Ticks can be a major problem for dogs and their owners, especially in rural areas. Regardless of where you live, it is important to take precautions and to know the proper way to remove this insect without causing harm to your dog or yourself. Because ticks feed on other animals, they can carry around nasty diseases to which you don't want your pet exposed.
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Essential Oils
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One of the best all-natural ways to protect your pet from ticks is with essential oils. These oils can be diluted and sprayed onto the fur or applied directly to the collar or other areas. As with all essential oil remedies, only certain ones will do the trick, so make sure to get the best quality and don't worry so much about quantity. Tick repellent oils include lemon grass, lavender, geranium, sage and thyme.
Diet
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An important factor to protect your pet from parasitic insects is to feed a special diet to your pet. Ensure that your little friend gets plenty of essential vitamins he or she needs to stay healthy and strong. Insects like fleas and ticks tend to attack animals with weaker immune systems, so help boost your pet's immune system with foods like seaweed, garlic and brewers yeast.
Supplements
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As well as regulating your pet's diet for immune system health you can also purchase supplements specially designed to ward off ticks and fleas. These solutions are simply added to food or water and are typically made of things like garlic, citrus, vinegar, and assorted herbs. These organic additives are also often chock full of other vitamins your pet may need and can often serve as the primary, or only supplement.
Removal
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If your pet does end up with ticks, the best thing to do is to carefully remove them as soon as possible. There are tools on the market that will assist in removing the tick one of these is called a "tick scoop". Even if you do not have a tool, you need to remove the tick anyway, just be sure not to leave the head in. Also, remember, ticks do not drown in water, so drown them in alcohol or flush down the toilet. Some folks prefer to use a cotton ball soaked with soap. The ball is applied directly to the tick for about 15 seconds. The tick will then unlatch and back away from the pets skin, giving you a sufficient chance to grab the little bugger and dispose of it. This may be the safest method if you are not sure how to properly remove the tick with a tool or your fingers.
Prevention
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One of the easiest thing you can do to prevent ticks from bothering your furry friend is to perform prevention checks. Whenever your pet goes outside, especially to places like parks and other areas with lots of trees, make sure to check him thoroughly before bringing him back inside. You can do this at the front door, and it only takes a moment, make sure to inspect the ears, armpits, and even the toes as these are all great hiding places for fleas and ticks.
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