Home Prevention and Remedies for Fleas and Ticks

There are thousands of pesticides and topical flea and tick treatments on the market, but many of them can lead to health problems for pets and people. Natural home remedies can also be effective in flea and tick control and less dangerous to your pets and family, according to Grandma's Home Remedies.com. The key to controlling fleas and ticks the natural way is being diligent in cleaning both the house and pets and being consistent using of parasite control remedies.

  1. Home Cleanliness and Care

    • Most important to controlling fleas and ticks in the home is making the environment hostile to parasites. The first order of business is pet bedding. Wash pet bed covers weekly and add eucalyptus essential oil to the rinse water. Eucalyptus oil wards off fleas and kills dust mites. It's critical to vacuum the house and fabric-covered furnishings regularly. Sprinkle a fine layer of table salt on carpet and upholstered furniture to further control parasites.

    Flea and Tick Control in the Yard

    • Diatomaceous earth, which is used in filtration systems for swimming pools, can be sprinkled over your yard to control fleas and ticks. Place cedar chips along your fence line and plant tansy herb around your yard to repel parasites.

    Feed Your Pet For Flea and Tick Control

    • There are products you can add to your pet's diet that will keep parasites away. Adding grated garlic -- about one chamber for every 30 lbs. of the pet's body weight -- to your pet food will make your animal taste nasty to fleas and ticks. The garlic odor will be excreted through the pet's skin making it inhospitable to fleas. Brewers yeast, when added to pet food, is also helpful; use 1 tsp. for every 30 lbs. of the pet's body weight. Give your pets B Complex vitamins -- 50 mg daily for cats and smaller dogs and 100 mg daily for larger dogs. Also feed your pets Omega 3 and 6 fatty acid supplements. Adding apple cider vinegar to your pet's water will make their skin more acidic and less palatable to fleas and ticks. Adding a teaspoon each of saffron oil and powdered kelp to pet food can also help control parasites.

    Citrus and Aromatherapy Repellents

    • To make a citrus flea and tick repellent for your pet, cut a lemon in quarters and place them in boiling water. Steep the lemon in water overnight, and remove lemons and place the lemon water in a spray bottle. Spray the lemon flea repellent all over your pet, especially behind ears, on the base of the tail and in arm pits. Don't spray lemon repellent into the pet's face. Spray the water onto your hand and gently wipe it around the pet's face, avoiding the eyes. To make an aromatherapy flea and tick repellent, use a pure almond oil as a base and add a few drops of lavender and cedar wood essential oils. Place the oils in a bottle and shake it well. Work the oil mixture into the pet's skin. You can make your own flea and tick collar by applying tea tree, eucalyptus, lavender, citronella or geranium essential oil on a rope-type collar.

    Essential Oil Baths

    • Use essential oils in your pet's bath water to help eliminate fleas and ticks. A few drops of lavender or tea tree oil added to bath water is a natural flea and tick repellent. You can also make a natural flea and tick dip by boiling rosemary in water, removing the rosemary and using the water to rinse your pet.