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Natural flea & tick help for my dog, avoiding meds & side effects?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Yorkshire Terrier | Female | 5 years old | 8 lbs

What are some PROVEN TO WORK natural remedies for fleas & ticks, hopefully including the killing of flea eggs. Right now I bathe my dog with flea shampoo & apple cider vinegar rinse. However I saw a flea on her recently. I don’t want any oral meds or anything like frontline as my dog has had a seizure from Bravecto & I now want something natural w/ no major side effects. Frontline & similar products didn’t work for her in the past. Please help she’s scratching a lot & I don’t want an infestation

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Dr. Strydom, DVM

Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on February 14th, 2019

I am really sorry but to answer your question, there are NO natural remedies that are proven to work for fleas and ticks. They just don't work. If your dog did not do well on Bravecto there are many other products available that don't have the same active ingredient as Bravecto. You could try Simparica or Nexgard.

Are you 100% positive the Bravecto caused the seizure? I hear this a lot from owners. They say the dog had a seizure a week or so after the Bravecto administration and peg that as the cause. It is highly unlikely to have been the cause that many days after ingestion. When dogs have seizures the most likely cause is underlying epilepsy. It is rarely due to medication administration.

The other option is to try a Seresto collar. Many of my clients love this option and it does work well. One collar works for up to 8 months so it is cost effective too!

( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/seresto-flea-and-tick-collar-for-dogs )

Hope this helps. Best wishes.
Vote Icon1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 7th, 2023

    You have to understand that there is no such thing as a 100% completely safe medication. For dogs, for cats, for humans, for anybody. There’s always a chance that one certain individual is going to have a reaction to a medication. That doesn’t make it a bad medication or an ineffective medication. What happened with your other puppy, I’m very sorry to hear about but there’s no way to know if it was a reaction to that medication or was there already a predisposition for that puppy to have seizures. I know this makes you weary of using Nexgard again however I have found it to be very safe and effective. I personally have not any patients have an adverse reaction to it.

    You can try a Seresto collar. It’s the only collar that I think actually works. Because you can take it off if there are any problems that makes it safer. When you apply a topical or give an oral medication once it’s in them you can’t remove it like you can a collar. So, if I were you, that’s what I would use.

    https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/223965_HomeDelivery.pml?productId=115381

    Hope this helps. Best wishes.

    Vote Icon

    13Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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