What is the safest flea preventative for dogs?
Regular veterinary check-ups can help you determine the appropriate flea and tick prevention strateg Read More
What do holistic vets recommend for flea and tick prevention?
Holly Wiegand
2025-09-19 00:57:49
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: 16
Holistic veterinarians advocate for safer, less toxic methods of flea and tick control, focusing on prevention, natural repellents, and environmental management. Regular Grooming: Use a fine-toothed flea comb to remove adult fleas and ticks. Bathing with Gentle Soaps: Natural soaps without harsh chemicals can help kill adult fleas on contact. Essential Oil-Based Repellents: Sprays and collars formulated with oils such as cedarwood, peppermint, thyme, citronella, and geraniol are popular among holistic vets. Diatomaceous Earth: A non-toxic powder that kills fleas by dehydrating them. Environmental Hygiene: Vacuum floors, wash pet bedding frequently, and declutter yard debris like leaves and overgrown grass where fleas and ticks may breed. Beneficial Nematodes: These microscopic organisms can be applied to lawns to feed on flea larvae and decrease populations naturally. Dietary Support: Some holistic vets recommend adding small amounts of garlic or brewer's yeast to a pet’s diet, though this should only be done under veterinary supervision.
Mazie Bernhard
2025-09-19 00:08:20
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Some holistic vets recommend small doses of brewer’s yeast and garlic to repel fleas naturally.
Apple cider vinegar can help make your dog’s skin less attractive to fleas.
Herbal sprays with ingredients like lemon juice, eucalyptus, rosemary and lavender can be sprayed lightly on coat and bedding.
Coconut oil contains lauric acid which repels fleas.
Regular grooming helps you spot ticks early and keeps your dog’s coat healthy.
A natural approach can work well if you’re consistent, but it’s important to know your environment and your dog’s risk level.
Sometimes a combined strategy is best.
A healthy, nutrient-dense diet helps build resilience from the inside out.
A strong immune system and healthy skin are less appealing to parasites — and better equipped to recover if bitten.
Read also
Should you give your dog flea prevention?
Fleas are a type of external parasite. It's possible for many species of fleas to infest more than o Read More
Humberto Batz
2025-09-18 22:42:50
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: 23
Homeopathic remedies can be prescribed to strengthen the constitution of your pet making them more resistant to parasites.
There are several natural flea and tick sprays, shampoos and dips available.
Deflea pet & area spray kills fleas on contact in 1-2 seconds just as fast as toxic, insecticidal sprays.
Deflea kills ticks on contact in 2-3 minutes, therefore, it must be applied daily to twice daily in tick-infested areas.
Buck Mountain parasite dust used 1-2 times monthly is more effective in most cases to prevent ticks than fleas.
To prevent fleas only, you can make your own spray by mixing: one ounce of geranium oil diluted into 4 ounces of water.
If you reside in high-risk areas for fleas and especially tickborne disease and natural prevention is inadequate then consider the Serestro collar which is less invasive than topical flea and tick treatment.
I DO NOT RECOMMEND AND NEVER USE ORAL flea and tick products which are toxic to the nervous system.
I advise hiking on trails and avoid tick-infested woods to prevent Lyme and other tickborne diseases.