Mosquito repellent for dogs – safe, natural, homemade and diy recipes

Video: DIY: The Best Natural Dog Friendly Bug Repellent for Ticks, Fleas, & Other Pesky Insects!

While having a furry coat may help reduce the number of mosquito bites a dog is exposed to, there still are areas that will be vulnerable to them. These include the ears, face and under belly. Mosquito bites on dogs will cause lumps on the dog’s skin. These may be itchy and in severe cases your dog may suffer heart worm disease. Instead of waiting to deal with the after effects of mosquito bites on dogs, it is best to prevent them. This can be done using mosquito repellent for dogs. We discuss various repellent products, natural and homemade remedies as well as easy DIY spray recipes below.

Mosquito Repellent for Dogs

We know there are mosquito repellents meant for use by humans but are these safe for pets? According to the barkpost.com, human bug repellents contain DEET as the main ingredient. This makes them harmful and toxic to dogs.

The negative side effects on dogs upon exposure include skin irritation, vomiting and seizures. They never should be used on dogs. With this being the case, is there a mosquito repellent for dogs? There are several of them ranging from commercial products to all natural home remedies as seen below.

K9 Advantix

K9 Advantix is safe for dogs. It offers a broad spectrum protection against mosquitos as well as ticks and fleas. In addition to killing these bugs, it also helps repel them. What’s more is the fact that the insects do not have to attach on your dog or bite to die. This repellent is designed for dogs and contains toxic substances to cats and aquatic life.

Flys Off Mist Insect Repellent

When purchasing insect repellents safe and suitable for dogs, it is recommended to settle for one containing permethrins or pyrethrins. This makes Fly Off Mist a perfect mosquito repellent for dogs. It helps keep them and other insects away and is ideal for dogs and cats that spend a reasonable amount of time outdoors. Given that it comes in the form of a non-aerosol spray gives it even more advantages.

In addition to the above, there are various other products available in pet drug stores such as Petsmart and Petco. There also are others available in Walmart. Settle for products that are there for pets as oppose to those meant for humans. These contain DEET which is harmful for dogs.

Natural Mosquito Repellent for Dogs

Whether you are in Canada, Australia or in the United States, there are many organic and natural mosquito repellents for dogs you can use. Since not all homemade repellents safe for humans are safe for dogs, we discuss the ones that are safe and how to use them.

Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar Mosquito Repellent for Dogs Recipe

Apple cider vinegar can be used to make a mosquito repellent for dogs. Adding other ingredients to it helps make a repellent spray that is not only effective but safe for dogs too.

1. In a clean spray bottle, add 1/3 of a cup of cider vinegar and an equal amount of witch hazel.
2. Add to the mixture six drops of citronella oil.
3. Cover the spray bottle and shake the mixture for even distribution of the ingredients.
4. Spray this on your dog before it ventures out and reapply every three hours.

Lemons

Mosquitoes are generally repelled by the citric scent of lemons. It additionally comes with the advantage of being non-toxic and thus cannot harm the dog if ingested while grooming. This can be used to repel mosquitoes through topical application as follows:

Lemon Juice Application

To use it for spot treatment:

1. Slice into halves a number of fresh lemons.
2. Use these to rub the dog’s fur.
3. Ensure you pay attention to areas most vulnerable to mosquito bites such as the nose, ears and under belly.
4. Keep the lemon away for areas around the eyes as well as any open cuts as these could get easily irritated by the juice.

Lemon Juice Spray Mosquito Repellent for Dogs

For a spray of about one liter, you will need a liter of water and about six lemons.

1. Cut the lemons into halves and place them in a pot with a liter of water.
2. Bring them combination to a boil and then let steep for two hours.
3. Let the resulting solution cool down before straining.
4. Put the resulting remedy and put it in a spray bottle.
5. Use this as a spray for mosquito repellent for dogs.
6. While protecting your dog’s eyes, spritz the homemade spray on your dog
7. To apply the same on the face, you can spritz some on your palm and apply on the face.
8. Repeat application as may be necessary.

Collar Drops Mosquito Repellent for Dogs

Yet another way to use lemons as a mosquito repellent is by incorporating them in collar drops. The drops can be made using lemon rinds and a carrier oil such as olive oil.

1. Peel lemons and put them in a sauce pan.
2. Add a cup of olive oil to it and cook in low heat for 20 minutes.
3. Allow the lemon oil to cool before straining into a bottle.
4. Put a few drops of this oil on the dog’s collar to repel mosquitoes.

DIY Homemade Mosquito Repellent For Dogs

A lot of essential oils can be used to repel mosquitoes. However, not all are safe for dogs. Even those that are will usually need to be diluted so as not to irritate your pet. We discuss how to make use of various oils for DIY homemade mosquito repellent for dogs.

Essential Oils Blend to Repel Mosquitoes on Dogs

Different essential oils have the ability to repel different insects. When a number of them are used together, they help to ward off mosquitoes as well as other insects. To make such a blend, you will need peppermint, lavender and geranium essential oils which are known to repel mosquitoes. Cedar, eucalyptus, neem, myrrh and rosewood oils are also great insect repellents.

1. Add two tablespoons of distilled water to a spray bottle.
2. Follow it up with a tablespoon of glycerin vegetable oil.
3. To the mixture, add up to 30 drops of the essential oils.
4. Spray this on the dog as need arises for the purposes of controlling mosquitos and other bugs.

Tea Tree Oil Spray

Tea tree can be used with lavender oil in a DIY recipe to make a mosquito repellent for dogs that works.

1. Add a cup of water to a spray bottle.
2. Add four drops of tea tree oil and lavender oil each.
3. Shake the mixture well and spritz this on your dog’s coat.
4. Some mild mist will be effective as opposed to having the fur soaked. This should be enough to repel various insects.

Rosemary Essential Oil

Rosemary can be used plain or as a spray to repel mosquitoes. Squeeze some drops of it on the dog’s collar to put mosquitoes off. You could also add eight drops of rosemary oil to a cup of distilled water and use this as a mosquito repellent spray.

How to Make Herbal Mosquito Repellent for Dogs

If you are looking for a natural method on how to keep mosquitos away, there are a number of herbal mosquito repellents suitable for dogs. These are readily available and can be used as discussed below.

Vanila Extract

Vanila extract is not only good for adding flavors to your pastry. It can be used to ward off mosquitoes on dogs. There are different ways on how to use it. These include rubbing plain extract on the dog’s skin. It can also be added in the various home recipes for mosquito repellents discussed above. Mixed with witch hazel, it can be used as a mosquito repellent spray.

Video: DIY: The Best Natural Bug Repellent for Mosquites, Ticks, & Other Pesky Flying Insects!

Lavender

Lavender flowers when rubbed on the dog will act as a mosquito and other bugs repellent. Rub these on areas vulnerable to mosquito bites such as dog ears, face and the under belly.

Mint

Plants in the mint family act as effective insect repellents. To repel mosquitos in dogs, rub dried leaves over your pet’s body. These could be peppermint, spear mint or catnip. Basil, citronella and wheat grass can be used as herbal mosquito repellents for dogs in the same way.

Celery

Celery extract can also be used to repel mosquitoes when applied topically. The extract is mild enough and will thus not cause any skin irritation on your pooch. It is effective in repelling a wide range of mosquito species as compared to some of commercial repellents.

Citronella

Mosquitoes do not like citronella and this is why citronella candles are widely used as mosquito repellents. To use it on dogs, rub citronella oil on your dog. Ensure you dilute it with a carrier oil before doing so.

Garlic

To ward off mosquitoes and Dracula, you could rub garlic cloves on its coats. The strong scent of garlic will send the insects away. You could also add garlic into your dog’s homemade meals. This would help to repel the insects after consumption.

Lemon Grass

This too can go a long way in repelling mosquitoes. Break off the lemongrass stalk and peel off the leaves on the outer side. Rub the dog with the juicy pulp and this should act as a mosquito repellent for them.

Tips on Repelling Mosquitoes on Dogs

• Plant marigolds, rosemary and other repellent herbs to keep your dog and the rest of the family safe from mosquitoes.
• When spending time outdoors with your dog, avoid wearing floral scents as these attract mosquitoes.

Reviews & Comments