Parasites can inconvenience your dog and even transmit diseases. Insect repellents are a must-have for dog owners in summer.
© Shutterstock - Aleksey Boyko
What is the best insect repellent for dogs in 2024?
Unfortunately, dogs often suffer from parasites such as fleas and ticks. To prevent these insects from ruining your dog's life, you choose an efficient insect repellent.
At home, in the garden or on a walk, dogs come into contact with many insects. Fortunately, some are harmless, but others can lodge into the dog's coat and transmit diseases. How do you protect your dog from these parasites? Use an insect repellent that fights fleas, ticks or mosquitoes: this way the insects will no longer be able to come near your dog. Insect repellents are not toxic to dogs or humans and are therefore safe to apply regularly. They also have the advantage of not killing insects, so they do not harm the environment and respect the food chain.
Insect repellents are generally easy to use, but depending on the product, they need to be reapplied regularly to maintain their effectiveness.
Summary
- How is an insect repellent for dogs different from an insecticide?
- What types of dog insect repellents are available?
- What pests are insect repellents effective against?
- Why should I use insect repellent for dogs?
- How do I use insect repellent for dogs?
- How often should I use an insect repellent for dogs?
- From what age can I use insect repellent on my dog?
How is an insect repellent for dogs different from an insecticide?
An insect repellent is a product that scares insects away, while an insecticide is a product that kills them. The advantage of insect repellent is that it doesn't affect wildlife, because insects don't die, they just move away to find food elsewhere.
However, an insect repellent is not effective in the case of a parasite infestation. For this, it is better to use an insecticide to rid the dog of unwanted guests. This makes insect repellents a preventive product, not a curative one.
What types of dog insect repellents are available?
There are different types of insect repellents for dogs. They may take the form of an insect repellent shampoo, an insect repellent collar or an insect repellent spray.
Insect repellent tablets and pipettes are also available. Depending on the risk of infestation of your dog, some products may be more suitable than others.
What pests are insect repellents effective against?
Most insect repellents for dogs are effective against fleas and ticks. Some are also helpful in keeping mosquitoes and Demodex away. However, be careful: insect repellents are not effective against worms or scabies. The dog should therefore be treated accordingly for those types of parasites.
Why should I use insect repellent for dogs?
It is vital to protect your dog against fleas, ticks, Sandfly mosquitoes and Demodex, which can transmit very serious diseases to dogs and even humans.
The flea is a small insect that bites into the dog’s skin to drink their blood. It has a very fast life cycle: within 48 hours, a female can lay up to 50 eggs per day for 50 to 100 days. Dogs with fleas will scratch, but this is usually not very serious. However, they may also develop flea bite allergy dermatitis (FAD). This causes severe itching and can lead to dogs scratching themselves until they bleed. Dogs can also develop a condition called pruritus.
Ticks are mites that cling to the skin with their proboscis and suck blood. Once they are full, they fall off, causing a minor local irritation. However, they can transmit very serious diseases like piroplasmosis, ehrlichiosis or Lyme disease.
The sandfly is a mosquito found in a few regions of Europe. It is most active in the evening, between 10 pm and midnight, in autumn and spring. It transmits leishmaniasis, an illness that is can be fatal to dogs.
The Demodex is a harmless parasite, unless the infestation is large, in which case it causes demodecia.
How do I use insect repellent for dogs?
Depending on the type of insect repellent, it is used differently. Dog insect repellents in tablet form must be swallowed.
Insect repellent pipettes are applied in the form of a few drops between the dog's shoulder blades so that the animal cannot lick itself. The hair must be spread apart so that the product can be poured directly onto the skin and work properly.
An insect repellent collar is placed next to the dog's regular collar.
Insect repellent spray is applied to the dog's coat. It is more difficult to use, as most products are dangerous to the eyes. It is therefore essential to protect yourself and your dog to avoid any accidents.
Finally, insect repellents in the form of shampoo are used when bathing your dog.
How often should I use an insect repellent for dogs?
The frequency of use of insect repellent depends on its form. Generally, they are effective from a few weeks to 3 or 4 months. It should be reapplied more regularly if the dog is bathed or washed.
From what age can I use insect repellent on my dog?
As with most products, it is not recommended to use insect repellent on puppies in the first 12 weeks. Some brands advise waiting until they are 3 months old.
