Organic Tick Prevention for Dogs

As people become more concerned with pesticide use on pets, the search for natural deterrents to pests, including ticks, increases. Unfortunately, there is no perfect solution that provides strong prevention and is all natural. A multiphase approach works best but must be evaluated against the risks.

  1. Weighing the Risks

    • Ticks carry many diseases, including Lyme disease. The cost for testing to determine which tick-borne disease your dog has, the treatment, and the effect of both the disease and treatment on the dog can be devastating. Different areas of the country have different levels of danger and all treatments should be weighed against risk. Many of the new tick products, such as Advantage Plus and Frontline, are proved to be highly effective and offer low toxicity to animal and owner. When in a high-risk environment, they should be considered.

    In the Yard

    • Preventing ticks from reaching your dog is the most basic step. This can be done with natural products, such as food grade diatomaceous earth, spread in your dog's pen area and around the perimeter of your yard or areas the dog has access to. Other prevention methods include nematodes, which are organisms that eat tick larvae; natural garlic sprays; and keeping your grass mowed low.

    Combing

    • Ticks take time to transmit disease. The most effective, and time-consuming, prevention method is to use a flea comb appropriate for the dog's coat to remove any pests each time the animal goes outside. No matter what products are used, backing up with tick combing is a critical step in protecting your pet.

    Supplements

    • Many sites recommend such products as garlic and apple cider vinegar. Be aware that both products can be detrimental to the dog. Garlic in higher doses can cause anemia and blood problems. Apple cider and other vinegars can change pH levels and create health issues. However, brewer's yeast has some limited effect and is safe to supplement.

    Sprays

    • Many natural sprays are safe for your dog. Garlic sprays do not have enough garlic in them to harm the dog if licked. Neem tree oil is safe to digest and offers repellent properties for fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. It is safe to use on dogs and humans. Citrus sprays offer some help in repelling pests.