When you own a dog, you will be no stranger to fleas and ticks.
Ticks and fleas will suck the blood from the dog’s body which will lead to several health issues.
Since dogs are warm-blooded animals, they naturally attract fleas and ticks and hence the need to prevent or get rid of these parasites from attacking your pet as the case may be.
The only option to get rid of these ticks and fleas is to clean your dog frequently. Along with this, the use of essential oil therapy will also help a lot.
Several essential oils can be used as a natural repellent for fleas and ticks in the house.
From peppermint oil, oregano oil, and tea tree to lavender oil.
They’re also effective in getting rid of these ectoparasites on dogs and cats and are used in aromatherapy blends and as a homemade spray for ticks and fleas.
Lavender oil for example is analgesic, carminative, anti-depressive, antiseptic, and has anti-inflammatory properties, antihistamine, and antifungal properties.
Lavender oil is not only preventing ticks and fleas on dogs but it can also be used against other health issues with dogs.
- Lavender oil is used in treating dog separation anxiety, and calming puppies, and hyper dogs.
- This essential oil can be used to shrink tumors in dogs.
- It can also be used for dog itchy skin pain, hot spots, and wounds
Lavender oil can be used for dogs in the following ways
The lavender essential oil in Dog’s Bedding
To help prevent ticks and fleas from your dog’s bedding, dip a cloth or cotton in lavender oil and place it on the bed.
When there is an aroma of lavender in the bed, ticks and fleas will not dare to step in.
Since this oil is natural, it will not cause any kind of irritation to the pet too. This can also be used in the same way for cats.
Lavender essential oil on Dog’s Skin
You can mix a few drops of high-quality lavender oil (usually between 5 to 10 drops) with the usual coconut oil, tree tea oil, peppermint oil, or oregano oil and water.
You can also mix the essential oil with apple cider vinegar, salt, baking soda, and water for the dog’s fur.
Kindly make sure the essential oil and other ingredients are well diffused into the water.
One area of concern here is the concentration and dilution of the oil.
Vets have given warnings severally that when the essential oil is not diluted well, or it’s poisonous, it can cause allergies and burns.
And if swallowed, it may have negative effects and veterinary doctors should be consulted afterward.
Before brushing the dog’s fur, simply dip the comb in this mixed oil and give a nice long brush throughout your dog’s body.
This will not only keep the ticks and fleas away but will also make your dog’s hair shiny and smooth.
Alternatively, lavender oil can also be added to the water during the dog’s bath time and can be used with other essential oils.
It can also be used to prevent dogs from licking their legs, paws, or other parts since it tastes bad and is not harmful when licked.
They would not want to lick it when rubbed on their skin because of the bad aroma and taste.
Bathing your dog with homemade dog shampoo made with lavender oil can also help treat yeast infections on the dog’s paws, ears skin, and belly without hydrogen peroxide.
Lavender for Natural Antibacterial Spray
Lavender oil can be used as a natural repellent and homemade spray.
Just take a spray bottle and fill it up with lavender oil along with other essential oil or water.
Before using the spray, shake the bottle well. Now, gently spray this solution on your dog’s body, especially the legs.
Avoid using the spray on the face to avoid touching the eyes and the nose.
Make sure the spray is applied properly on the dog’s collar since ticks and fleas love to hide there because the dog won’t be able to bite them off.
If the dog struggles with you and it’s difficult to do, then a wet cloth filled with the spray can be used to clean the neck region.
The spray can also be used in the areas where the dog spends most of the time.
It can be sprayed on the dog’s bed, carpet, play area, etc to avoid ticks and fleas.
Lavender Oil for Natural Dog’s Shampoo
As mentioned earlier, lavender essential oil can be used in bathwater.
You can fill the bathtub with plain water. Now add some sea salt and a few drops of lavender oil.
Let your dog relax in the water for a few minutes. This will allow the mixture to get soaked into your dog’s hair and body.
Now give a normal bath and make sure all the salt is removed from the body.
This will help in getting rid of fleas and tick build-up.
This can also help when your dog is having a skunk odor.
The lavender oil can be mixed with water as a homemade spray for dog odor elimination, especially for female dogs on heat.
Planting Lavender in your Surroundings
To ensure the fleas and ticks are not caught in the surrounding, you can try growing lavender plants around the house.
The areas where your dog spends more time, say the play area, can be covered with lavender plants.
Your dog will tend to rub it while playing, which will keep the aroma fresh in the body.
By growing these plants in the nearby environment, the infestation of ticks and fleas can be easily prevented.
When will this work?
By following the above-mentioned methods, parasite infestations can be eliminated in a fortnight.
If the infestation reduces, do not stop the process. By continuing with the said methods, future infestations of fleas and ticks can be avoided.
While using the lavender essential oil, make sure it’s not swallowed. If your dog tends to lick its body often then minimize the amount of oil used.
Never use a concentrated solution.
Always mix it up and dilute it.
Since there are all kinds of lavender oils available in the market, make sure to choose the natural ones which are free from artificial ingredients.
Following the said methods, will clean up all the fleas and ticks on your pet and would help cure other diseases.
