Flea and Tick Prevention Options for Pets with Sensitive Skin

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

20 Apr 2008 07:01 AM

I mentioned recently that Lally seems to be having trouble with a new flea and tick preventative we tried. Hopefully we won't have any more skin problems if I switch back to Frontline... but I wonder if she's just getting more allergic as she ages.

That got me thinking about alternatives to the insecticide-medication-on-the-skin type of flea and tick prevention.

1. Traditional flea and tick collars. You might remember the narrow white collars that dogs and cats used to wear before medications like Frontline and Sentinel came along? Since the medication doesn't get soaked into the skin, it might be an okay alternative for pets with sensitive skin.
2. Natural flea and tick repellants. My aromatherapy books offer several different options for all-natural flea and tick repellants. My favorite combination is lemon, eucalyptus, tea tree, and lavender. Put a few drops of each essential oil into a spray bottle and fill the rest with water. Spray your dog down daily or every other day for natural insect protection.
3. Aromatherapy flea and tick repellants on a collar. You can apply the essential oils listed above (or other bug-repelling scents) directly to the collar your dog wears! Put the collar into a big zip-top baggie, add the essential oils, and let it soak in overnight. The insect repelling power would probably last longer than in spray form (it would be more concentrated) -- maybe up to a week before you'd need to reapply.

There are pros and cons to each option. The natural alternatives take more work on the owner's part -- and a pet may still be allergic to one or more of the essential oils. Remember that you don't want to apply essential oils directly to the skin unless they are diluted in a carrier oil or mixed into a water or lotion base. Essential oils are strong stuff.

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