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Coconut Oil for Fleas & Ticks on Dogs: 3 Vet-Approved Steps to Protect Them

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By Nicole Cosgrove

Dog with Coconut Oil

Vet approved

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Reviewed & Fact-Checked By

Dr. Paola Cuevas

MVZ (Veterinarian)

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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Ticks are a menace to all dogs, especially in warmer weather. Not only can ticks be a pain to remove, but they can also carry diseases and cause infections in some cases. Protecting your canine from these ticks should be at the forefront of your mind in the warmer months when ticks are most common. If you live in an incredibly hot and humid area, ticks are going to be even more common.

While there are plenty of commercial tick protection formulas, many of these are expensive and might not be as safe as you’d like. Most commercial products have a variety of possible side effects. Some dogs are more sensitive to these treatments than others. Luckily, there are natural options as well—like coconut oil.

Using coconut oil to protect your dog from ticks is extremely simple and straightforward. We’ll explain everything you need to know about this natural home remedy in this article.

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The 3 Steps to Using Coconut Oil for Fleas on Dogs

1. Purchase the Correct Oil

Purchasing coconut oil may seem pretty straightforward. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when choosing an oil to repel ticks. You should purchase human-grade or pet-specific coconut oil. As of this article’s publishing, there is no coconut oil out there explicitly marketed for dogs and tick control.

For this reason, we recommend choosing an oil that is specifically made for human consumption. This is an easy way to ensure that the oil is safe if your dog decides to lick it off (which they probably will).

Preferably choose a virgin cold press and organic coconut oil.

coconut oil
Image Credit: Soumyo Biswas, Shutterstock

2. Prep Your Dog

The oil works best if your dog is decently clean. Depending on your dog, you may need to bathe them before applying it. If your dog has visible amounts of dirt in their coat, a bath is recommended. If you do bathe your dog, be sure to let them dry completely. This may take a full day in some cases, especially if your dog has a double coat.

Besides this small point, your dog shouldn’t need any other prep.


3. Apply It Liberally to Your Dog

After the oil has been mixed to your satisfaction, cover your hands with a small amount of coconut oil and massage it into your pet’s coat. You want to get it deep into your pet’s coat. If your pet has a double coat, this may take a little bit. The oil should come in contact with the skin.

Be sure to apply it to those hard-to-reach places as well, such as in between your dog’s toes and around their ears.

As an added benefit, your dog should have a shiny coat as well. Coconut oil is quite useful for your pet’s coat, especially if your dog has dry skin. Now your dog has some protection from ticks thanks to coconut oil!


Featured Image Credit: ThamKC, Shutterstock

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