Natural Flea Prevention Ideas for Dogs

How to Avoid Chemical Flea & Tick Medications

Flea and tick season is nipping at the heals of summer-time. Is you your dog suffering from fleas and ticks? Does he continually bite and gnaw himself to itch the flea bites? Before heading out to the pet store for a chemical flea treatment, try these natural options for flea and tick prevention.

Chemical based flea and tick preventatives are a concern for the environment, and the safety of your pet. Flea collars are one of the most common flea preventatives on the market today. Since the product is worn on the neck and designed to absorb a chemical through your dog's skin, it is inevitable that the dog will also inhale the product, which can make him sick.

If you notice your pet acting dizzy, lethargic or nauseated after applying any commercial brand flea & tick preventative, discontinue use of the product, quickly wash it off the animal if possible and see your veterinarian immediately. Be sure to take the product packaging to the veterinarian's office so they can see what products(s) may be poisoning or causing allergic reactions in your pet.

When preventing fleas, you need to think of flea prevention not only for the pet, but also for the areas where he lives, including your yard.

Repelling fleas & ticks in your yard
Cedar is a natural repellent for fleas and ticks. When landscaping your yard, try using cedar based mulch. If you dog is in a kennel style enclosure, try making a perimeter of mulch around his enclosure as a barrier for the fleas.

You can also try planting Tansy around the dog kennel enclosure, out of reach of the dog. This low toxicity plant has a fern-like appearance and is normally not consumed by pets, but since it does have a low level of toxins, it is best to keep your pet away from the plant. Tansy is a natural flea repellent.