Ticks are quite annoying and can be dangerous. With a typical home remedy, the arachnids can be declared war.
Dortmund – The months of March to November are considered tick season. The parasites are then mainly on the move in forests, bushes and tall grasses and in their own garden. At least until they bite on people or animals and feed on blood. With the help of a home remedy, you can protect yourself from ticks, their dangers and various diseases such as Lyme disease.
Keeping ticks away - home remedies work wonders for humans
Specifically, the miracle cure for ticks is coconut oil, reports RUHR24. This oil contains fatty acids that the parasites do not like at all – namely lauric acid. For this reason, some people use the home remedy to protect against the arachnids.
To do this, apply a thin layer of the home remedy for ticks to the body. Areas such as the face, ears and thin areas of skin such as the groin area and armpits are important, as GEO reports. Because that's where the parasites are said to be particularly fond of settling. But what about animals?
Keeping ticks away with coconut oil - also possible with cats?
Cat owners in particular know the problem of ticks all too well. Outdoor animals in particular often bring unwanted visitors home in spring and summer. You might think that coconut oil is also the perfect solution for animals. But is that really the case?
"Basically, coconut oil is not toxic or dangerous for cats – as long as the cat is not allergic to the vegetable oil," reports Herz für Tiere on its website. However, opinions differ. The pet food store Fressnapf strongly advises against tick treatment with the help of home remedies, whether through external application or food intake.
"Virgin coconut oil is often touted as a natural insect and parasite repellent, which is also suitable as a tick repellent for cats. However, it is strictly discouraged to treat cats with coconut oil! It irritates the cat, can trigger excessive grooming behavior up to automutilation and is not effective against parasites," the website says. Accordingly, it makes sense to consult a veterinarian before using the controversial coconut oil method. But what about dogs?
Keeping ticks away with home remedies: This is what it looks like with dogs
The situation is similar for dogs as it is for cats. "Coconut oil does not contain any ingredients that are toxic to dogs - so coconut oil is not toxic to dogs. However, some dogs may be allergic to coconut. So if your dog suffers from other allergies, you should carefully test coconut oil," writes the Lüdinghausen Health Center for Small Animals on its website.
+Tick Home Remedies Coconut Oil
© Andreas Franke/Imago
Accordingly, it also makes sense in this case to talk to a veterinarian beforehand – especially with regard to the allergy. You should also be careful when removing ticks, because the home remedy can increase the likelihood of illness.
Category list image: © blickinkel/Imago
