Ticked Off

Confession: I respect all animals but I do not like arachnids, especially ticks and spiders.

 *Note, this post contains affiliate links if you purchase, I may get a small percentage. That said, I only recommend products I like and use myself.

There are many reasons for this dislike. They are creepy, always showing up and scaring me, and I’m allergic to them. More, I think my horse is allergic to ticks. His recent skin condition, scabbing and oozing, had odd timing right after multiple tick bites this spring season. Even worse, he was diagnosed with Chronic Lyme disease after I asked my veterinarian to test him when he lost muscle mass and was having neurological problems.

Now I have two horses with Chronic Lyme. Flare ups occur and must be managed with supplements and probiotics, to keep their immune systems functioning at their highest level. When managing a horse that has Lyme disease, my veterinarian recommended against vaccinations and dewormers unless necessary. Why? Because both can create inflammation and flares.

Prevention is always the best option.

 So how do we keep the ticks off? Living in New Jersey we are ripe with infestation regardless of a mild winter or a severe one like the last. Ticks are no joke and carry a multitude of diseases. Keeping them off is the best option. But if you want to know what to do when you find a tick, you can read that here.

There are a number of chemical sprays or ointments available for prevention on the market. The truth is, I hate most of them. My skin allergies mean that I have to wear gloves if I use these on my horses and my pony rears when the chemicals touch his body. It’s stressful but necessary, right? No!

There are natural, even homeopathic options to consider also.

1. Nutritional Supplements
   1. Garlic
   2. Apple Cider Vinegar
   3. Brewer’s Yeast
2. Non-Chemical Products
   1. Only Natural Pet Collar. I use this on my dogs and clip to their collars. It emits a frequency that is undetectable to us but repels pests naturally.
3. All Natural Insect Repellents
   1. Essential oils like peppermint, geranium, citronella, and lemongrass are popular and animal friendly!
   2. Blended:
      1. Essentials by Animal Bodywork & Aromatherapy. Shameless plug for my own, very popular, concoction. Available here in 4 oz, but I can make a 16 oz also!
      2. Espana Silk
      3. Herbal Horse
      4. Ecovet. This one smells pretty gnarly but it works well and only needs to be applied every few days!