Essential oils can often come to the rescue when it comes to repelling fleas and ticks. These two insects are repelled by different oils, so if your dog needs protection against both, use one of the following blends in the morning and the other in the afternoon to avoid over-application. Application frequency depends on how healthy your dog is. Extremely healthy dogs eating a natural raw diet may only need an application once a week.
The following essential oil recipes are from Holistic Aromatherapy for Animals: A Comprehensive Guide to the Use of Essential Oils and Hydrosols with Animals by Kristen Leigh Bell.
Table of Contents
- Flea Free Essential Oil Blend
- Flea Free Spritz
- Goodby Ticks Essential Oil Blend
- Goodbye Ticks Spritz
- Effective Natural Solution to Feas and Tick Prevention
Flea Free Essential Oil Blend
Ingredients
- 11/2 oz base oil such as hazelnut or sweet almond
- 4 drops of clary sage essential oil
- 1 drop citronella essential oil
- 7 drops peppermint essential oil
- 3 drops lemon essential oil
Directions
Blend all oils and store in a dark glass dropper bottle. Apply two to four drops topically to the neck, chest, legs, and base of tail. You can also add the drops to a bandana or cotton collar.
Flea Free Spritz
Ingredients
- 1 tsp vegetable glycerin
- ½ oz grain alcohol or vodka
- 1 tsp sulfated castor oil
- 10 drops grapefruit seed extract
- 7 oz distilled or spring water
- 4 drops clary sage essential oil
- 1 drop citronella essential oil
- 7 drops peppermint essential oil
- 3 drops lemon essential oil
Directions
Blend the ingredients and shake well before use. This will make eight ounces of spritz. Store in a dark or opaque glass spritz bottle. A spritz makes it easy to apply the repellent, but some dogs don’t like the sound of the bottle. In this case, you may need to apply the formula with your hands.
Goodby Ticks Essential Oil Blend
Ingredients
- ½ oz base oil such as hazelnut or sweet almond
- 2 drops geranium essential oil
- 2 drops rosewood essential oil
- 3 drops lavender essential oil
- 2 drops myrrh essential oil
- 2 drops opoponax essential oil
- 1 drop bayleaf essential oil
Directions
Blend all oils and store in a dark glass dropper bottle. Apply two to four drops topically to the neck, chest, legs, and base of tail. You can also add the drops to a bandana or cotton collar.
Goodbye Ticks Spritz
Ingredients
- 1 tsp vegetable glycerin
- ½ oz grain alcohol or vodka
- 1 tsp sulfated castor oil
- 10 drops grapefruit seed extract
- 7 oz distilled or spring water
- 2 drops rosewood essential oil
- 3 drops lavender essential oil
- 2 drops myrrh essential oil
- 3 drops opoponax essential oil
- 1 drop bayleaf essential oil
Directions
This makes eight ounces. Store in a dark or opaque glass spritz bottle. Shake well before use. Spray or apply to your dog using your hands before walks in long grass or wooded areas.
Effective Natural Solution to Feas and Tick Prevention
Chemical flea and tick products really are dangerous. But there are natural alternatives. It all really starts with a healthy dog eating what he’s supposed to be eating — a raw, species-appropriate diet. Beyond that, there are many natural solutions that, with a little experimentation, can help keep your dog pest-free.
