Fleas and mosquitoes carry life-threatening diseases like Lyme disease, heartworm, and tapeworms when they rear on your pet dog. Dogs get itchy and scratchy, but many dog owners do not like medication and instead, they look for home remedies to get rid of fleas and ticks in dogs. While an easy option is to kill them by administering oral drugs, another way suggested by vets is to go with traditional preventatives.

For dogs who are not on traditional monthly flea and mosquito prevention medication, blood testing is recommended every 3 to 6 months. These tests will monitor for heartworm or tapeworm and other tick-borne diseases. However, you have nothing to worry about as simply following a few home remedies can help you to get rid of fleas and ticks in dogs. If you suspect that your dog has fleas, you can find out by making your dog stand on a moist towel and brush them. If little dirt specs fall on the towel and turn red or brown, your dog has ticks. Here are some best home remedies to get rid of fleas and ticks in dogs:

Use vinegar – a pet-friendly cleaning solution
Fleas are averse to the smell of vinegar, and you must use it to your advantage. All you need to do is get a bottle of white or apple cider vinegar and a clean spray bottle that never had any chemical solution stored in it.

• Mix water and vinegar in a 1:1 ratio. You can dilute it if your dog doesn’t like the strong smell.
• Gently spray your dog with this, avoiding the eyes, nose and mouth areas, or any open sores.

Let your dog’s fur dry naturally, and repeat this at-home flea treatment for a couple of days. If your dog doesn’t like the spray bottle, you can soak a cloth in the mix and gently wipe your dog with it.

Add apple cider vinegar to water
You can treat your dog from the inside as well, just by adding apple cider vinegar to your dog’s water bowl. Your dog’s skin gets an acidic taste that makes it less attractive for the fleas with this. A thumb rule is to check with your vet on the ratio of apple cider vinegar to be added before administering this treatment.

Keep your yard and home flea free
One of the effective methods to keep your yard free of fleas and safe for dogs is to create some natural arrangements. Here’s how you can do it:

• Keeping the yard sunny is an effective way to keep fleas away.
• Plant herbs in the backyard or near the area your dog roams or stays in. The strong smell of herbs near the doors and windows can prevent fleas.
• Make your home unfriendly for fleas by using homemade sprays of either lemon, salt, or essential oils.

These preventive home remedies will have dual benefits as they will keep your home free from annoying mosquitoes and fleas and also ensure that your furry friend is thriving and happy without reporting tick incidences.