Did you know that animals are susceptible to Lymes disease? In fact, there are five known tick-borne diseases in Minnesota that your dog can get, so it’s important to help keep the bugs away to help keep your dogs safe from disease. Pets also have reactions from bug bites like we do, getting sores and itch at the contact location.
Did you know that nerve gas (organophosphate) is the active ingredient in many of the over the counter bug control options for your pets? This is the same chemical used in gas chambers to kill animals and people. Wow! Not only are the insects that carry the disease harmful, but the preventatives are poisonous. Now what do you do?
Here are some tips and natural options.
- Pet Safe Bug Repellant: Make your own bug spray with this recipe or you can purchase it through Animal Intuition. Try adding a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar! It’s a new ingredient we’ve added to our recipe to give it an extra punch!
- Plants in the yard: Rosemary, citronella, lemongrass, catnip, lemon thyme and ageratum plants all help deter mosquitoes and bugs. Potting a variety of these in your yard can help deter pesky bugs.
- Garlic Supplements: There are a variety of bug repelling garlic supplements available today that help provide a natural guard against bugs. Check with our local friends at Canine Crossing or It’s A Pet’s Life.
- Essential Oils: Using therapeutic-grade essential oils on your dog, making sure they are fully ingestible is a great preventative. My favorite essential oil to use to deter bugs is Purification, a blend of rosemary, lemongrass, citronella and tea tree oils. As a bonus, it helps reduce odors. It can be applied weekly along spine as a preventative or as needed before outdoor adventures.
- Diet & Exercise: Having a healthy diet and exercise routine will help keep your dog’s internal system functioning properly. This is important to deter infectious intruders. Avoid products that contain corn, soy and wheat.
- Massage: In addition to a healthy diet and exercise, pets can benefit from massage techniques to help further boost their immune system.
- Tick Check: Make sure to check for ticks regularly. They love to hide in ears, armpits and groins, but can lurk anywhere. There are tick removal tools you can find at your local pet stores to help you if one is embedded.Despite your every effort to keep your dog safe, he may get bit by a tick simply due to our surroundings. If this happens, it doesn’t automatically mean he will contract a tick borne disease like Lymes, but it is possible.
Here are some signs to look for:
- Lethargic and lack of appetite
- Stiff and sore, showing signs of mobility issues
- Shifting lameness in limbs: Noticeable limp in one leg that goes away in a day or two. Limping in another limb a few days or weeks later.
- Inflammation in joints
- Sensitive to touch
- Difficulty breathing / abnormal panting
If you notice these signs, do not hesitate to contact your animal’s primary care provider or veterinarian.
The information provided is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease and is not a substitute for proper medical care. Contact your medical provider or veterinarian to discuss proper treatment.