How many problems are caused to the dog by small bloodsuckers, settled in the body of an animal without an invitation! Fleas bite constantly, causing unbearable itching and forcing to itch the skin, and in addition, they often carry dangerous infections if, for example, they move to your pet’s hair from a sick animal. It gets even worse in the warm season, when ticks spreading piroplasmosis and other dangerous diseases come out to hunt. Even if your dog lives in an apartment, this does not guarantee its protection from parasites, because they can come home on the clothes and shoes of the owners to attack your pet. In a word, a responsible dog owner will definitely do something to protect him from this scourge.
Advantages of homemade flea collars
Ready-made flea and tick collars for dogs are very convenient: you just need to take them out of a package and fasten them around your pet’s neck. They are sometimes very Spot On for your requirement. An ultrasonic product repels parasites with sound waves of a certain frequency; an insecticidal product kills with toxic substances. However, the first of them has little efficiency, and the second, if handled carelessly, can harm both the animal itself and the owners, if they touch inadvertently a poisonous strip while playing with their pet and forget to wash their hands.
That is why lots of dog owners prefer to make flea and tick collars with their own hands using harmless natural ingredients with an unpleasant aroma for insects. They act, perhaps less effectively than accessories with poisonous substances, but they fulfil their task of scaring dangerous bloodsuckers away from the dog.
Instructions for making a flea collar
First, you will have to go to a pharmacy or specialty store to buy the ingredients for the odorous mixture. At the same time, buy an ordinary cloth collar (it is not possible to impregnate plastic with a mixture at home). Using homemade strips of fabric or bandanas is not very convenient – they will move out and stray to the side.
Ingredients for a homemade collar:
- Witch hazel extract from Somebody;
- Essential oil of lavender, thyme or citronella;
- Garlic oil.
You can buy the last ingredient at the store or you can make your own by heating 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a saucepan and adding one minced garlic clove to them. Do not keep the mixture on fire for too long, if it is overheated, the effect of the active substances will decrease. As soon as the aroma of garlic is revealed, remove the pan from the stove.
How to make a flea collar step by step:
- In a non-food bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of witch hazel extract with 1 teaspoon of garlic oil.
- Add 2-3 drops of essential oil.
- Stir with a toothpick or just a stick.
- Put your pet’s cloth collar into the mixture and let it soak well. Usually this takes 5-10 minutes.
- Dry and use as directed.
The collar will be valid approximately 1 month. If your animal feels good, looks cheerful and active, it does not feel sick; it can wear the accessory all the time without taking it off.
Pour out the rest of the oil mixture or save it in a spray bottle and spray on open areas of your body before going for a walk in the forest. Unless, of course, you are allergic to the components of the mixture, and you contact tolerate with essential oils well.
Precautions when using a homemade collar
While the ingredients listed above are considered safe, they can still be harmful if your dog is allowed to chew on the collar. Make sure this doesn’t happen.
For the same reason, it is undesirable to spray the animal’s hair left after impregnating the collar with the mixture, hoping to strengthen its protection before a walk. The fact is that a dog can lick wet hair, and garlic can cause poisoning in him.
Another dangerous moment. Some owners advise using tea tree or cedar tree oil along with lavender. Remember that these substances are strong toxins for dogs. It is true that only a microscopic amount of it can enter the body through the skin, unable to affect the health of the animal, but why risk it?
Observe the animal to see if the smell bothers it. Of course, the dosage of aromatic substances in this recipe is very small, but let’s not forget that a dog’s sense of smell is much stronger than a human’s. It is quite possible that it will feel uncomfortable surrounded by new strong odours.
Do not put a collar on cats! They are more sensitive to essential oils and can be seriously affected.
Flea collar: make or buy?
A home collar seems like a great option in many ways. It is environmentally friendly, practically harmless, smells good, does not cause trouble when worn and helps protect the pet from bloodsuckers. The only negative thing is the dosage, which is difficult to adjust to a common indicator for all breeds. It may happen that your dog is bothered by the smell of citronella, or irritation occurs after contact of an oil-soaked collar with the skin.
You can avoid such problems by ordering a biological flea and tick collar for dogs at a veterinary pharmacy or store. It does not contain toxic substances, acts on the basis of the same essential oils and plant extracts, and is just as unpleasant for blood-sucking insects. In addition, when purchasing a ready product, you can be sure that the dosage for mixtures has been calculated by professionals who know how not to harm the animal.
It’s really a simple, safe and convenient option!
