March 8, 2023

Natural Flea and Tick Prevention

With summer on the way, flea and tick prevention is more critical than ever for our pets! Here at Pawsh Puppies, caring for our Chihuahuas in the most natural way possible is very important to us, and we have done a lot of research to find the best natural flea and tick preventative available.

No one likes to find fleas and ticks on their pet, and with the steady growth of Lymes and other dangerous diseases spread by these tiny pests, flea and tick prevention is more important then ever! There are a lot of flea and tick sprays, shampoos, medications, oral pills, and collars on the market today to take care of this issue, but unfortunately, the active ingredients in the majority of these products are pesticides. Yes, you read that right; you are actually putting harmful poisons on your dog or puppy! These products claim that it is safe for your dog, but if you actually read the back of most of the packaging from suppliers such as FrontlinePlus or K9 Advantix, they have many warnings such as “Hazardous to humans. Warning! Causes substantial but temporary eye injury. Avoid contact with skin. Harmful if swallowed. Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling. Remove and wash clothing that may have come in contact with the product before reuse. “ It truly frightens me that we think that it is safe, let alone necessary to put these harmful products on our pets. The oral ones are even worse. Even the FDA has spoken out alerting pet owners and veterinarians of the possible dangers of the active chemicals in these products (Animal Drug Safety Communication: FDA Alerts Pet Owners and Veterinarians About Potential for Neurologic Adverse Events Associated with Certain Flea and Tick Products). And yes, I will admit that I am guilty of using these products in the past, but since reading more about them, I have totally switched to natural flea and tick prevention protocol, and I and my Chihuahuas love it! I feel so much better knowing I am not exposing my dogs to harmful chemicals that have known dangerous side effects while also keeping their coats clean and flea and tick free! Bathing every one to two weeks with a natural flea and tick shampoo is one of the best ways to prevent fleas and ticks. I do recommend using a conditioner after using the treatment shampoo to keep their coat from drying out and getting frizzy. I have found that the Natural Care Flea and Tick dog shampoo works very well for our Chihuahuas, and they smell lovely afterward! Keeping their bedding clean is also essential, and I wash our doggie beds and blankets regularly. Keeping their things fresh and dry is a big part of keeping your Chihuahua happy and healthy. I like to give their bedding a light spritz with a natural flea and tick spray after washing as well.

So, should you never use FrontlinePlus or something similar on your dog? That decision is totally up to you, but I do hope that you have gained something from this post and can leave feeling more informed and able to face this summer with your doggie being flea and tick free! I have included several links to our favorite natural flea and tick prevention products below.