Homemade Flea Bath

Does your dog have a flea and tick problem? If your dog is infested with fleas, your first course of action should be to get him in the tub. Drench him and scrub him down with a good flea and tick shampoo. Then, rinse him off completely and add a few drops of Lavender or Tea Tree oil to his coat.

Want to make an herbal flea dip? Steep two cups of fresh rosemary leaves in a couple pints of boiling water for thirty minutes. Next, strain the liquid, remove the leaves and add 8 additional pints of warm water. Pour the mixture over the dog and allow to dry—do not rinse.

Harmful Flea and Tick Chemicals

Don't just go out and buy whatever medicine is highly recommended and especially don't get cat flea medication for your dog, or vice versa, just because it's on sale. Do your research and ask a professional to make sure that you're not doing your pet more harm than good. Finally, once you have decided on a medication, make sure to read the directions before haphazardly applying the treatment, as an incorrect application can also incur harmful results on your beloved animal.

Tell Ticks to Take a Hike

If you're big into hiking, it's likely that your beloved furry friend is likely to come on a hiking trip or two. Wooded areas, however, can be extremely dangerous for man's best friend as they tend to be breeding grounds for ticks. After and during each outing search your dog for ticks. Check the neck, ears, and underbelly extra carefully. If you do find ticks on your animal, brush them off or remove them with rubber gloves—avoid touching them with your fingers.

If you find a tick attached to your pet, don't squeeze it. Instead, remove it with a special tick removal tool (available at most pet stores). Different ticks carry different diseases so if your pet is bitten by one it's useful to save the parasite in a jar with a wet cotton ball (so it doesn't dry up). This way, your vet can identify the specific species of tick and better diagnose your animal.