How to Remove Fleas and Ticks Naturally

Having cats and dogs in the house can bring these undesired guests. They don't just affect your pets, they can also cause you problems.

Fleas and ticks can cause diseases in both animals and people. So, you should try to stop them from ever making it into your home. That’s why, in this article, we’re going to show you some ways to remove fleas and ticks naturally.

The first step is prevention: check for ticks

You won’t have to worry about how to remove fleas and ticks (or otherwise) if they never get into your house to begin with!

If your dog has a tick – that horrible insect that latches onto the skin and feeds on blood – there are natural ways to remove it. Ticks tend to latch on behind the ears, around the anus, or on the neck, where the fur covers them or where your dog can’t bother them.

Every time your pet comes in from being outside, check to make sure nothing has latched on. Also, pay attention to whether it’s constantly scratching or trying to scratch the areas mentioned above.

Remedies and techniques to remove fleas and ticks naturally

Ticks

Make a mixture of two parts of white alcohol (antiseptic to get rid of the parasite) and one part oil (to make it oily). Put it on a cloth or gauze and rub it on your pet a few times until it spreads out on its own. Also, if your dog will let you, you can keep a soaked cotton ball tied over the tick so that it has to detatch to breath.

One of the most effective homemade remedies for ticks is chamomile. Make a tea with loose flowers or a teabag, let it chill, soak a cotton ball in it, and apply it your dog’s skin, especially on the critical areas. The parasites will start to “run away.” Then, disinfect your house well so that there are no traces of them.

You can make a good homemade repellent with any citrus that you have at home, like an orange, lemon, mandarin, or grapefruit (the first two are the best).

Boil half a liter of water and add two sliced citruses. Once boiling, let stand for one minute, bring the heat to low, and leave it on for an hour (make sure the water doesn’t evaporate). Let chill and pour into a spray bottle. Apply it to your dog’s coat, keeping it out of its eyes. You can also disinfect your home with  this mixture, especially floors and corners.

Apple cider vinegar is great for exterminating ticks. Mix equal parts vinegar and water, soak a cotton ball or clean cloth in it, scrub well, and wet your dog’s skin. You can do this as the last rinse after a bath.

If the ticks have left wounds or injuries on your pet’s skin, you can use marigold cream (healing), aloe vera gel or cream (moisturizing), and lavender oil (protecting).

Fleas

Fleas are basically lice for pets. The problem with them is that they don’t just affect pets. They can also bite humans and transmit diseases (one of them can even be deadly for cats).

One way to remove fleas is to make a pennyroyal infusion. Once cool, pour into a spray bottle. Spread it through your animal’s fur without rinsing. For flea prevention, include yeast or garlic in small portions. They’ll both give off smells that will make a flea want to stay off your dog or cat.

Boil three cups of water. In a separate container, mix a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and one of vodka. Add two drops of essential lavender oil, two of eucalyptus, and (optionally) two of sweet myrhh. Then add drops of cedar oil, geranium, rosemary, marjoram, and Spanish lime.

After that, add two drops of lemon juice and a cup of dehydrated mint in. Mix well and add boiling water. Then pour it on anything, from your pet’s fur to furniture, floors, and walls.

Mix two cups of hot water, 1/4 cup of alcohol, and six drops of liquid detergent. Wash your dog well with this homemade shampoo until it becomes a thick foam. Then, rinse well.

You can also remove fleas and ticks naturally by putting salt on the rugs, floors, and your pets’ beds. This will dehydrate them and kill them quickly.

To speed up the process, you can set out some containers with water and ten drops of detergent. If they jump in there to cool down, they won’t be able to get out because of the oiliness of the mixture.

To keep your dogs from getting poisoned, it’s best to do this when you take them out for a walk or if you leave for vacation and bring the dog. That way they won’t have any mammal to attach to.

As a last tip, making sure your pets have a good diet keeps their immune system strong. That way if they do get ticks or fleas it won’t make them sick or cause anemia, weakness, fatigue, etc by sucking out their blood. Include foods that have a lot of selenium, zinc, and B complex vitamins in their meals.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this article on how to remove fleas and ticks naturally! If you find yourself, or your pets, with this problem, give some of these remedies a try. You won’t regret it!