Fleas and ticks are your dog’s worst enemy. They transmit other parasites and tapeworms that cause itching and scratching. Although they infest all year round, their nuisance is intensified between March and December. That’s when pet parents must be on the lookout for the first signs of flea discomfort. There are topical and OTC medications available for treatment. Alternatively, you can explore home remedies to get rid of fleas and ticks in dogs and provide relief with minimal side effects.

Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is both a topical remedy and can also be ingested safely by dogs. It is rich in essential nutrients, minerals, and vitamins that help maintain the pH levels naturally. You can mix it with some water and salt and spray the mixture on the skin. This helps make your dog’s skin more acidic in texture, thus warding off the flea infestation. Note that fleas cannot survive on hostile surfaces.

Use a lemon comb

Lemon is a natural flea and tick repellent, and this home remedy is simple to prepare any day. Use a regular comb that you normally brush your pet’s fur with and dip it in lemon juice. Then, using the lemon coated comb, gently brush the fur and let the residue soak into the hair. The comb also helps remove the eggs that fleas and ticks lay in the skin and on the fur.

Lemon water bath

A nice warm bath is another one of the simpler home remedies to get rid of fleas and ticks in dogs. You can prepare a nice lemon water bath by adding a half a cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Also, use a mild organic shampoo containing essential oils minus any chemicals to gently rinse the skin and clean the fur coat. Lather for a few minutes with the lemon water and rinse off to make the skin more resistant to flea attacks and infections.

Improve their diet

There are a dozen topical remedies to get rid of fleas and ticks in dogs. But these remedies will be more effective when you supplement their diet with proper nutrition to boost immunity. A strong immune system can help dogs better manage the discomforts of a flea infestation and reduce the risk of any infection. You must include foods rich in vitamin B, probiotics, sulfur, omega-6, and omega-3 fatty acids to boost their overall health internally. Fleas, ticks, and parasites find it difficult to attack healthy dogs as their immune system can adapt and support healing faster than the infestation.

Maintaining a clean environment

You must do your bit to provide the dog with a neat and clean home environment to live. Fleas, ticks, and other harmful parasites thrive and multiply on your furniture and furnishings (like carpets, mats, rugs). It is important that you steam clean, vacuum, and disinfect the furnishings regularly to avoid providing a breeding ground for an infestation.