Each year as we move into springtime, the inquiries on how to control mosquitos, fleas and ticks, those blood sucking insects that make our dogs miserable, begin to bubble up again. Generally, because I have my dogs in a suburban lawn environment and don’t frequent woods often, my personal need for flea and tick products has been extremely limited. That, plus the fact that if you do some digging, the commercial products are not necessarily harmless, so regularly using them “just in case” gives me the willies.

Finding products that kill fleas and ticks but don’t harm a dog takes some trial and error. For example, gallbladder mucocele used to be almost unheard of in shelties, until a few years after a flea and tick product Advantix/Advantage (which contains imidacloprid ) came on the market. Then the incidences rose. There is nothing definitive and finding information on the link is limited, but I think, “better safe than sorry” is the best approach.

Other drugs list seizures as a possible adverse reaction on their websites.

Then there is, Bravecto which caused severe bloody diarrhea in another sheltie that I personally knew after only one dose. There are a few Facebook groups discussing all the adverse effects experienced by other dogs. I’m not on Facebook so have limited access.

So what is a dog owner to do? Just the term “blood sucking insects” is enough to make us cringe, let alone having to remove them from our dogs.

Fighting Off The Three Biggies

What most people are battling in the warm months are:

Fleas cause intense itching, can transmit tapeworm and infest your house.

Ticks can cause Lyme disease. And they are harder to find on your dog than fleas.

Mosquitoes. UGH! I can hear them but can’t see them until after they bite. Aside from the itchy welts they leave on people, there is the possibility of bringing heartworm to dogs.

Researching a Natural Insect Repellent To Keep The Blood Sucking Insects At Bay

Being a control freak, if I can put something together myself, so I know what’s in the final product, that’s what I do. Reading ingredients labels has also become a hobby of mine.

Every natural insect repellent I’ve read has different ingredients. The reason being, there are MANY natural oils and plants that repel those nasty creatures. So you can pick and choose which ones to try, but there are three ingredients that cover all the bases.

You can mix up a combination of essential oils and dilute them for application or try powder as an alternative.

Herbs Used To Repel Blood Sucking Insects

NEEM: repels fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. It is an antifungal and antibacterial as well. Helps with itchy skin too.

YARROW: Repels all three of the above pests

CATNIP: 10 times stronger than DEET for repelling mosquitoes! But don’t put it on a dog where cats reside!!

FOOD GRADE DIATOMACEOUS EARTH: Mechanically slices and dices the fleas and ticks thereby killing them.

Breeding Stock

I take the common precautions with pregnant bitches which is, take nothing medicinal unless absolutely necessary. Plain Diatomaceous Earth is what I would use for them.

Neem:

• There is a possibility of reducing the ability to become pregnant short term (a few weeks) if used in large amounts on bitches in heat.
• Orally, in large doses (taken 3 times a day by the male) it has been found to prevent sperm from fertilizing eggs in humans. 

Yarrow and Catnip:

• Can stimulate the uterus and so I wouldn’t use it on any bitches that are pregnant.

If You Aren’t Into DIY

If you aren’t into mixing up your own concoction, I did come across a commercial company called Wondercide that has a variety of products that are all natural. Everything from shampoo to yard sprays. I have tried it on a few clients’ dogs, and it does work, but it has a fragrance of mint which for some odd reason always makes me feel nauseous, so it isn’t something I continue to have available. I use a Neem shampoo for flea and tick by the company Tropiclean.

I’d like to offer one last suggestion that is for the lawn, not the dog. It takes more work than applying stuff to your dog, but may be worth it in the long run. Applying beneficial nematodes is what I’m talking about. Here is one company that offers this: NaturesGoodGuys.com