The weather seems to change four times a day, but it is starting to warm up. This unfortunately means that we are entering tick season. Ticks are commonly found in wooded and grassy areas.  They can latch onto your dog and carry many terrible pathogens which can cause lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis.

I’ve been asked by customers if rose geranium essential oil is effective to repel ticks and fleas on dogs. It is often cited on pet blogs as well. Aside from my disdain for this oil ( I refer to it as one of the GMO’s of the essential oil world) I would say yes to the geranium part, no to the rose part. Given that this is a fairly expensive essential oil, all you have is an overpriced, ineffective bug repellant which will leave your pet smelling real pretty – which they hate.

If you want to use essential oils which are effective and lower priced, try a geranium, basil, cedarwood mix. This blend will help to repel ticks in the first place. If you follow these three effective applications, you can make your dog’s environment unappealing to these nasty lyme disease spreading vermin (OK, so I don’t like ticks).

•  If your dog has a cloth collar, you can put a few drops of these oils right on it and let them soak in.
• Make a spray by adding 20 drops of a combination of the previously mentioned essential oils together in a small glass or metal cup. Add about 30 ml glycerine. Make sure the oils mix well with the glycerine.   Then add to a 250 ml spray top bottle and fill remaining amount with water. Always shake before use. Be sure to not spray the mix in the dog’s eyes.
•  Add about 10 drops of any combo of these oils to about 1 oz (30 ml) of a natural unscented soap base and mix well. Wash your dog with it.  The mix will smell more outdoorsy and it will be less likely that they will roll in something disgusting to get rid of the foo foo smelling shampoo you currently use. Strong, synthetic fragrances can attract bugs as well.

Nothing is foolproof with tick prevention, so if a tick has latched on to your pooch, don’t drop soaps/oils or anything else right on the tick. This can cause the tick to clamp harder or even die, leaving harmful pathogens under the skin. It can also cause the tick to throw up the contents of their stomach into your dog- gross and unsafe.

Tick Removal Key

A safe way to remove a tick is to get a flat pair of tweezers or tick removal instrument. Many vets and pet stores will sell them. Gently get under the tick’s head and lift up slightly. Take a drop of pure marjoram on a q-tip and position it at the tip of the head or slightly under if you can get it to lift that high. Ticks hate the smell and may release its grip to get away from it.  If the tick doesn’t release, use your tick removal tool according to its instructions to remove the tick. You can then safely dispose of the little bugger by wrapping it in toilet paper and flushing it down the toilet. Make sure to wash your hands and the bite area with soap and water.

Don’t just throw the tick in the trash, as it could crawl out and come back to terrorize you.

Remember to never pull a tick straight out of a dog’s or human’s skin as the legs will snap off, leaving harmful bacteria below the surface.

– Sandy Powell

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Disclaimer: This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, or substitute medical advice from a veterinarian or medical professional.