Updated 04/18/2023

Spring has come and so have ticks and fleas. In this post I’m going to be covering Ticks more than the others, because normally if you’re trying to prevent ticks, you’re covering the bases for fleas as well.

In Quebec we have 12 different species of ticks. There is only one species that we would need to worry about though and that is the Ixodes scapularis tick, also known as the “deer tick” or the “blacklegged tick”. This is the only species found in Quebec that can transmit Lyme Disease. 

Ticks are most likely to be picked up by your dog (or cat) in heavily forested areas, gardens, long grasses, piles of dead leaves and areas where wildlife (birds included) frequent. If you think your pet will be or has been in an area like these there are ways to make sure they don’t become hosts for these external parasites. 

Chemical Based Options

Although we don’t carry them, we are not against the use of chemical treatments for fleas and ticks. If it works for your pet and your lifestyle then we’re happy. We do recommend only getting chemical treatments from your veterinarian. This way they can weigh your pet and make sure they are getting the appropriate dose. We also recommend only giving your pet chemical treatments during tick season and only if your dog’s may run into ticks often. If you live in a high rise and your dog barely goes for walks on unkept grass or in the woods your dog does not need tick treatment. 

It’s also good to know that these chemical based treatments do not repel fleas and ticks, but once the parasite has gotten onto your dog and sucked their blood it poisons the pests and they die. 

Natural Options

We carry many natural options that can help you fend off external parasites. Some of these are even great additions to the use of chemical pesticides as they help to repel fleas and ticks so that they don’t end up on your pet in the first place! 

Now, if you’re looking for something 100% natural and 100% effective it does not exist. Although much safer for our pets and our environment, using natural treatments for fleas and ticks is a lot more work than using the chemical methods. 

Essential oil based sprays

Spraying your dog (not good for cats) before they go outside with an essential oil mix can help to repel fleas and ticks. Since essential oils evaporate pretty quickly I would recommend spraying this on your pets every 30 minutes while you’re outdoors in any flea or tick infested area.

We carry Black Sheep Organic’s Off Leash Spray as well as PetMix.

Doing a body check once per day

This is what I mean by ‘more work’. Doing a body check daily will allow you to see if your pet’s is hosting any of these parasites. Ticks usually take up to 24 hours to secrete any toxin into your pet’s body, so a daily check will help you find them before this happens.

You can do this by massaging your pet and moving your hand against the fur growth so you can see any critters running around near the skin. Using a flea comb can help you easily find any critters hiding in longer or thicker hair. Don’t forget to check between their pads, in and around their ears, around their bum and inside their lips. When coming in from a walk in a high tick area, I like to lint roll my dogs. To catch any of the ticks that may be on the surface of their fur. 

Putting Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth on Your Pet

Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth consists of ground fossils, marine life and freshwater organisms. While non-toxic to humans and animals, this powder can be lethal to ticks and fleas. It causes insects to dry out and die by absorbing the oils and fats from the cuticle of the insect’s exoskeleton. DE is also great for carpets and furniture if you do find fleas or ticks on your pet. It will dry out any parasite or larvae that’s found a quiet spot to hide out.

Works on ants too!

Caution needs to be taken when applying since it’s a fine powder it does go airborne quite easily.

Tick Remover

If during your checks you happen to find a tick that is already attached don’t pull it out with your fingers. Use a tick tool so that you don’t aggravate the tick too much. It’s said that if a tick is aggravated it might vomit into the pet and release the toxin that could be carrying Lyme. So gently take it off with a specialized tool. 

A Healthy Pet Means Fewer Ticks!

Make sure your pet is healthy and thriving! Eating a well balanced diet and getting the appropriate amount of exercise will ensure that your pet’s immune system is strong enough that most ticks or fleas wouldn’t even bother with them.

Ticks are gross. We know. If you’re looking to lead a more chemical-free life in your home or on/in your pet there are natural tick preventatives out there for you. Keep in mind though that doing things a bit more naturally takes more time out of your day, and is far more effective if you use multiple natural preventatives at once. But if your goal is fewer chemicals in your pet, and your life, it’s very much worth the effort! 

https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/health-issues/a-z/lyme-disease/

https://www.inspq.qc.ca/en/detailed-description-ixodes-scapularis-or-black-legged-tick-or-deer-tick

https://www.inspq.qc.ca/zoonoses/maladie-de-lyme

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/lyme-disease/prevention-lyme-disease.html

https://thehealingvet.com/ticks-and-flea-prevention-is-this-poisoning-our-pets/

http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html

https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/natural-solutions-tick-season/

https://www.etick.ca/