Topics covered in this blog post
Ticks can be a pesky problem for both you and your dog. In serious condition, ticks can even be fatal to your pup. Check out these amazing home remedies to remove ticks from both your dog and your house.
If your dog is still in the early stages of his or her life, he or she may not be able to handle the aggressive anti tick products. If you are looking for solutions of how to get the ticks off from your dog, you are at the right place. The tick removal remedies I am about to discuss are made from hundred percent natural items and will not harm your pup. However, to be safe, have a discussion with your veterinarian about which product you should use on your pup. Continue reading all the way to the end to get an idea of all available tick home remedies.
Before we embark on the journey of understanding the home remedies to eliminate ticks in dogs, you need to understand how to identify ticks in the first place.
Ticks are mainly active parasitic arachnids (belonging to the same family as spiders). Ticks have been observed to be more active during the time from spring to autumn. There is a high chance that your dog may get affected by ticks during these months. Therefore, during this duration, it is recommended that you properly examine your dog’s coat after each and every walk. Furthermore, make sure that your dog has been made to follow the complete deworming schedule.
Ticks tend to launch themselves onto your dog’s body and feed on his or her blood. The time the tick spends attached to your dog’s skin, allows the tick to transmit various diseases like lyme disease, canine ehrlichiosis, rocky mountain spotted fever etc., Check out the 7 most common diseases caused tick bite in dogs.
When a tick latches itself onto your dog’s body, they keep on increasing in size as they feed on more and more blood. Therefore, when you focus on using home remedies to remove the ticks infecting your dogs, it is better if the tick is still small in size. Once the tick becomes larger in size, it becomes more complicated to remove it from your dog by the use of home remedies.
The most common symptoms of a tick presence/bite on your dog are:
- Intense level of itching
- Swelling
- Redness
- Inflammation
- In most intense cases, symptoms may involve:
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Vomiting
- Depression
- Pain
- Appetite loss
- Whole body paralysis
Home remedy for removing ticks on dogs:
Chamomile as home remedy for ticks on dogs:
The best part about chamomile is that it is safe to be used on dogs as well as puppies. This is also the most effective tick removal method available. To prepare this home remedy, follow the following steps:
First prepare an infusion of the chamomile: put the chamomile flowers and a cup of boiling water covered with a plate, wrap a towel on it and let it infuse for around 20 minutes. After the infusion is ready, let it cool.
Double clean cloth or cotton pad in the chamomile infusion and squeeze it well.
Rub this chamomile infused cotton pad on your dog’s skin with a gentle emphasis on the affected region. Do this twice every day.
Since chamomile is a natural repellent of ticks, the ticks will automatically leave your dog’s skin as soon as possible.
Citrus
Ticks have a tendency to hate anything citrus. These are a great preventive method for getting rid of ticks. Amongst all citrus fruits, lemon is the best when it comes to removing ticks from dogs. However, if lemon is unavailable, you can also use lime, grapefruit or orange.
To get this natural remedy ready, follow the following instructions:
Boil 2 cups of water. Allow them to reach the boiling point. Adds two lemons cut in half to the boiling water.
Reduce the heat and allow the mixture to simmer for at least one hour. This will allow the lemon to infuse and enhance the repellent effect.
After the infusion has been allowed to carry on for an hour, remove the vessel from the heat and allow the mixture to cool down.
Remove the lemons and pour the liquid into a spray bottle. When you apply it on your dog, avoid any contact with an open wound or the eyes.
TIP: Although homemade lemon citrus tick remedy is amazing for dogs, be very cautious and do not allow your dog to lick itself. This home remedy is not only good for getting rid of ticks in your dogs, it can also act as a great disinfectant to prevent any kind of tick infestation on your dog.
Natural oils for killing ticks on dogs
There are many amazing natural oils that can be used to remove ticks on dogs. As I mentioned before, citrus fruits are an amazing tick repellent. However, there are other home remedies that are more effective and deserve to be mentioned here:
The combination of sesame, cinnamon, caster and lemon oils
To prepare this concoction, mix cinnamon, lemon, sesame and castor oil in equal parts in an airtight container. If you wish to use essential oils instead of using natural oils, the essential oils will first have to be diluted in a liter of purified water and use a few drops of the diluted essential oil. Pour the concoction on a clean cloth or cotton and apply it on your dog skin gently and carefully. Since castor oil can be poisonous for dogs, you must be very cautious and prevent your dog from licking the region where you have applied the oil.
The combination of lemon, basil, cedar, chamomile and lavender oils
The process of making this concoction is same as the previous one. You can add an infusion of chamomile oil to increase the anti-parasitic effect of this home remedy. Alternatively, you can also substitute chamomile oil for peppermint oil. Again, if you decide to use essential oils, dilute a few drops of each oil in one liter purified water first and then use a few drops to make the concoction. Take the concoction on a cotton pad or cloth and apply very carefully on your pup’s skin.
Vitamin E and almond oil
To make this concoction, pour 20 ml of almond oil in a bowl. Break open one vitamin E capsule and mix it with the almond oil. Pour the mixture in an airtight container. Drop a few drops of the mixture on a clean cloth or a cotton pad and massage it very gently on your dog’s ear region.
Never allow the solution to enter your dog’s ear canal. Make sure you keep the solution only on the external region of your dog’s ear. The solution can also prevent your dog from tick infestation in future.
Neem oil to prevent tick infestation in dogs
The biggest advantage of using neem oil is that it alone is a potent enough natural repellent for ticks. You do not need to mix it with any other kind of oil prior to application. You can apply neem oil directly on your dog’s skin with a clean cloth or a cotton ball. In case you are using the neem essential oil, dilute it first (two drops of neem essential oil in half a liter of water).
Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is amazing when it comes to preventing tick infestation your dog. I have previously written a complete blog post on the benefits of using apple cider vinegar for dogs. Apple cider vinegar not only prevents ticks, it also prevents fleas as well as other unwanted parasites. Apple cider vinegar includes acetic acid which is responsible for the sour taste which you observe in vinegar. Since acetic acid is citrus in nature, ticks and fleas cannot tolerate its presence and therefore apple cider vinegar makes for an excellent flea and tick repellent.
Making the apple cider vinegar home remedy for preventing tick infestation:
This remedy is probably the easiest one to make. Just add equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water into a container. Mix it well to allow the proper dilution and blending of the vinegar and water. When needed, you can either use this as a spray or as a topical applicant. Just soak the mixture on a clean cloth and apply it on your dog’s skin gently. Avoid any contact with your dog’s eyes or any open wound as this can sting. You can also put this mixture in a spray container and just spray it all over your dog’s coat. This is another great home remedy which can be used on puppies since it’s non-toxic.
Use of an anti-tick shampoo
if you have an inkling that your dog might have a tick infestation, the first step would be to remove the existing ticks which have latched on to your dog’s body. Start by bathing your dog in a lathering tick shampoo. Since tick bites in dogs can cause itching, irritation and can be fatal in severe cases, it is best to first remove them before you embark on any preventive measures journey.
When choosing an anti-tick shampoo for your dog, remember to go for the natural products as harsh chemicals can cause irritation to your dog’s skin. When bathing, lather the shampoo on your dog from head to toe. Leave no region untouched. Allow the product to sit on your dog’s skin for several minutes. Then wash it off. Shampoo will remove the ticks which have not yet attached to your dog. Post this you can start preventive measures.
Lemon bath
A lemon bath is the next level of dog care to prevent tick infestation. For this all you need to do is to dilute half a cup of the lemon juice into 2 cups of water. Squeeze a small amount of your favorite dog shampoo into the mix. Bathe your pup as usual and rinse it really well. Lemon bath works by changing the pH of your dog’s skin. This change in pH is not favorable for the ticks living conditions. Hence, they die and leave your dog.
Rosemary dip
For the Rosemary dip method, place a bushel of fresh rosemary in boiling water. Allow it to sleep for a while. After the close, strain the Rosemary leaves from the boiling water and makes the concoction with a few cups of warm water. Again, allow the mixture to cool off. You can just spray the mixture on your dog and let it air dry.
Coconut oil rubs
Coconut oil, as I have previously mentioned is a super oil when it comes to dogs. Coconut oil contains antifungal, antiviral as well as antibacterial properties. Coconut oil is not only effective against ticks, it can be used to prevent a variety of disease conditions in your dog. Click here to access the complete blog post on the benefits of coconut oil for your dog. To use coconut oil to treat tick infection, take a generous amount of the oil in your hands and apply it all throughout your dog’s coat. Coconut oil contains lauric acid which tends to kill and repel ticks. For further protection you can add coconut oil to your dog’s diet. Add one teaspoon of coconut oil per 20 lbs of body weight of your dog, twice every day.
Vinegar
I have already discussed the amazing benefits of apple cider vinegar for your dog in tick prevention. However, only vinegar can also be used for topical application or ingested as a method to prevent tick infestation. To make this concoction, simply mix water and vinegar in a 50:50 ratio. Store this concoction in a spray bottle and spray it on your dog’s coat. For the purpose of oral ingestion, mix a teaspoon of vinegar with a quart of water. Allow the vinegar to be a part of your dog’s regular drinking water for extra protection against ticks.
Crushed garlic
As they say, garlic keeps the vampire away. It is true in the case of bloodsucking ticks as well. Garlic prevents the little bloodsuckers from staying on your dog. You can add garlic to your dog’s diet for an extra tick protection. Remember to use a safe amount of garlic depending on the weight and size of your pup. Be cautious and do not use any more than half clove of garlic per 20 lbs of your dog’s weight. For a dog of any weight and size, no more than 2 cloves of garlic must be used in a day.
Tip: avoid using garlic under any condition if your dog suffers from hemolytic anemia or has a history of the same.
Cedar or Lavender oil:
Instead of spending your money on tick collars and commercial tick preventers, you can make your own anti-tick collar by the use of high-quality essential oils. Cedar or Lavender oils have shown a high level of anti-tick protection and they do not come with the harshness of the commercial products. To use this tick prevention method, put a few drops of the oil in a container and diluted with water. You can spray the mixture directly on your dog’s nylon collar or his or her cotton bandanna and put it on your dog.
Vodka anti-tick collar
In case your dog is sensitive to the smell of essential oils, the next best option is to use vodka. Use of unflavored Vodka can provide the same level of protection against ticks without the added and unwanted scent. To make a vodka tick collar, soak your dog’s collar in vodka and allow the collar to dry out completely. In case your dog is not sensitive to smells, you can add a few drops of essential oil to the collar to further enhance the protection level.
Brewer’s yeast:
If your pup is in excellent health, chances are he or she will be less prone to tick infection. Thus, optimizing your pup’s good health must be of top priority to you. Brewer’s yeast can be just the solution you are looking for. Just add a small portion of the brewer’s yeast to the food of your pup every day.
Rose Geranium essential oil – almond oil combo:
This is one of the most commonly used tick repellant option amongst dog guardians. To make this concoction, mix 20 drops of the rose germanium essential oil into 3 tablespoons of almond oil. mix the concoction well and apply a few drops of the concoction to your pup’s fur around the collar region especially.
TIP: This remedy is only meant for dogs.
Regular Combing:
This is one of the cheapest and easiest remedy for your pup to remove the fleas. When you return from a walk or a hike, remember to comb your pup’s fur thoroughly, not missing an inch. If you comb your pup’s fur once every day at least, it will help remove the fleas and ticks crawling on the fur. They will also reduce the irritation which your pup might feel.
This is another excellent tic repellent. Instead of using rubbing alcohol on your pup, use witch hazel instead. This won’t fry out your dog’s skin and is an effective tick killing mechanism.
There are two methods to prepare this concoction:
Mix eucalyptus oil and witch hazel in a 1:10 ratio. Sir well and add it to a spray bottle. Spray it on your pup to kill the existent ticks.
Another concoction you can prepare involves pouring 8 ounces of distilled water in a spray bottle. To the distilled water, add 30-40 drops of essential oils. Then add witch hazel until the bottle is full. Use this to spray on curtains, bed, mattress to kill ticks, fleas and other types of bugs.
Vegetable oil:
Vegetable oils are naturally Sulphur rich. Sulphur is a natural repellent for ticks. To make this concoction, all you have to do is mix 10 drops of peppermint oil to 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil. To this mix, add one teaspoon of liquid dish wash detergent. Stir the mixture and apply it on your dog’s coat. But be careful, do not spray this mixture near your dog’s mouth, ears or eyes. Practice this method once a week for best results.
Vaseline:
Vaseline is probably the simplest remedy for removing ticks. Take a blob of Vaseline on your palm, rub it between your palms and then apply it on your dog’s fur, specifically on the tick infected region. Vaseline will suffocate the tick. Leave the Vaseline on your dog for a while and then comb through the fur to remove the dead ticks.
Baking soda:
Baking soda is another natural remedy to remove ticks from your pup. Mix half a teaspoon of baking soda and salt. Add 4 ounces of apple cider vinegar to this dry mixture. Pour it in a spray bottle. Fill the spray bottle with 4 ounces of warm water. It is ready for spray application now. When spraying make sure to avoid your dog’s eyes and any other open wound.
You can also make a paste of baking soda by mixing two teaspoons of baking soda to a little quantity of water. Apply it on the problematic region.
Permethrin
Permethrin kills ticks on contact. To use permethrin, simply spray it on mattresses, clothes and curtains. Many commercial permethrin formulations are available which can be used on cats and dogs.
You can also use a solution of Permethrin-10. Dip a sponge into the solution and rub it on your dog’s body. One applied, the solution can last for 3-4 weeks.
If you want you can also make a spray with Permethrin. Mix 1 ounce of citronella with 2 ounces of permethrin solution. Furthermore, add 4 ounces of apple cider vinegar and a few drops of oil of rosemary. Stir the mix and add it to the spray bottle. Remember to shake it before using it on your dog.
Eucalyptus oil:
This is a very effective formulations against ticks. To get the spray ready, boil 15-20 eucalyptus leaves in a liter of water. Allow it to boil for 20 mins, Post boiling, allow the solution to cool. Stain and add the concoction to a spray bottle.
You can also use eucalyptus oil. Fill up a spray bottle with 4 ounces of distilled water. Add 10 drops of eucalyptus oil to it. Remember to shake it well before spraying on your pup.
Liquid dish detergent:
This is a remedy which is available in all homes. Pour some dish detergent in a bowl. Apply the detergent on your pup with a cotton ball and cover the infected region. Let it sit for a while before you wash it off. DO NOT USE THIS REMEDY if your pup is allergic to soap.
Orange:
Orange is another component which is rich in citric acid. Squeeze some orange juice from a couple of oranges. Apply it on your dog with the help of a cotton.
Clove:
Clove is endowed with both anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. It is a great help in killing ticks. To use this, just pour some clove oil on your palm and rub it on your dog’s fur in a gentle manner.
You can also use clove oil along with some peppermint oil, water and some clove extracts.
Tea Tree oil:
Tea tree oil has a lot of medicinal properties which can help in tick kills. There are a few ways tea tree oil can be used to kill ticks. You can just add a few drops of the tea tree oil to your dog’s regular shampoo and bathe him or her with it as you would normally.
You can also try and make this other concoction. Add a few drops of tea tree oil to water in a spray bottle and apply directly to your dog’s fur. You can also directly apply tea tree oil to the infected region. Keep in mind that natural tea tree oil can lead to irritation if used directly.
Mouthwash:
Mouthwash is another great remedy which is already available at your home and is pretty effective in killing ticks. Pour a little amount of the mouthwash on a tissue and place it on the infected area to kill the ticks.
Gasoline or Turpentine:
Alcohol based fuels like gasoline have proven to be effective against ticks. All you have to do is dip a cotton in gasoline and place it on the affected region. Allow it to rest there for a few minutes. This will suffocate the ticks ensuring easy removal.
Cinnamon oil:
Cinnamon oil is another great remedy for fighting ticks. ALL you need to do is put some cinnamon oil on the affected region. Cinnamon oil is a natural repellant against fleas and ticks.
How to get rid of the tick infestation from your home?
As long as ticks inhabit your home, neither you nor your pup is safe. Thus, along with removing the ticks on your dogs, you must also focus on removing them from your house.
Diatomaceous Earth
If you are in the market for a non-toxic and safe method to remove the fleas from your house, diatomaceous earth might just be the answer you’re looking for. Diatomaceous earth is made up of grounded exoskeletons of previously fossilized sea creatures. When diatomaceous earth comes in contact with fleas, it instantly kills them by drying them out. It mainly works by using the mechanism of dehydration. If you have the problem of tick infestation in your doghouse, sheds, garage or other regions, just spray the powder on the floor and leave it to work its magic.
For sofa, carpets and other furniture which may suffer from tick infestation, sprinkle the product and push it deep into the fiber of the cushions. This will allow the diatomaceous earth to kill any ticks lurking underneath the surface of the fabric. The best part is that this product is that it is harmless to humans and pet domestic animals. However, you must be careful and stay away from inhalation of the same.
Maintain caution when working to kill ticks
Since ticks have a hard exoskeleton, squishing them is not an option. If you do find a tick, use a pair of tweezers and drop the pest into a solution of rubbing alcohol, sanitizer or simply flush it down the toilet.
Look for the primary areas of tick infestation in your home
Ticks love to live in the humid and warm regions of your house, especially those regions which are not disturbed. If you are facing tick infestation, consider changing the layout of your furniture and move things around periodically. In your backyard, turn over the rocks and logs, cut the grass short and remove any garbage and bushes from the region.
When working to remove ticks from your house, focus on the hot and humid regions like underneath the cabinets, moldings, the windowsills, baseboards, room corners and other regions which are rich with humidity. In homes with climate control feature, the ticks tend to die in a few days.
A few preventive measures to keep in mind:
- Clean your house with vacuum cleaner.
- Use warm water to wash your cushion covers, blankets and linen.
- Sanitize the corners of the house.
- Pray anti tick pesticide in your home
- Make sure your pups wear flea collars when they are out.
- Spray tick repellents on mattresses, cushions and furniture.
- Use tweezers to remove the ticks
- Shampoo your pup at regular intervals
- Regularly mow your lawn
- Remove all litter like weeds and fallen leaves.
- Keep the bushes short
Some final thoughts:
Even though ticks have the ability to cause many types of diseases in both dogs and humans, prevention is still always better than cure, especially when it comes to dog care. We don’t want our kids to suffer for any reason. Thus, always try to keep your house and your dog free of ticks and fleas.
Remember to take the tick repellent spray with you when going on hikes or performing any other type of outdoor activity with your pup. Furthermore, if you are going to regions with lots of grass or bushes, reapply the spray as and when needed. In case your dog ends up wet during the outdoor activity or by enjoying himself or herself in rain or swimming, ensure quick reapplication of flea spray to remove any of the unwanted house guests which may try to come in with your pup.
If you notice your dog displaying any of the tick bite related symptoms, consult your vet without any delay. Your vet will ask you questions regarding the location of the bite, the symptoms your dog is displaying, the frequency of symptom occurrence and finally when did you notice the tick for the first time. Your vet may conduct blood tests to fin out or rule out the other tick related diseases and focus on the one which might be affecting your dog. Once the tick variety is confirmed your dog will be put on antibiotics, other medications and supportive care depending on his disease condition.