Keep Your Dog Clean and Healthy
Just keeping your pooch clean and healthy will help you get rid of flies around him. Sometimes that’s easier said than done, but there are some things that can help. You’ll want to groom him regularly since flies love dirt and odors.
It’s particularly important to keep the area around his genitals and anus clean and trimmed so that that area doesn’t get matted or dirty. Regular bathing and grooming will help him stay squeaky clean and free of flies.
If biting flies are attacking a particular area on your dog — like his ears — you can solve that problem by applying petroleum jelly to that area. There are also some other safe insect repellents you can use like apple cider vinegar or lemongrass essential oil.
In fact, lemongrass essential oil has actually been tested and proven to repel stable flies, and if you’ve ever been around a stable, you know how pesky those flies can be!
Other essential oils with fly repellent properties include Idaho tansy, geranium, sandalwood, rosemary, and lavender.
If you’re interested in making your own essential oils fly spray for your pup, just dilute between five and ten drops of your preferred essential oil in a 32-ounce spray bottle filled with distilled water. Be sure to shake it well before you spray it on your dog.
Avoid getting it in his eyes, nose, or mouth, and never apply essential oils without first diluting them in water. Pure oils can be irritating to his skin. There are also some essential oils that are fine for people but not for their furry friends.
As always, it’s also wise to consult your veterinarian before applying anything topically on your dog’s skin. It is possible that if he licks it off, it could cause some gastrointestinal irritation.
Some essential oils can be poisonous for your dog, so you’ll want to avoid using them. Though not a complete list, the following essential oils can cause more problems than they solve:
Most of these require a high dose to cause problems, but it’s just best to avoid using them as a fly repellant. Another important consideration for keeping flies off dogs is their environment.
How to Keep Flies Off Dogs: Keep Your Dog’s Environment Clean
Another important consideration for keeping the flies away is your dog’s environment. The following are several things you need to do to keep the biting flies at bay.
After your dog’s done eating, be sure to pick up his food bowl and wash it right away. Feed your dog at a specific time and clean up his food bowls immediately after he eats. This will help you prevent any fly infestations from getting started.
This should be done at least once a week so that it won’t accumulate stains or smells that can attract flies. It will also get rid of any fly eggs that can hide in the fabric.
Dog beds should be washed with pet-friendly soap and hot water. Afterward, you can sprinkle baking soda on the bedding to get rid of any lingering odors. Leave it on for about 15 minutes and then vacuum it up.
You don’t want to leave bones or food out in his kennel since that will attract flies. Additionally, if his kennel is dirty and smells bad, you can bet it will attract biting flies.
Flies are attracted to dog feces because that’s where they lay eggs that hatch out into maggots. Maggots feed on dead matter and your doggy’s poop is full of that. By cleaning up the yard and keeping it free of poop, you’ll get rid of flies in the area.
It’s also important to keep your home free of trash. Trash attracts biting flies which will then move on over to your faithful doggy when they get done feasting on the garbage. Garbage smells bad and that attracts flies quickly.
If you have carpet in your house, it’s helpful to vacuum it several times a week to prevent fly infestations. Flies will often lay their eggs in the carpeting. You can’t see them, but if you have problems with flies, they’re there.
Vacuuming several times a week and emptying the vacuum bag outside can help prevent a new infestation.
Does your dog hate the vacuum? Learn why dogs hate vacuums and how to correct unwanted behavior around them when you need to clean.
You can use plants like venus fly traps or make a fly trap with sugar water to attract the flies. This is similar to traps you see for yellow jackets, but instead of meat, you use sugar water. The flies go in, but they can’t get out.
There are a variety of pet-safe products that act as natural fly repellent. They can also repel other insects like mosquitoes and gnats. The following are some good natural fly repellents:
Keep Your Home Clean
Beyond keeping your dog and yard clean, make sure to keep your home clean too. Though it’s impossible to prevent flies from being attracted to your yard, you can deter them from coming in your home by keeping it clean.
Most importantly, make sure to take the trash out regularly and don’t let food sit out. This includes little pieces of food in your sink. Similarly, wash dishes as soon as possible because the smell can attract flies to the inside of your home.
How To Make Natural Fly Repellent For Dogs
When it comes to how to keep flies off dogs, there is plenty of bad advice on the internet. Common homemade remedies like apple cider vinegar (ACV) solutions attract fruit flies rather than deter them. Other natural repellents like citronella are toxic to our dogs. So be careful when googling “how to keep flies off dogs ears home remedies.”
Still, many of us find ourselves thinking, “flies are eating my dog alive.” Whether or not they are biting our dogs, seeing them crawling everywhere is distressing. It can be easier to keep flies off if our dogs are inside, but what about outside?
We want to limit our dog’s exposure to harmful pesticides while protecting them from annoying flies that carry disease or even bite. So let’s look at the best, most effective, and safe ways to keep flies off your dog