All pet owners are plagued with the fleas and ticks that come with summertime. Not only is it awful for us, but it’s also very uncomfortable and health-threatening to your pet as well. Ticks spread diseases and fleas are the sources of tapeworms, starting when your pet ingests them during grooming. Tapeworms are also a threat to the overall health and condition of your pet. Tapeworms can also be spread to humans.
Fleas breed prolifically, so if you see one, there are thousands elsewhere and it won’t take long until they are in your home. You need them dead and you don’t want them back. We’ve got some summertime tips for using coconut oil to help keep them away and take care of those nasty ticks that can threaten your health as well.
Many illnesses are tick-borne and this includes Lyme disease, which can impact your pets as well. Ticks serve no purpose and you need them to stay away from your dog and you. We’ll discuss how you can use coconut oil to do this, cheaply and effectively, without chemicals.
What can kill fleas instantly?
There are many chemically-laced spot-on treatments and oral remedies that you can give your pet. Many of these are prescribed by veterinarians, but that doesn’t mean they will always be safe. They are not always the best choice because some pets are sensitive to these chemicals. Some pet owners have reported everything from seizures to upset stomach, and even behavior issues after using chemical spot-ons for fleas and ticks.
Luckily, coconut oil for fleas can also kill ticks on contact and repel them too. The lauric acid in coconut oil kills the parasites without causing any issues for your dog. In fact, it will make them smell nice instead of like chemicals. You don’t have to worry about your kids rubbing it on themselves and being exposed to neurotoxins or worse.
How often should I put coconut oil on my dog?
Since it is not toxic, you may apply this as often as you like and rubbing it on their body or making a spray with coconut oil and some essential oils – like eucalyptus – are great ways to add some each time your pet goes outdoors. Do be cautious with essential oils and cats though. They don’t tolerate the oils and some of the oils are quite toxic to cats.
How do I apply coconut oil to my dog?
Warm the oil slightly so that you can rub it into their fur and work it all the way down to their skin. This is not only a great way to repel fleas and ticks but it also keeps their skin moist and healthy. They will shine as never before too.
After an initial rubbing of coconut oil for fleas all over their body, getting between their toes and inside their ears, allow it to soak into their skin for several hours or even a day. You may bathe them after a day if you like.
You can create a spray with coconut oil in it and add some other wonderful essential oils if you are using it on a dog that the oils will be safe for. Check each oil for its safety in regard to pets. Spray this on them each time they are going outdoors and you should have no more issues with fleas or ticks.
Coconut oil for dogs ears
You can also use coconut oil for dog’s ears. Just a few drops in the ear canal and massage gently. This will not only loosen dirt, wax, and debris, but it will leave their ears smelling nice as well. Not to mention, if they have ear mites, they will be smothered and killed by the oil. It’s a great solution for dogs who have constant ear problems. Since coconut oil has antibacterial traits, it can help dogs that suffer from chronic ear infections as well.
Are Fleas attracted to coconut oil?
They are not actually attracted to the oil but when they touch it, they get it all over themselves and it coats their exoskeleton. When this happens, they suffocate. It kills them by choking off their supply of oxygen. This means that they die within a matter of minutes after coming in contact with the coconut oil.
Fleas are not overly attracted to the coconut oil and it can work as a repellant, yet smell nice to you and make having your dog in the house to be pleasurable again. No one wants to cuddle with a dog that smells like chemicals. Parents don’t want their children rubbing on it either.
Coconut oil for fleas will leave them smelling like they’ve been to the beach and they’ll look like they are the healthiest that they’ve ever been to. If you are concerned about keeping mosquitoes away from your dog or cat as well, you can consider adding essential oil to the spray that will make most bugs reconsider.
Citronella, eucalyptus, lemongrass, and lavender are all oils that insects hate in general. Cats are not able to tolerate all essential oils though, so do be careful if you are mixing anything that will be used on cats.
Most essential oils are toxic to cats because they cannot metabolize the concentrated oils and this will have a toxic impact on them. Many cats die from being poisoned each year, by essential oils. Do not use them with cats. The will be fine to have coconut oil sprayed on them, however.
How long do you leave coconut oil on a dog to kill fleas?
It’s best to apply the oil and allow it to stay on the dog for at least until it dries. It won’t harm your dog in any way. It will take up to a day for it to completely be soaked into the skin.
You can also give some diluted coconut oil to your dog in their food to help ward off both fleas and ticks as it will stay in their system and give them even further protection.
Does coconut oil help dogs stop itching?
Coconut oil has an antimicrobial and antiseptic quality that can reduce flea dermatitis and reduce the chances of skin infections. This will help reduce dandruff and itching from skin allergies and dry skin. The oil will work just like skin cream and has additional benefits of the antimicrobial tendencies, so it helps to prevent the mites and bacteria that can cause skin dermatitis and help resolve mange and dandruff.
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