I have a 13-year-old Australian Shepherd; she seems to be allergic to all flea and tick medications and collars. I’ve tried the drops and my poor girl scratches for weeks even after baths to try to remove it. Tick season is starting here in Montana. I have never seen a flea on any of my dogs, only ticks and I want to protect her. Is there anything that will help that is not so toxic?
This is a tricky situation, but there are some natural tick control products out there. They contain essential oils such as citronella, cloves, eucalyptus and peppermint, and there is some scientific evidence that they do repel ticks. However, they won’t kill any ticks that do make it onto your dog, and they don’t seem to work all the time.
Keep in mind that “natural” doesn’t necessarily mean “safe”, and if your dog swallows too much of these oils, they may make her drool and feel ill. There’s also no guarantee that they won’t also cause skin irritation. Lastly, your dog’s nose is much more sensitive than yours, and the smell may overwhelm her. But, they are worth a try. Just don’t be complacent and expect them to be 100% reliable.
Unfortunately, I don’t think there is a perfect solution for your dog. One of the most important parts of tick control is physically checking your dog to remove any ticks that have attached to her. I think this will need to be the main part of your tick control program. Aussies have quite a thick coat, so this may be easier if she has a haircut for the tick season.
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