Holistic Dog: Fighting Ticks Without Harmful Chemicals!

Spring is here!

We all look forward to the warm weather and enjoying nature with our dog's, however there are real dangers to be aware of. One of the biggest concerns is the disease carrying parasites we all hate: the tick!

This year could quite possibly be one of the worst years for ticks due to the very mild winter we had here in Connecticut.  Instead of hibernating ticks are out feeding, mating, and laying eggs earlier; thus getting a jump on reproducing.

Protecting your dog can be done safely without using harmful chemicals, which often have dangerous side effects. I will say now I am not a veterinarian and by no means claim to be. However, I have been studying dog and cat nutrition, holistic treatments, and conventional veterinary medicine for almost fifteen years. I have relationships with several veterinarians who actually send their clients to me for my advice on nutrition and supplements.

The best method for tick repellent that I use religiously is supplementing with granulated garlic. Garlic has been a controversial subject, but the benefits far out way any claim of it being harmful! Garlic is a natural blood thinner and a diuretic, most veterinarians agree that the correct dosage is the key between health benefits and possible side effects. I recommend a base dosage of 1/4 teaspoon per 30 pounds daily. 

You can double the dosage if you are in a heavy tick area. Split the dosage into two giving it with their regular meals mix with high quality canned food or organic yogurt to make it more tasty. I much prefer granulated garlic rather than garlic pills or garlic powder. Never use raw garlic! Do not supplement with garlic for cats. Garlic also repels fleas and mosquitoes. I advise people to start slowly if your dog is not used to garlic. In extremely rare cases a reaction can occur such a vomiting, diarrhea, or an allergic reactions.

Another method that works well in addition to the garlic, is holistic sprays. Essential oils that work well are neem, cedar oil, and citronella. Essential oils need to be used away from cats (they can be toxic to cats). The spray I prefer is Quantum 100% Natural Flea & Tick Spray - I often use it when going into heavily wooded areas or tall grass.

As you may remember last year was a pretty bad tick season as well. I have three dogs (two Bernese Mountain Dog's and one Shetland Sheepdog) and live next to the Farmington River. Using the plan above I only found three total ticks  between the three dogs all season. I swear by the garlic and the essential oils!

When you do find a tick, always kill it! Either burn it or put it in bleach. A tick can still feed or give birth (up to 3,000 eggs for one female) after it has bitten a host. The engorged ticks are often pregnant females. As tempting as it is, do not use your fingers to pull a tick off. It is important to get the entire tick, use tweezers or a product like The Tick Key to remove them. I always recommend cleaning the area of the bite with witch hazel and aloe vera.

Ticks carry harmful diseases including; Lyme, Ehrlichiosis/Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Tick Paralysis.  The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) is a great resource.

Wendy Shaw is a co-owner of on West Street. For more about , visit the business website or follow them on Facebook.