You may also use high-potency garlic tablets. Mix the herbs together in a shaker-top jar, and apply sparingly to your pooch, making sure to get at the base of the hairs along the back, neck and belly. Then dust the fur with herbal repellent before hikes in woods or fields. Always groom your dog when you return from tick-infested areas, to remove any critters before they have a chance to bite. Inc. This makes essential oils great pest repellents for animals and humans, too.
Essential oils are also available in shampoos, sprays and soaps.
Pennyroyal oil is a component of many natural flea and tick products, but Bell strongly cautions against its use. She explains pennyroyal is inexpensive to produce in mass quantities, which is why it may be so popular in flea control products. Bell says there are many essential oils that are not as strong as pennyroyal, but work just as well to repel fleas and ticks. The solution should be shaken well before each use and spritzed on your dog daily. It can also be sprayed on bedding or around the doorways of your home to keep fleas out.