Tick season is here and since we are surrounded by the woods, we always have to get ourselves prepared. Dr. Judy Morgan is a retired veterinarian, author and speaker on naturally healthy pets. I follow her for guidance on treating pests like fleas and ticks naturally. I will always prioritize a more holistic approach to their health and flea and tick prevention is no different. The dogs have never had fleas and never tested positive for heartworm or Lyme. Yes, they have had a handful of ticks over the years but given our location, there was potential for many many more. Due to this, I continue to fight them as naturally as I possibly can.
Every morning we go through our routine – Arya screaming because she wants out and me spraying them down. Once they come back in, they get brushed with a wire brush to find any critters that may have hitched a ride.
Another great little tool if you’re in a tick prone area? This tick puller!
I placed an order from Dr. Judy’s store and tried some new products this year. Check out the entire flea & tick section of her store.
Disclaimer: As always, whenever you are updating your routine, consult your own veterinarian!
animalEO EVICT Ready to Use Essential Oil
Essential oils and animals is such a hot topic. There are so many opinions! animalEO is formulated by a holistic veterinarian, Dr. Melissa Shelton. The oils are made in the USA and she includes oils safe for a variety of species – dogs, cats, horses, birds. On her website, she explains each ingredient and its purpose.
Evict RTU is a ready to use (RTU) blend of coconut oil, cedarwood, catnip, geranium, rosemary and oregano. It is an anti-bug and anti-odor product used as an alternative to chemical flea, tick and outdoor insect control. You can apply directly to the dog.
Buck Mountain Parasite Dust
Buck Mountain Parasite Dust is a powder made of organic neem, organic yarrow and diatom flour. It can be used directly on animals, in the garden or inside the home.
Neem contains azadirachtin which is an active insecticide, repellent and potent-antifeedant and ecdysis inhibitory compound. Yarrow is also a repellant and the diatom flour desiccates many insects. Since the dogs have so much hair, it takes awhile to do their whole body but a little powder goes a long way and lasts a long time unless washed away.
Flea Comb
The dogs have never had fleas but if they do, I want to be prepared. This comb has teeth spaced very close together to comb the fleas and their eggs from the skin. It’s also handy to use after a walk in a wooded area – you could remove a tick that has not attached.
Project Sudz Flea/Tick Relief Spray with Reusable Bottle
You have the option of just the concentrate or the concentrate with a reusable bottle. I didn’t have an extra bottle so I chose the latter. This product uses neem oil along with ACV and essential oils. One ingredient I am not 100% sold on is the sodium benzoate and I’ll dig deeper into this (which should have been done before ordering). I’m actually going to reach out to Dr. Morgan and see if she can speak to it.
I do like the consistency, it’s very light and the smell isn’t overpowering.
One thing they do right is their packaging – working to reduce single use plastics and the bottles are recyclable.
kin + kind Flea & Tick Prevent
I used this plant based spray last year but it was sold out when I placed this order. I was happy to see I was sent a tiny bottle which will be great for travel! First of all, this smells so good. This product is USA made and something cool in the description: “Every kin+kind bottle is lovingly mixed, labeled, and shipped by the hands of our employees paid a responsible, living wage in our certified USDA organic facility.”
They are also cruelty free and leaping bunny certified.
Note: This has been reformulated and is no longer considered safe for cats. They do have a cat safe version!
Do you battle ticks and fleas in your area? What are your favorite products?
