How to Prevent Ticks on Dogs: 6 Expert Solutions

How to prevent ticks on dogs’ bodies? This is the central question that keeps revolving in every dog owner’s mind. In this article, we will discuss some of the major ways by which you can save your pet’s skin from ticks and fleas.

1. How to Prevent Ticks on Dogs

Ticks¹ are the parasites that are responsible for making or dwelling in wounds. They transfer themselves in the dog’s bloodstream, and in this way, they are capable of transferring the infectious disease, which can increase body heat and cause discomfort in the wounded areas on the pet’s skin.

These parasites can climb on the skin of the animals and make the animals uncomfortable, and can also irritate them. There are many options by which you can save your dog’s skin from getting ticks. 

1.1. Use of Topical Insecticides

Tick bites and ticks themselves cause many tick-borne diseases. These ticks can easily hide in the dog’s fur, pet store, dog neck and suck the blood of the dog.

This tick-prevention technique is very effective and efficient. This technique can save tick bites also. This tick prevention can be done by using tropical insecticide on the dog’s skin. The tropical insecticide act as a tick repellent, which means it opposes ticks.

The one-time ticks preventative insecticide² can protect the dog for almost 30 to 90 days. You can also use a tick collar.

Tick Collar

Tick collars³ will also act as tick preventatives and help to keep ticks away from your dog. The tick collars are non-intrusive and can kill and repel ticks.

These tick collars contain pesticides which are also safe for the dog’s skin and cause no side effects on the dog’s skin. Also, the tick repellent sprays are mostly used for one time. They help to remove even the embedded ticks.

The work of tick sprays is the same as tick collars’ work. The ingredients used in making tick spray are mostly natural and safe for dogs. It only affects fleas and ticks and helps in preventive treatment. It provides dog protection for the long term, especially in young animals, for almost up to eight months.

Fleas and ticks are mostly present in tall grass, and the tick’s body is very much adapted to the grass; hence it is very difficult to identify them. It is the dog owner’s or pet owners’ duty and responsibility to take care of their animal and observe where their animal is going to safeguard it.

Even if your dog is facing the problem of ticks, then immediately contact the veterinarian and get spot-on treatments. Remember, do not mix oral medications and the dog’s collar to remove ticks. Consult and understand the dose and way of using the medicines properly, especially when you are starting to use any new pesticide on your dog’s skin.

Steps for Using Insecticides

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  The first and foremost step is to make your dog an appealing host for fleas and ticks.

  
  
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  After that, use the topical insecticides

  
  
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  Along with that, use the tick collar

  
  
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  Then bathe your dog with fleas and tick shampoo.

  
  
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  Then use tick spray

  
  

1.2. Use of Tick Collar

This is yet another effective measure to keep your dog safe from ticks. Many tick collars are used for three to four months, and then they must be changed to keep your dog safe from fleas and ticks.

Also, check and read the instructions written on the tick collar packet before using it. Most tick collar loses their effectiveness once they are wet. If your dog spends a lot of time in the water, then this is not the solution suitable for your dog.

The right way to put the tick collar on your pet’s collar is to provide at least two fingers gap on your dog’s neck. Make sure you cut the extra part to prevent the chewing of the tick collar by your pet.

1.3. Use of Shampoo

The shampoo for preventing your dog from ticks is the easiest to use, and it also gives good results. The shampoo is a spot-on treatment which means it gives instant results. Some shampoos also have anti-tick effects on dogs’ faces and skin.

• You can find several shampoos to protect your dog in any local grocery store or pet store.
• Apply the flea and tick-protecting shampoo on the whole skin of your dogs and cats.
• After applying the shampoo, leave the shampoo for almost ten minutes before rinsing it from the dog’s or cat’s skin.
• When you apply the shampoo, remember to protect your dog’s eyes, wooded areas, and any bite to prevent the burning sensation.
• Consider putting a white free towel beneath your dog while you bathe your dog.
• Ticks and fleas will fall off on the towel, which makes it easy to spot.

1.4. Tick Spray

Tick sprays are normally for temporary use. Before using any spray, just consult the doctor and follow the direction written on the pack before using it.

Most tick sprays are made up of natural products. If you do not want to expose your pet to harmful insecticides and pesticides, then this product is the most optimal solution.

The ticks and fleas protecting spray come in the form of aerosols and pump bottles. Make sure when you are spraying this spray to cover every inch of your pet’s skin to prevent it from ticks and fleas. This is among the spot-on treatments for pets.

1.5. Natural Tick Repellents

The next method in the series on how to prevent ticks on dogs is the use of natural tick repellents. If you want to make your pet pesticide free, then you should try this method. You can also prepare natural tick repellents for your dog at home with some common natural ingredients.

• First, mix an equal quantity of diatomaceous earth⁴, some neem powder, and yarrow. Yarrow⁵ is a soothing natural herb that helps in tick infestation and also can be applied to the bite.
• Now put this mixture in the shaking jar and make a fine powder.
• After that, you can apply this powder to your pet’s skin to protect it from ticks. Make sure you cover the whole skin.

You can also make a natural homemade tick collar for your pet dog. For that first mix, two spoons of almond oil, palo santo, and some rose oil and mix properly. Apply this on your dog’s neck before you take it out.

1.6. Avoid Ticks Infested Areas

Another very prominent way how to prevent ticks on dogs is to avoid the tick-infested area. Ticks are usually found in places of densely wooded shrubs and vegetative areas or areas which is covered with dead and decaying leaves.

If such places are near your home or your dog spends a lot of time outside the home, then ensure to keep your dog away from such areas.

2. Final Note

We hope now you have an idea of how to prevent ticks on dogs.  To avoid the presence of ticks on your pet’s skin, you should keep the points in mind we discussed in this article in detail. Dog skin is susceptible, and animals can’t state their problems. So it’s the owner or the keeper’s duty to take care of their pet very carefully.

1. Schreiber, Cécile, et al. “Pathogens in ticks collected from dogs in Berlin/Brandenburg, Germany.” Parasites & Vectors 7 (2014): 1-10. ↩︎
2. Frazior, Aubrey Lynn, and Emily Leeke. A Systematic Review of Flea & Tick Prevention Compliance in the Continental United States. Diss. 2023. ↩︎
3. Stanneck, Dorothee, et al. “Efficacy of an imidacloprid/flumethrin collar against fleas, ticks, mites and lice on dogs.” Parasites & vectors 5 (2012): 1-17. ↩︎
4. Calvert, Robert. “Diatomaceous earth.” Journal of Chemical Education 7.12 (1930): 2829. ↩︎
5. Ijaz, Fariha, et al. “Yarrow.” Medicinal Plants of South Asia. Elsevier, 2020. 685-697. ↩︎

Last Updated on April 27, 2024 by laibaarif