and nervous system.
This is where the serious side effects come in.
Seizures
Ataxia (lack of coordination)
Weakness
Behavioral changes (some dogs may become more aggressive or not act like themselves)
Lethargy
Loss of appetite
In some cases, even deathSome dogs, especially those with the MDR1 gene mutation (found in breeds like Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, and Whippets), are more susceptible to these side effects, as they cannot tolerate certain medications.
A this does not even consider the long term negative health implications of ongoing use of these insecticides, which I personally feel have a correlation with cancer. If possible consider some of the holistic options, and only use these serious medications when/if you need to. Just try and not use them ongoing.
Best Natural Flea and Tick Options
Brewer’s yeast is one of the safer oral options for dogs and cats. Cats like it. Dogs like it. And it seems to do a reasonably good job, at the very least, of helping repel fleas.
Brewer’s Yeast Dose: 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per 10 to 20 lbs of body weight daily
This can be added to your dog or cat’s food. If I were starting with one gentle oral option, brewer’s yeast would be high on my list.
Garlic may help improve repellent effects, especially for ticks. But the dose matters.
Garlic Dose for Dogs
Give: 1/4 clove of garlic per 20 lbs of body weight daily. Why Garlic Needs to Be Crushed First
To get the repellent benefit, you need to activate allicin. To do that, crush the garlic first. Then mix it into the food.
A simple holistic option is an all-natural flea and tick collar. The one I like includes: Cedarwood oil and Peppermint oil.
Cedarwood oil is one of my favorite essential oils for flea and tick prevention because it has some good research behind it and is considered safe for dogs and cats when used properly.
Of all the essential oils I looked at when I first started studying alternative veterinary medicine, cedarwood was near the top of my list.
A simple version starts with a mild skin-friendly base and then adds natural repellent ingredients.
Simple Homemade Flea and Tick Spray Recipe
1 cup witch hazel with aloe
2 tablespoons of Apple cider vinegar
20 drops neem oil, or 1 dropperful, about 1 cc
20 drops lemongrass oil or cedarwood oil
Mix well.
Apply as a topical repellent spray.
Avoid the eyes, nose, mouth, and irritated skin.Check your dog after walks, hikes, and time in tall grass or wooded areas.
Focus on:
Ears
Under the collar
Neck
Armpits
Belly
Groin
Between toes
Tail base
Ticks like warm, hidden areas.
When taken internally, many health benefits have been observed – * lower cholesterol, * lower blood pressure, * arthritis pain relief, * increased energy, * more regular bowel movements, * improved hair, skin and nails, * sinus and cough relief
If your dog keeps picking up ticks around your home, you need to think about the yard. External tick control in the yard may help lower the tick burden.
Garlic-based repellents, such as Garlic Guard, were also discussed as an option to help keep ticks back in an area. If your dog walks outside and comes back with ticks every time, the problem may not be your dog. It may be the environment.
Diatomaceous earth is a fine white powder- microscopic plankton that lived on the earth millions of years ago. It can help dry out the surface of fleas and ticks, causing them to dehydrate and die.
It can be used in:
Cracks and crevices in the house
Areas where fleas may hide
Topically on dogs or cats, about once weeklyHow to Use Diatomaceous Earth Safely
Because it is a drying powder, it can also dry out your pet’s skin. So use it carefully.
How to apply it topically
Apply lightly
Use a flea comb to spread it evenly
Avoid heavy buildup
Make sure your pet is well hydrated
Add essential fatty acids to support skin moisture
Heal Your Pet At Home!
Best Wishes,
Dr. Andrew
P.S. Flea and tick prevention does not have to mean automatically reaching for the strongest chemical product every month. There are natural options that may help.
Brewer’s yeast.
Natural Repellent Collars
Essential Oil based Sprays
Garlic, properly dosed and crushed.
Diatomaceous earth.
