How to Prevent Fleas, Ticks & Worms

October 11, 2023By Rosey Saunders

The Mere mention of fleas and ticks is enough to make your skin itch and worms send a shudder down your spine. Our canine companions we we lovingly share our homes with can sometimes be burdened with these pesky visitors, so how can we naturally protect our dogs from these critters?

At Benyfit Natural we are passionate about natural care for your dog, inside and out. Let's take a look at each troublesome unwanted visitor and how we can protect our dogs.

Fleas

Is your dog just having an innocent scratch behind their ear, or is something lurking under their coat?

Fleas are super tiny, no bigger than a grain of rice with a yellow to dark brown colouring. Should you suspect that your dog is scratching more than normal, its time to sit down with a fine comb and have a look through their coat. The best place to start looking is on your dogs belly, gently part the fur and the first thing we are looking for is dark spots on the skin, known as flea muck. If you're unsure you can add a drop of water and if this is flea muck it will turn a dark red/brown colour. Brushing through the fur you may spot fleas running through the coat or even attached to the skin, now be careful fleas can jump over 100 times their body length!

Ticks

Is it a lump? is it a scab? Nope we have a tick burrowing under your dog's skin!

Their appearance is similar to a small spider, but some may have a bulbous body shape if they have feasting for a while. Now the trick with ticks is not to panic, there is a certain art of removing these little scoundrels. Using either a tick twister or a pair of tweezers we want to turn as we pull out a tick, the aim being to remove both the head and the body. This can be uncomfortable for your dog so you may need an extra pair of hands on deck. Once we have removed the entire tick, pop it in a sandwich bag and keep in the freezer. It sounds bizarre but given that ticks can carry nasty dieseases. should your dog become ill you can take this tick with you to the vets to assist in treatment. If your dog has a heavy tick burden, which can occur from walking near livestock or in woods it may be best to pop to the vets for assistance in removal.

Worms

Excessive scooting from an itchy rear end can be a telltale sign of worms, you may also spot eggs or even worms in your dogs poo. This is why it is important to not only pick up your dog poo but also have a closer look, especially if you have a dog that has a taste for animal droppings. Long lasting worm burdens can cause digestive upset, pot belly appearance and lethargy. If you are following a natural protocol regular faecal testing is key as some worms ( lung worms) need specifically testing for as they unlike the traditional roundworm and tapeworm found in the GI tract. Prevention is key, and when using natural methods you have to take a multilayered approach.

Natural Preventatives

Hairy Ears- Not only a great chew for your dogs to sink their teeth into but with the added "cleaning" benefits. Hair acts as a pipe cleaner in the gut helping to dislodge worms in the gut and pass them through stools. Hairy rabbit ears and cow ears are on the menu here at Benyfit Natural. Adding these into your dogs diet on rotation a couple of times a week can give that bump of manganese and an opportunity for a clear our.

Neem- A common pest repellant, pet safe neem based shampoos are great for general use or when dealing with a flea burden. You can also use a drop of therapeutic neem oil in diluted water as a topical spray before going to an area with a high chance of fleas and ticks.

Diatomaceous Earth- This powder is made from fossilised algae and can be used topically if you dog has fleas. The powder kills of the fleas, but would be best used on a dry coat after a neem shampoo treatment. You can also use this on soft furnishings in the home and hoover up after a couple of hours.

Should you struggle with natural remedies and the pesty critters still aren't budging then a visit to your Holistic Vet is definitely recommended. Although we don't want to encourage regular use of pesticides with our dogs, a Holistic Vet will be able to advice the best course of action.

With a little bit of effort and care, you can keep your furry friend happy and healthy all year round!

Treats to Beat The Critters

Cow Ears with Hair

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Rabbit Ears with Fur

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How to Prevent Fleas, Ticks & Worms

Fleas

Ticks

Worms

Natural Preventatives

Treats to Beat The Critters

Benefits of Raw

20% OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER

Natural Raw Dog Food

Raw Food Calculator

Transitioning to Raw

Planet Friendly Packaging

Our Ingredients

Benefits of Raw

20% OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER

Natural Raw Dog Food

Raw Food Calculator

Transitioning to Raw

Planet Friendly Packaging

Our Ingredients

How to Prevent Fleas, Ticks & Worms

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