What Foods Deter Fleas & Ticks?

Many pet owners are looking for alternate methods of flea and tick prevention because chemically based flea and tick preventatives can cause serious side effects in some pets. There are ways to treat your home and yard using holistic measures. However, if you want to treat your pet directly, you can use specific foods to deter parasites.

  1. Brewer̵7;s Yeast

    • Brewer̵7;s yeast is often used as a nutritional supplement. Once a pet ingests it, it gives her a bitter flavor that the fleas dislike. It also provides her with B complex vitamins, which help fight all parasites. The correct dose of brewer̵7;s yeast is 1 tsp. for every 30 lb. your pet weighs. It should be added to her food everyday. However, you should work your way up to the full dosage by adding a little bit more every day until you reach the full dose. This will give your pet the opportunity to adjust to the bitter taste.

    Apple Cider Vinegar

    • Another additive, apple cider vinegar, can be added directly to your pet̵7;s drinking water daily. The taste of the vinegar also deters the fleas from biting your pet. Some pets are fine with the taste of the vinegar while others or not, so you might want to add the vinegar in small doses at first. One tbsp. of vinegar for every large bowl of water is an effective dose.

    Garlic

    • Garlic is another food that makes your dog taste unpleasant to fleas, ticks and other parasites. However, garlic should never be given to cats. For every 30 lb. your dog weighs, grate one whole garlic clove over his food daily. A garlic clove is a segment of a whole garlic bulb.

    Quality Pet Food

    • A simple food preventative for all parasitic insects is to change your pet̵7;s food. Animals with low immune systems are more likely to be infested with fleas or ticks. Making a change to a high quality pet food can make all the difference. Talk to your veterinarian for recommended brands for your pet̵7;s special needs.

    B Complex Vitamins

    • To further boost a pet̵7;s immune system, make sure he is getting plenty of B complex vitamins. An easy way to do this is to give him an over-the-counter B vitamin that you can purchase in a drug store. Fifty mg. of vitamin B once a day is enough for a cat or smaller dog. For larger dogs, use the same dose, except provide it twice a day.