I know I speak for all of us when I say YUCK ! Fleas and ticks are the WORST, not only for us humans but for our beloved furry friends. With the weather finally warming and our forest friends stirring, ticks are back out and at full bloom. Over the past 3 years, the tick population has grown exponentially due to the increase in deer population in many parts of the United States. The reason this outbreak of ticks poses such a risk is due to the fact they can carry a very harmful bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. This bacteria is Responsible for Lyme disease.
I am not a medical professional or a veterinarian and the information presented here is merely for educational purposes and not intended to replace medical advice. It is your responsibility to do your own research, consult with your doctor, or in this case – your vet – and make safe decisions for yourself and your family.
What is Lyme Disease? How does it affect dogs?
Like I mentioned above, Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria and is transmitted through the bite of a tick. While at least 4 known species of ticks can transmit Lyme disease, the great majority of Lyme disease transmissions are due to the bite of a very tiny tick commonly called the deer tick, or black-legged tick. It is important to note that ticks themselves do not cause Lyme disease, they harbor and transmit the bacteria that cause it. Its also important to note that regardless of its stage of development, larva, nymph, or adult Ixodes tick, if the tick carries the bacteria in its body, people and dogs can become infected if bitten. It typically takes 1-2 days for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease to be transmitted, so prompt removal of ticks is important. The highest risk for transmission is during periods when the nymphs (spring) and adults (spring and fall) are actively seeking hosts.
While certain geographical areas are much more likely to harbor bacteria-carrying ticks than others, Lyme disease in dogs has been reported in every state in the United States. The signs of Lyme disease do indeed carry from pet to pet. Some animals can have Lyme disease and show no signs, but in dogs, the most common signs include fever, loss of appetite, painful or swollen joints, lameness that comes and goes, swollen lymph nodes, and lethargy. If Lyme disease is left untreated it can lead to damage in the kidneys, nervous system, and heart. Because there is a possibility of your dog showing no signs, I always recommend that if you find a tick that has bitten and imbedded its head, even a little, into your dog, you schedule a vet appointment to get blood work done where they check the Lyme count. If your dog is positive for the disease, a typical 4 week round of antibiotics will help.
Prevention
There are many types of prevention one can use to help your pet defend itself against ticks and fleas!
- Oral Medication from your vet (highly recommend)
- Collars that work to deter fleas and ticks from your dog
- Topical medication that is placed being your dog’s neck and at the base of their tail
- Monthly shots
- Shampoos and conditioners
- Essential oils
- DIY topical sprays
There is not one preventive method alone that will completely take the risk of fleas and ticks away from your dog, but a combination of two or more can definitely increase their chances of living a minimal tick and flea life. My personal recommendation, and what I use for my own dog, is oral medication paired with a flea and tick collar, as well as my DIY Flea and Tick spray.
DIY Natural Flea & Tick Spray
Making your own flea and tick spray is so simple and easy, you’ll find yourself wondering why you hadn’t made it sooner!
Ingredients
- 4 oz (or larger) Spray Bottle
- Apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
- water (distilled, filtered, or spring water is best)
- Essential oil (see list bellow)
Other essential oils not listed in the image above but can also be used are:
- Geranium Essential Oil (sometimes listed as Rose Geranium) 10 drops
- Clove Essential Oil 3 Drops
- Tea Tree oil 3 drops
Each essential oil listed above can be found on Amazon by clicking on the word Essential Oil or by clicking HERE.
Step One – Add vinegar
You don’t have to measure or be exact, but you need around 1/3 cup of either apple cider vinegar or white vinegar poured into your spray bottle. If you are using a larger spray bottle, you will need to increase the amount of vinegar according to your bottle. Vinegar is very strong and can aid in killing fleas and ticks.
Step Two – Add Essential Oil
This step will vary depending on which essential oil you choose. I personally love using lavender or peppermint. The amount of drops added to your spray bottle will also vary. If you’re using a small spray bottle, the numbers of drops recommended above will work. However, if you’re using a spray bottle that’s huge, you will need to increase the amount of essential oil drops according to your spray bottle.
Add whichever essential oil you chose. In my case it’s lavender, so I added 7 drops into my spray bottle.
Step 3 – Add Water and Shake!
After adding vinegar and essential oil to your spray bottle, fill it the rest of the way up with water and give it a good SHAKE! There you go; you have a DIY natural flea and tick repellent!
How to spray and when to spray
Koda and I live in Ohio, and with the changing of the seasons being so drastic, so are the tick populations. Ohio is one of the states with higher risk of Lyme disease from tick bites due to the abundance of ticks. Koda unfortunately was one of the unlucky and has tested positive for Lyme before. He is at high risk to have “flare ups” which is why I began making this spray.
Anytime Koda goes on a walk, he gets sprayed with this natural tick and flea repellant. I first spray his fluffy corgi butt, working my way up to his neck. Be very cautious and careful not to spray your pet’s head directly because the mixture could get into their eyes easily, causing severe irritation. Instead of spraying his head, I instead spray the mix into my hand and rub it on his head and ears. Koda, being a short dog, makes it nearly impossible to spray his belly. To make sure he’s fully protected, I spray into my hands again and make sure to rub down his belly and armpits, making sure to get any warm areas where ticks may want to hide.
I use this spray any time and anywhere! If there is a small chance that Koda could walk through tall grass, go into the woods, or be near an area heavily trafficked by deer, he gets a full spray down. So far, even through 3 camping trips, Koda has not gotten a single flea or tick on him when the spray has been utilized. This outcome could be different for your dog, but I say give it a go and find out!!
Thanks Kalie! I may fix some for Buddy!!
Thank you for taking the time to read it mawmaw ! you definitely should !!