Bug be gone: Flea and Tick aftercare

After a long day of fun in the sun, it’s time to pack up and go home. Finally get settled, sit down to relax and notice the pup is scratching more often than normal. You briefly check your dog for fleas by looking beneath the fur and onto their skin. There it is. Black specs fall out and onto the floor.

There are plenty of methods you can do to rid your dog of fleas and ticks. However, the key to keeping your pup safe from diseases such as anemia, skin irritation, tapeworms, or Lyme disease is to get rid them as quickly as possible.

Ticks are a little different as there are many species so they can be range in size and color. You can find them anywhere but more common areas include behind ears, on the neck and near their paws. You may find one or two, however, if not carefully examined ticks can lay eggs within a few weeks.

At Ark Naturals, we believe in providing quality, all-natural products for your pets, so we wanted to share our suggestions for targeting fleas and ticks!

If you find fleas:

• Spray Ark Natural’s Flea Flicker! Tick Kicker! On a dry coat until his coat is damp, then massage into fur. You can also use a flea comb to brush out the dead fleas.
• Wash bedding, sprinkle salt on carpet and vacuum, sweep and mop other areas of the house.
• Make homemade rosemary flea dip. Put 2-4 drops of rosemary essential oil in warm water. Pour it on your dog and let air dry. Don’t let your dog lick or scratch his fur until dry
• Put one drop of lavender essential oil on the back of your dog’s neck to control flea infestations. For a big dog, put the oil on the dog’s neck and base of the tail.

If you find ticks:

• Remove the entire tick (including its head) with tweezers. Gently pull out the tick – don’t jerk or twist it or the head may stay inside the skin. Once the tick is out, you can drown it in alcohol. Dab disinfectant on the area of skin where the tick bit.
• If any part of the tick is left in your dog, call the vet.
• If your dog gets sick, has swollen lymph nodes, has joint pain, or has a rash, call the vet immediately.
• When you remove the tick, you can also put it in a sealed bag with the date and area you think your dog picked up the tick. If your dog gets sick, the vet will be able to identify what type of tick bit your pup.
• Wash your dog’s bedding and check the couches (anywhere your dog sleeps) for ticks.

For Soothing fleas and ticks Bites:

Use Ark Naturals’ Neem “Protect” Shampoo, which is an environmentally-friendly, gentle non-drying formula that cleans dirt, oil, and sebum for your dog. This shampoo relieves itching due to fleas and ticks. Use Ark’s Neem “Protect” Spray, which helps soothe and reduce itching and irritation caused by tick and flea bites. Both products contain Neem, which has wound-healing properties.

After every adventure, look through your dog’s fur thoroughly so you can spot fleas and ticks right away before they turn into a bigger problem. Practice all the flea and tick preventive tips from our last post and treatments so you can have yourself a fun flea and tick-free time outdoors!