Fleas & Ticks in Dogs: The Complete Natural Guide
Fleas & Ticks in Dogs
Thank you for choosing our Flea & Tick Herbal Powder. Here's everything you need to know about fleas and ticks: what they are, where your dog picks them up, how to spot them, and how to use your powder to protect your dog and home the natural way.
All About Fleas
Fleas are tiny, wingless, dark-brown insects about 2–3mm long. They can't fly, but they're incredible jumpers, which is how they leap onto a passing dog. Once aboard, they feed on your dog's blood several times a day. The most common flea on UK dogs is actually the cat flea, which is happy to live on dogs, cats, rabbits and even people.
Eggs
A female flea lays dozens a day. They roll off your dog into carpets, beds and sofas.
Larvae & Cocoons
They hide deep in fibres, then wait in cocoons, sometimes for months, for warmth or movement.
Adults
Hatch and jump onto your dog. The fleas you see are only a small part of the problem.
Why your home matters: most of a flea problem lives in your home as eggs, larvae and cocoons. To clear fleas for good, you need to treat your dog and their surroundings.
Where do dogs pick them up?
- Other dogs and cats, including visitors' pets
- Wildlife in your garden: hedgehogs, foxes, rabbits
- Parks and popular dog walks
- Kennels, day care, groomers and dog shows
- Holiday cottages and friends' homes
When is the risk highest?
Fleas love warmth and humidity, so they're busiest from April to October, often peaking in late summer.
But central heating keeps them breeding indoors all year, so many infestations are spotted in winter when the heating goes on and dormant cocoons hatch.
Where to look on your dog
- Base of the tail and rump (the number one hotspot)
- Along the back
- Neck and behind the ears
- Belly, groin and armpits
Signs your dog has fleas
- Scratching, nibbling or biting, especially near the tail
- Red skin, small scabs or thinning fur
- Flea dirt: black specks that turn reddish on a damp white tissue
- Fleas scurrying through the fur when you part it
Some dogs are allergic to flea saliva, so even one or two bites can cause intense itching. Dogs can also swallow fleas while grooming, which can pass on tapeworm. If your dog has had fleas, support them from the inside with our Parasite Purge Herbal Powder.
All About Ticks
Ticks aren't insects. They're small eight-legged arachnids, related to spiders. They can't jump or fly. Instead they climb to the tips of grass and plants and wait with their front legs outstretched to grab a passing animal. Once on board, a tick bites in and feeds for several days, swelling from the size of a sesame seed to the size of a pea.
Ticks can carry diseases, including Lyme disease and babesiosis, both found in the UK. The longer a tick stays attached, the greater the risk, so daily checks and prompt removal really matter.
🌲 Where they lurk
- Woodland and path edges
- Long grass, bracken and heather
- Moorland and hills where deer or sheep graze
- Gardens visited by hedgehogs, foxes or deer
📅 When they're active
Spring: March to June
Autumn: August to November
Milder winters mean they're increasingly around all year, so keep checking.
🔍 Where to check
- Head, face and around the eyes
- Inside and around the ears
- Neck and under the collar
- Armpits and groin
- Between the toes and pads
A tick feels like a small, firm bump. Part the fur and you'll see a grey, brown or cream oval body with tiny legs near the skin.
Our Ingredients & How They Work
Hand-blended by Elaine using three ingredients, each with a long history in natural pest control. Together they work in different ways: one physically, two through scent and natural plant compounds.
Diatomaceous Earth
A soft, natural powder made from the fossilised remains of tiny water plants called diatoms. It feels like fine flour to us, but under a microscope it's made of sharp-edged particles. These damage a pest's protective waxy outer layer and absorb its moisture, causing it to dry out. Because it works physically, not chemically, pests can't build up resistance.
Pennyroyal
A small plant in the mint family, used to deter fleas for centuries. Its Latin name, pulegium, even comes from the Latin word for flea. Its strong, minty scent is one fleas and other insects dislike, helping to discourage them from settling in your dog's coat.
Neem
From the neem tree, native to India and treasured for generations. Neem contains natural compounds that pests find off-putting and that can interfere with their ability to feed and breed. It's also known for its soothing properties, helping to calm skin irritated by bites and scratching.
How To Use Your Powder
- Go outside or open a window. It's a fine powder, so apply it somewhere airy and avoid creating a dust cloud around your dog's face (or yours).
- Part the coat as you go. Lightly dust along the back, neck, chest, belly, legs and around the base of the tail.
- Work it in against the grain with your fingertips or a brush, so it reaches the skin, not just the top of the coat.
- Keep it away from the eyes, ears, nose and mouth. For the head and neck, put a little on your hands and gently stroke it in.
- Little and often. Use 2–3 times a week, or as needed. Re-apply after a bath, a swim or a muddy walk.
Pro tip: decant the powder into a flour shaker for a quick, even sprinkle.
Treating Your Home
🏡 Sprinkle & leave
Sprinkle the powder lightly over carpets, rugs, your dog's bed and soft furnishings. Leave it for a few hours (overnight is ideal).
🧹 Vacuum thoroughly
Vacuum everywhere, including under furniture and along skirting boards. Empty the vacuum outside straight away so nothing hatches back indoors.
🧺 Hot wash weekly
Wash your dog's bedding on a hot wash every week while you're tackling fleas.
🔁 Keep going
Keep vacuuming regularly for a few weeks, as cocoons can keep hatching. Keep other pets off treated areas until you've vacuumed.
How To Remove a Tick
- Use a tick hook or tick twister, available cheaply from pet shops. Don't use your fingers or ordinary tweezers.
- Slide the hook under the tick's body, as close to your dog's skin as possible, so the tick sits in the slot.
- Twist, don't pull. Slowly turn the hook two or three full times, always in the same direction. It doesn't matter whether you turn clockwise or anticlockwise, as long as you keep going the same way and don't tug.
- Lift away once it releases. Twisting makes the tick let go of the skin, so it comes out whole. Pulling or squeezing can snap the body off and leave the head and mouthparts behind in your dog's skin, which can become sore or infected.
- Check the bite. Make sure nothing is left behind, then wash the area with mild soap and water.
- Dispose of the tick safely and wash your hands.
Never squeeze, burn or pull a tick off, or smother it with Vaseline or alcohol, as this can make it release more saliva into your dog. If part of the tick is left in the skin, don't dig for it; keep the area clean and ask your vet. Keep an eye on your dog for a few weeks afterwards and see your vet if they become lethargic, lame, go off their food or develop a temperature.
Your Flea & Tick Routine
Every Walk
A quick hands-on tick check, especially after woodland or long grass.
2–3 Times a Week
Apply your powder, more often in peak season.
Every Week
Flea comb, hot-wash bedding and vacuum well. Don't stop in winter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can people catch fleas from dogs?
Fleas can bite people, usually around the ankles, but they don't live on humans. Treating your dog and your home deals with the problem at the source.
Why am I still seeing fleas after treating?
This is normal for a few weeks. Cocoons already in your home will keep hatching, and new fleas will jump on. Keep going with the powder, vacuuming and washing, and numbers will fall as the life cycle is broken.
Can I use it alongside other products?
For extra inside-out support in peak season, many customers pair the powder with our homeopathic drops, found together in our Complete Flea & Tick Defence Bundle. If your dog is on any veterinary flea or tick treatment, check with your vet first.
How should I store it?
Reseal the bag after every use and keep it somewhere cool, dry and dark. Use within 12 months of purchase for the best freshness.
Never Run Out
Flea and tick season doesn't wait. Subscribe & Save and your powder arrives automatically, with a discount on every delivery. Got a question? Elaine is always happy to help personally.
Please note: if your dog is pregnant, nursing, unwell, on medication, or shows any irritation after use, stop and speak to your vet. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease and is not a substitute for professional veterinary care.