Natural repellent for Fleas and Ticks

     I live in Mississippi, not in the down-home delta where we don’t wear shoes, but I’m not exactly in the most urban part either.  We’ve got a bit of a tick problem.  People know that if you’re going to deal with a Mississippi summer, you’re going to have to get your dog some flea and tick repellent somehow, but it is a recession and some people just don’t like giving their dog monthly pills. I’m kind of one of those people.  I know it’s necessary, but I try to limit it.  For instance, I really don’t give heartworm medicine during the winter.  You’re supposed to (or they say you are), but I don’t do it.  Now, I also have inside dogs.  And when the mosquitoes come out, I start giving them heartworm medicine.

      Also, I had a good friend of mine complain about flea and ticks on his dogs the other day (and he really does live in the backwoods of America), so I told him that I would check it out.  Naturally, the first place I went is Google – I also looked through two of my really good holistic books.

Natural repellent for Fleas and Ticks:
Apple Cider Vinegar – this can be found at your local grocery store.  To use, pour a little bit on a towel and rub it through your dog’s coat, or, the easier way is go get a spray bottle and fill it and just spray your dogs down before you go for walks and things.  So every two-three days they can be sprayed down with the apple cider vinegar.  Though, the more you spray, the more it should be diluted.  It can also be diluted and used for an after-bath leave in conditioner, it is good for the skin and it will also still repel bugs. Double win.
Garlic – Found at your local grocery store.  It is not toxic to dogs and most of them really like it.  It also repels bugs.  To use, just feed it to them, mix it with their food, cook it in, or even just put it on your finger and let them lick it off, however they will take it is fine.  It’ll repel because, simply, bugs just don’t like the smell.  Just like the apple cider vinegar.
I also found recipes if you have time to make them for sprays and things (I’m a busy person – I stick with the apple Cider and the garlic)
Tick Spritzer Blend:
·         2 drops of Lavender, Basil, Lemon, Opoponax, Eucalyptus
·         1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
·         1 teaspoon vodka
·         1 cup of dried marjoram, eucalyptus, rosemary
·         2 cups of water
Flea Spritzer Blend:
·         2 drops of cedarwood, lemongrass, rose geranium
·         1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
·         1 teaspoon vodka
·         1 cup of dried peppermint, eucalyptus, bay leaf herbs
·         1- 2 cups of water
Add the essential oils and vodka in a bottle, tighten the lid and shake well. Once the mixture blended (should turn white), add apple cider vinegar. If you have some herbs mentioned above you can make an herbal tea to use in your spritzer.

Boil 2-4 cups of water and remove from heat. Add your dried herbs in the water and let is simmer for 30 minutes. Once cool, drain and use instead of plain water in your spritzer. If you are using an herbal tea, this mixture must be kept in the refrigerator as the herbal teas have the tendency to go bad faster.

Once you have your spritzer you can use this by gently spraying it in to your dogs coat, legs, tummy and back. Rub it in well and apply it as necessary. Do not use any of the essential oils on your dogs face or around nose, ears and eyes. Respect the sensitive nose he/she has and go easy when using aromatic substances such as essential oils.
(Copied from: http://healing.about.com/od/dogs/a/canineticks_2.htm )