Fleas and ticks are blood-sucking parasites and the nemesis of every pet owner in the world. While the market is swamped with products that promise to get rid of fleas and ticks, the chemicals in these products can be dangerous for dogs and cats. They can cause skin irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and in the worst case, can even be fatal. Instead, you can use these natural deterrents for fleas and ticks to relieve your pets of the pests:

• Use natural oils
  You can use essential oils as sprays or add them to your favorite pet shampoo to keep fleas and ticks away. Peppermint, lavender, rose geranium, lemongrass, and cedar oil can work well, but they must be diluted before use. Neem oil is another effective natural deterrent for fleas and ticks. You must carry out a patch test before using essential oils, as pets are very sensitive to the strong fragrances. Also, never spray the oil around your pet’s face and don’t soak their coat with it—a little is enough.
• Add garlic to your dog’s diet
  Adding crushed garlic to your dog’s food is a great way to prevent flea infestations. Depending on the size of your canine friend, you can feed them half a clove to two cloves of garlic every day. Experts recommend giving dogs no more than half a clove of garlic per 20 pounds of their weight. Also, regardless of how well-built and healthy your dog is, don’t give them more than two cloves of garlic in a day.
  Additionally, don’t give garlic to your cat as they are extremely sensitive to it. Also, garlic should be avoided in all forms if your dog has a history of hemolytic anemia.
• Sprinkle citrus juice
  Mix citrus fruit juices with water, and you have yourself a natural deterrent for fleas and ticks ready in minutes. You can use any citrus fruit like lemons, oranges, or grapefruit, but most pet owners opt for fresh lemon juice. Carefully sprinkle lemon juice all over your pet’s fur while avoiding the area around their eyes to keep fleas and ticks away.
• Give them a warm bath
  A bath can be very helpful in keeping fleas and ticks at bay. You can let your furry friends soak into a tub of warm water as it can cause many fleas to fall off into the water. Also, these pests are not attracted to the skin of clean animals, so bathing your pets regularly is very important. It’s also a great idea to use a neem or peppermint shampoo for their bath, as they are antiparasitic.
• Use a flea comb
  After you’ve bathed your pet, use a flea comb to remove any remaining fleas attached to their fur. Flea combs can also remove flea larvae and flea eggs from the skin surface, and you can use these combs daily to check whether new fleas have settled on your pet’s body.