Finding a natural flea and tick prevention option for dogs that actually works to keep bugs away is a challenge. While I don’t want to subject my dog to the potential risks of using traditional chemical flea and tick medications, I also don’t want him to be uncomfortable or have to deal with lingering effects of Lyme disease – and ticks are rampant where we live.
So I’ve been searching for the best natural flea and tick option for quite some time and have finally landed on my all-time favorite: Wondercide. (The company hasn’t paid me to say that, either! It’s my honest, unbiased opinion.)
Here, I’ll break down what makes Wondercide so, well, wonderful, as well as offer some other decent natural options for flea and tick protection for dogs.
Best Natural Flea and Tick Prevention for Dogs: Wondercide
As noted above, Wondercide is my top pick for non-toxic flea and tick treatments for dogs. First and foremost, it actually works to repel insects around the farm and in the woods, and secondly, it offers one of the only natural monthly flea and tick treatments I’ve seen.
Wondercide’s Spot On treatment for dogs repels fleas, ticks, and mosquitos and contains natural steam-distilled peppermint oil and cedarwood oil. This product is meant to mimic traditional chemical spot treatments that are applied to your pet each month. I will say, there is one caveat with this product, and that is that while it has been lab-tested to repel fleas and ticks for one month, it only repels mosquitoes for one week. So you may need to use this product in combination with the Wondercide spray for optimal protection.
Speaking of the spray, Wondercide’s line of natural flea and tick sprays work just as well as the Spot On treatment and can be used on your pets, on you and your kids, and even on your yard. These sprays come in several different scents and contain natural essential oils to repel and prevent fleas, ticks, and mosquito infestations. The downside to the spray is that you do need to reapply it every time you go outside.
Finally, Wondercide now also offers a natural flea and tick collar that works just like traditional flea and tick collars, only this one doesn’t contain any of the harsh chemicals. I have not personally tried this product, however, as I prefer not to place anything around my animals’ necks that isn’t breakaway for safety purposes.
Other Natural Flea and Tick Options for Dogs
I’ve tried countless other products before finding Wondercide, so I can confidently say that is the best product on the market right now. However, there are other close seconds if you’d like to try a few for yourself:
- Bug Zap Naturally by Alternative Animal. I’ve seen great success with other natural dog supplements from this company, although I haven’t personally tried this one. While there is some controversy surrounding garlic and dogs, I trust the expertise of this company to formulate safe and effective supplements. Plus, a little garlic sure beats the neurologic chemicals that are in traditional flea and tick chews.
- Dr. Mercola Flea and Tick Defense Spray. This spray stands out because it is safe for use on both dogs and cats. Many essential oils are toxic to cats, making natural flea and ticks for your felines an even bigger challenge to find. So if you are looking for a product that can work well for both Fido and Fluffy, give this one a shot.
- Cedarcide Tickshield. Established in 1998, Cedarcide has been around for quite a while, and the brand claims its product can kill and repel fleas, ticks, mites, ants, mosquitoes, scorpions, wasps, roaches – a benefit not many other natural bug sprays can boast. The downside, however, is that this product contains 20% cedarwood oil (compare that to 5% in Wondercide), making it a very strong-scented product that can have adverse effects if you or your pet are particularly sensitive.
How to Make DIY Natural Flea and Tick Repellent for Dogs
Making your own natural flea and tick repellent is as easy as combining essential oils like peppermint oil, cedarwood oil, lemongrass oil, and rosemary oil with a carrier oil like coconut oil or sesame oil, and some water.
However, I’ve found that purchasing high-quality ingredients in order to make my own flea and tick repellent for dogs is just as expensive if not more than buying Wondercide or other ready-made products. So while knowing exactly what goes into your DIY bug spray can be a big benefit of making your own, know that you probably aren’t going to save that much money in the long run.
Which Essential Oils Are Not Safe for Dogs?
It is important to note that not all essential oils are safe for dogs. Those contained in Wondercide and the other products that I’ve mentioned above are safe for use in dogs (and cats in the case of Dr. Mercola’s spray). However, always check the full list of ingredients on any essential oil-based product that you plan to use on your dog.
Some of the most common essential oils that are not safe for use on dogs include:
- Citrus oils
- Clove oil
- Tea tree oil
- Pennyroyal oil
- Sweet birch oil
- Ylang ylang oil
- Wintergreen oil
Which Essential Oils Are Not Safe for Cats?
Cats are more sensitive to many essential oils than dogs and are also smaller than most dogs, amplifying their effects even when used in small amounts. Essential oils to avoid on and around cats include:
- Citrus oils
- Clove oil
- Tea tree oil
- Pennyroyal oil
- Sweet birch oil
- Ylang ylang oil
- Wintergreen oil
- Lavender oil
- Pine oil
- Eucalyptus oil
Does Hemp Repel Fleas and Ticks?
There is some promising evidence in the potential use of hemp oil to repel fleas and ticks, but research on this topic is somewhat limited. However, some studies have shown that cannabinoids found in hemp plants may have evolved as a defense mechanism against insect pests, suggesting that these compounds might play a role in deterring insects when used for humans and animals. That said, more research is currently needed in this area to determine the effectiveness of hemp oil as an insect repellent.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a safe and effective natural flea and tick prevention product for dogs, your best bet is to use a product like Wondercide and make sure you are applying it frequently enough to maximize its effectiveness. I personally think the extra time it takes to apply natural products is well worth the peace of mind knowing you aren’t putting potentially hazardous chemicals on or in your pet.
