Why I Switched to Natural Tick Prevention for My Dogs

Why I Switched to Natural Tick Prevention for My Dogs

Hi!  I'm Christine, the co-founder of DogBudz and fur mom of Mango and Zelda. 

Losing my beloved dog Banjo in 2020 was one of the hardest moments of my life. He became extremely sick after receiving a prescribed tick prevention medication, and it left a lasting impact on me. I made a personal promise that day — I would never again use chemical-based preventatives on my dogs.

That commitment led me down the path of natural alternatives, which is how I discovered NaturPet Tick & Flea Spray. It's made right here in Canada, in British Columbia — a region where ticks are a real concern. Now, I spray my dogs’ harnesses, paws, back, and bandanas before each walk. It’s a simple ritual that gives me peace of mind.

🐞 Ticks Are Closer Than You Think
Reading an article by Dre Lucie Hénault, a passionate veterinarian from the Réseau Passionimo, truly opened my eyes to just how sneaky ticks can be. Did you know ticks become active at just 4°C? That means we need to be vigilant much earlier in the year than many of us realize.

What shocked me most was learning that ticks love to hide in cedar hedges. My dog Mango lives for scratching along our cedar edge — I had no idea it could be a hotspot for ticks! Dre Hénault explains that ticks cling to grass, bushes, or branches (yes, even in your garden) and wait patiently for a host to walk by.

Once they attach, they can stay there for several days, feeding off your pet — and because they inject a numbing agent, your dog might not even notice or scratch the spot.

🎥 You can watch Dre Hénault’s full video on ticks here on Facebook. (Note: the video is only available in French.)

🔬 The Science Behind Lyme Disease (Thanks to Dr. Simard)
Another amazing resource I found was an article by Dr. Caroline Simard, who breaks down the tick life cycle and how Lyme disease is transmitted. Here are a few key takeaways:

• The deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) has a two-year life cycle and often spreads Lyme during the nymph stage — when ticks are tiny and harder to spot.
• Lyme transmission usually takes 24–48 hours of tick attachment, but it can happen faster in rare cases.
• Unlike humans, only about 5% of dogs show symptoms when exposed to Lyme.
• Even if your dog tests positive, it doesn’t always mean they’re sick. Monitoring for kidney issues is more important than rushing to treat with antibiotics.
• Ticks often carry multiple diseases, so symptoms like fever may actually come from co-infections like Anaplasma or Ehrlichia.

Dr. Simard also discusses the controversy around Lyme vaccines. While some vets support vaccination, others raise concerns about possible links to kidney issues. Newer vaccines target the bacteria inside the tick's gut — an exciting development — but they aren’t a replacement for daily prevention.

🌿 Why I Trust Natural Prevention First
After everything I’ve learned — and lived through — I believe in natural, proactive prevention. I know some people prefer traditional oral or topical treatments, and that’s okay. But for my dogs, I feel safest using something I trust.

NaturPet’s formula contains plant-based ingredients that don’t compromise my dogs’ health. It's now part of our everyday routine, especially when we head into nature or even just the backyard.

And if you’re venturing into tick territory, don’t forget to bring a tick remover with you. It’s a simple, inexpensive tool that can make all the difference. (We’ve got both the NaturPet Spray and tick removers available on DogBudz.ca if you need them.)

🐕 Final Thoughts: Know Your Dog, Know Your Risks
Every dog is different. Some are more exposed than others, and some may have immune systems that can handle more. Whether you use natural products, prescription preventatives, or a mix, what matters most is that you stay informed and do what’s right for your dog.

As Dre Lucie Hénault said so perfectly:

“Avec les tiques, le meilleur adage est ‘vaut mieux prévenir que guérir.’”
(With ticks, the best saying is ‘better safe than sorry.’)

And I really appreciate Dr. Simard’s balanced perspective too:

“Since Lyme disease is not fully understood, different approaches exist, and none are necessarily wrong. The key is open communication between pet owners and veterinarians to decide the best plan for each individual dog.”

You can read Dr. Simard’s full article here.

https://mypetsafterdark.com/lyme-not-lime/