Going on walks with your dog during the spring and summer can be a lot of fun. But walking through the woods can cause them to pick up lots of bug stragglers. Going outside also increases the risks of bringing fleas and ticks back inside to our pets. Flea collars have been shown to be harmful to our animals and commercial flea and tick repellants can also be harmful. Thankfully, there are some natural pet pesticides to scare the critters off of our pets.
From the Shelf
Try these solutions you can make from items you may already have at home.
Lemon, Eucalyptus, and Peppermint Oil Spray
Bugs are very sensitive to smells. The mixture of lemon, eucalyptus, and peppermint will keep them from catching a ride on your pets. Mix 10 drops of lemon and eucalyptus oil with 5 drops of peppermint oil. Add 1 teaspoon of 91% rubbing alcohol to the oils. Add 6 ounces of water to the solution, pour the solution into a fine mist spray bottle, and shake well. Spray the mixture on your dog, but do not over do it. Just a mist will do.
Rosemary Spray
Cats and dogs are both victims of fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. Mix 8 drops of rosemary essential oil with 1 cup of distilled water. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and shake well. Mist your cat or dog with the solution to deter the pesky insects.
Lemon Oil
Some animals are not big fans of being sprayed down with solutions, especially cats. If that is so, add a few drops of lemon oil to your cat or dog’s collar. That way they do not have to misted down with a strange solution and they can be on their way. The citrus scent will deter fleas and ticks.
From the Store
If you don’t like the DIY path, there are still safe ways to protect your pet.
Organic Animal Sprays
If you do not want to go the DIY route there are a few organic flea, tick, and mosquito sprays that have hit the market for our pets. Be sure to keep on the look out for essential oils, coconut oils, and other natural ingredients. Stay away from DEET, as it can be very dangerous to both humans and animals alike. Many have tried and liked Daisy Paw and PetFresh when it came to keeping bugs off pets naturally.
Time to Stop the Bugs
Going green and natural is becoming the step that people take before going the “mainstream” way. More people are going the DIY and natural route if they can. Our pets are no different, as part of the family we want to make sure that we are making wise decisions to keep them healthy as well. Keeping the biting bugs off of them can be extremely important to their health. Using natural pet pesticides will help keep them from getting bitten and bringing unwanted pests into your home.
