Ticks are a vexing problem for pet owners. Ticks are hard to remove once embedded in the skin and they transmit Lyme disease. The best way to deal with ticks is to prevent them in the first place; however, many of the methods that work well are simply poisonous. If you have small children, it is better to avoid the toxic conventional methods and instead use organic options to prevent ticks.
Brewer's Yeast
Brewer's yeast works by making the dog's blood too acidic for bugs' taste, according to the website Vet Info. Thus, ticks and fleas simply will not bite your dog. You can buy brewer's yeast in tablets and feed them to your dog as treats, or you can buy nutritional brewer's yeast from your grocery aisle and add about 1 tsp. per 30 pounds of dog food. Do not use baker's yeast.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Add no more than 2 tbsp. into a large bowl of water.You can also add 50% apple cider vinegar and 50% water to a spray bottle and apply it directly to your dog's coat. Do not spray his face, but rub the solution in with your hands, taking care to avoid his eyes.
Garlic
Garlic is safe to use for dogs and cats. It does, however, contain sulfoxides and disulfites, which can cause anemia in dogs if used in very large quantities. For a dog 10 to 15 lbs., use half a clove; for a dog 20 to 45 pounds, use 1 clove; for a dog 45 to 70 lbs., use 2 cloves; for a dog 75 to 90 lbs., use two-and-a-half cloves; and for dogs above 100 lbs., use 3 cloves. Do not give garlic to puppies under 8 weeks of age.
Citrus Repellant
Ticks absolutely abhor citrus. Cut a lemon into quarters. put it into a jar, and cover with boiling water. Let it steep overnight and put the solution into a spray bottle. Apply this all over your dog and around the head, but never on his face. However, after you have sprayed your hands with the citrus repellent, you may rub it in behind the dog's ears, base of the tail, and "arm pits."
Sticky Glue Barrier
A way to prevent ticks from appearing on your property is to create a non-toxic barrier made from a 2-inch band of glue. Place it around trees, vines, shrubs, lawn chairs, etc. Crawling insects will get stuck on the glue barrier. Your dog, of course, will still need individual protection each time he leaves the premises.
