Pet-Safe Insect Repellent

Chemical insect repellents are what veterinarians will recommend if you go to them looking for a way to protect your pets. However, chemical poisons are not the only option for keeping your pets safe from insects. Below are a number of natural insect repellents to protect your pets.

Herbal Repellents

Using essential oils is an excellent way to repel insects without pesticides. The strong scent of many herbs naturally repel most insects. Choose your essential oils carefully, however. Some contain synthetic components that can harm your pets. Even pure essential oils can be dangerous in their concentration. The best way to apply these oils is to dilute them in water and mist the mixture over your pet's fur.

Consider using any of the following herbs:

• Peppermint
• Lavender
• Spearmint
• Lemongrass
• Citronella
• Pennyroyal

Another way to use herbs to protect your pets is to create sachets of herbs and place them around where you pet spends its time, especially pet beds. Use dried herbs mixed with essential oils to keep the scent strong. Add a fixative, something absorptive to hold the scent, such as wood chips or orris root. This will keep the sachet effective longer.

Citrus oils also repel insects. However, they should not be used directly on your pets as there are often chemicals in them that can cause harm. Limit the use of citrus to your garden, or use dried pieces of the peels in your sachets.

Feed Your Pet Garlic

Garlic, with its strong scent, is another good way to repel insects from your pets. Rather than applying this one to the outside, feed it to your pet. Fresh garlic can be added to your pet's food. Alternatively, if the smell bothers you, there are scentless garlic tablets available in many health food stores which can be fed to your pet or crushed and sprinkled over their food. While scentless to you, the insects will still find the garlic well worth avoiding.

Diatomaceous Earth

Known best as an additive to pools, the natural version of diatomaceous earth is an excellent means of destroying insects on your pet. The version from health food stores contains no chemicals, just the microskeletons of a type of algae. Finer than sand, these small particles dehydrate insects and inhibit their breathing. You should wear a mask while applying it, but otherwise it is no risk to your or your pet. It can even be eaten and used to dispose of internal pests.

Sprinkle diatomaceous earth down the spine of your pet. Rub or comb it into your pet's fur, focusing on the legs and belly. Avoid the eyes and mucus membranes when applying to the head.

Sprinkle diatomaceous earth on the carpet, pet beds, or infested furniture to dispose of insects. Vacuum a few days later to remove the insects and eggs that are dead. Diatomaceous earth can also be used in the garden, though it loses effectiveness when it gets wet.