A fly buzzing about your head while you are trying to unwind outside on a lovely day is particularly bothersome. Our dogs are frequently at their mercy, which can be frustrating and possibly harmful to your dog’s health even though we can easily swat these annoying pests away with a hand or a swatter. Fortunately, there are techniques to permanently keep flies away from your dog.
Why do Flies Bite My Dog?
A dog’s coat may attract flies, particularly if it is matted or dirty due to an ailment, skin disease, or diarrhea.” According to Dr. Virginia Sinnott, an emergency veterinarian at the Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston, diarrhea around the perineum attracts flies, which lay eggs and cause an infestation. Keeping an unhealthy dog inside and tidy will help to avoid this kind of infestation, the expert advised.
Horse flies, for example, can bite your dog in the ears, tummy, or rump, causing pain, bleeding, and infection. Sinnott, flies don’t pose the same health hazards to dogs as other insects do, despite the fact that these bites are undoubtedly uncomfortable for our pets. “Mosquitoes are worse because they spread heartworm disease, which is lethal to cats and dogs (particularly in the South).
In warmer weather, she continued, flies are very busy during the day, so if your dog is sensitive to them, keep her inside during those hours. The most crucial thing is to address any medical problems that could make your dog more susceptible to a fly infestation.
How Can I Keep Flies Off My Dog?
Flies can be kept at bay by keeping your dog clean and healthy, but there are other measures you can do to literally remove them off your dog’s back. Apply petroleum jelly to the region to deter flies from biting your dog if they are specifically going after a certain part of his body, like his ears. A combination of apple cider vinegar and water, lemon juice and water, or any other number of over-the-counter insect repellants that are equally safe for your dog as they are for you can be used as at-home, pet-friendly repellants. Prior to using any of these home or store-bought cures, consult your veterinarian.
Home Maintenance Tips for Fighting Flies
However, keeping flies out of your dog’s environment is the greatest approach to stop them from bothering your pet. According to David Jones, owner of Westerly, Rhode Island-based Biotech Pest Controls, an environmentally friendly pest treatment business, this involves keeping proper hygiene inside and outside of your home.
According to Jones, the best and most effective way to get rid of flies is to eliminate their food source because the majority of flies are scavengers seeking a meal on which to lay eggs that hatch into maggots and produce a new generation of flies to repeat the cycle. He continued, “Unfortunately, even in the cleanest of homes, a stray animal (such a mouse or bird) may pass away in the attic or cellar and give a basis for flies to breed.
However, there are several simple and fundamental actions you may do to keep flies out of your house. Jones advises picking up all trash in your yard, including food scraps and half-chewed dog bones, as well as frequently cleaning your recycling and trash bins and making sure they aren’t overflowing. Ensure that your dog’s outdoor water and food bowls are clean as well.
Consider alternative pet-safe measures you can take to get flies to buzz off in addition to maintaining proper cleanliness, such as non-toxic insecticides. According to Jones, using a spray containing the active botanical element Pyrethrum is effective and promptly kills all fly life stages. He continued, “Don’t be duped into using products that include artificial pyrethroids, and always apply pesticides sparingly and in accordance with the label.
Additionally, there are a number of herbs you may grow that are excellent kitchen mainstays in addition to being fly-repellent. These are rosemary, mint, bay leaf, and basil. Lavender, sweet woodruff, and tansy are further herbs that are pleasant for humans and repulsive to flies.
Jones stated, “I believe that growing any herb or shrub that makes an insect-repelling claim can be beneficial. ” However, despite their value, they won’t take the place of practicing good hygiene, particularly by maintaining a clean yard, a covered compost pile, and covered pet food.
You should continue to be vigilant indoors as well. Sinnott advises keeping your home tidy by removing all food items from counters and checking that the screens on your windows and doors are in good condition.
What can I use as a fly repellent spray on my dog?
In that case, how do you keep flies off dogs? You can do a lot of simple things to keep flies off your dog. Let’s begin with the fundamentals.
Keep Your Dog Clean and Healthy
You may get rid of flies around your dog simply by keeping him clean and healthy. Though there are some things that can be helpful, sometimes it is easier said than done. Given that flies adore scents and grime, you should groom him frequently.
The region around his genitalia and anus needs to be kept especially clean and clipped to prevent mattification and odor. He can stay squeaky clean and fly-free with routine bathing and brushing.
Applying petroleum jelly to the region will stop biting flies from landing in that area of your dog’s ears, for example. You can also use other secure insect repellents like lemongrass essential oil or apple cider vinegar.
If you’ve ever been near a stable, you know how annoying those bugs can be. In fact, lemongrass essential oil has been tested and shown to repel stable flies.
Idaho tansy, geranium, sandalwood, rosemary, and lavender are additional essential oils having fly-repelling qualities.
Simply diluted five to ten drops of your choice essential oil in a 32-ounce spray bottle of distilled water if you want to make your own essential oils fly spray for your dog. Before spraying it on your dog, make sure to give it a good shake.
Never apply essential oils without first diluting them in water, and avoid getting it in his eyes, nose, or mouth. His skin may become irritated by pure oils. Additionally, some essential oils are suitable for humans but not for animals.
Prior to using anything topically on your dog’s skin, it is always advisable to speak with your veterinarian. It’s possible that licking it off could irritate his stomach in some way.
Essential Oils that are Poisonous for Your Dog
You shouldn’t use essential oils because some of them are harmful to dogs. The following essential oils, while not all of them, can create more issues than they resolve:
- tetracycline oil;
- Pennyroyal;
- Wintergreen oil;
- pine resins;
- Oil of cinnamon
- citrus juices
- oil of peppermint
- oil from sweet birch;
- Oil of ylang-ylang.
The best course of action is to avoid using these as fly repellents because the most of them require a high dose to cause issues. Environment is a crucial factor in preventing flies from landing on dogs.
How to Keep Flies Off Dogs: Keep Your Dog’s Environment Clean
The environment that your dog is in is a crucial factor in fly prevention. You need to do the following actions to keep the biting flies at bay.
Pick Up Your Dog’s Food
Pick up your dog’s bowl as soon as he finishes eating and wash it right away. Your dog should be fed at a set time, and his bowls should be cleaned right away. This will assist you in stopping the spread of any fly infestations.
Wash Your Dog’s Bedding
To prevent the accumulation of stains or odors that can attract flies, this should be done at least once every week. Additionally, it will eliminate any fly eggs that may be concealed in the fabric.
Dog bedding should be washed in hot water and pet-friendly soap. After that, you can sprinkle baking soda on the bedding to eliminate any scents that may still be there. After about 15 minutes, turn it off and vacuum it up.
Clean Your Dog’s Kennel Area
You shouldn’t keep food or bones out in his kennel because doing so will draw flies. Additionally, you can expect that biting flies will be drawn to his kennel if it is filthy and smells terrible.
Clean Up Your Dog’s Poop
Flies are drawn to dog excrement because that is where they lay their maggot-egg-laying eggs. Your dog’s excrement contains full of dead materials, which maggots love to eat. You may eliminate flies in the vicinity by keeping the yard clean and poop-free.
Clean Up the Trash Around Your Home
Maintaining a clean, clutter-free house is also crucial. When biting flies have finished dining on the waste, they will move on to your devoted dog. Trash attracts biting flies. Garbage has a foul stench, which quickly draws flies.
Vacuum the Carpet
In order to avoid fly infestations, it is beneficial to vacuum your carpet several times every week. Fly eggs are frequently laid in carpeting by flies. They are there even though you can’t see them if you have fly issues.
A new infestation can be avoided by vacuuming several times per week and discarding the vacuum bag outside.
Your dog does not like the vacuum? Learn why dogs dislike vacuums and how to correct inappropriate behavior when cleaning around them.
Hang Up Fly Traps
To draw flies, you can utilize plants like venus fly traps or create a fly trap out of sugar water. This is a lot like the yellow jacket traps you see, but instead of using meat, you use sugar water. The flies enter but are unable to exit.
Use Natural Pesticides to Repel Flies
Several pet-friendly solutions work as natural fly repellents. They can also keep away other insects like gnats and mosquitoes. Some effective natural fly swatters include:
- Citronella;
- oil of lemongrass
- You can use this to efficiently get rid of flies by applying it to your dog or the vicinity;
What natural method can I employ to keep flies away from my dog’s ears?
Use apple cider vinegar to your advantage when battling insects. You can add apple cider vinegar to your dog’s food and water or use it topically to keep flies away. However, since the majority of dogs don’t enjoy the taste, your best option is to mix apple cider vinegar and water in a ratio of 1:1 in a spray bottle and spray it on your dog’s face and ears.
Before making any dietary, medication, or exercise changes for your pet, always with your veterinarian. The advice of a veterinarian is not to be replaced by this information.
How can I avoid my dog’s ears being bit by flies?
During the hot summer months, biting flies can rapidly make your dog itchy and miserable. Flies love to bite your pet’s ears and nose because they have the thinnest skin there, making them the most vulnerable parts of their bodies to attack. Fly bites can result in illnesses or even the deposit of maggots under the skin of your pet. Take precautions to keep your dog from getting bitten by flies too frequently and to keep him comfortable and healthy.
Bring your pet indoors. Biting flies rarely flourish inside of homes, and most people will take extra precautions to ensure that any biting flies that do enter are swiftly exterminated. Keep your dog inside your home, where biting flies are few or nonexistent, if you want to protect him from them.
Defend your house and garden from flies that bite. Eliminating breeding places, such as stagnant ponds or water-filled containers, can help reduce the number of biting flies around your home. Biting flies reproduce in standing water and swampy locations. To further help limit fly populations, make sure all of your windows are covered with screens and place pet-safe, commercially available fly traps all over your home.
To keep flies from biting your dog, use fly-repellents. Any store that sells pet supplies will have a large selection of fly repellents that are suitable for pets. Spray or apply repellant to the outer parts of the dog’s ears to protect them specifically. Avoid spraying insect repellent into the inner ear.
Warnings
You may need to explore your choices with your veterinarian if your dog appears to be experiencing a serious allergic reaction to the biting insects in order to choose the best course of action for your pet.
Add plants that repel flies
Try purchasing a pot of mint if you’re having fly problems because some plants repel flies. You can use a sprig or two when cooking in addition to the fact that it smells good to you and keeps annoying flies away. Check out some of our other recommendations for plants to help you get rid of flies in your house:
Check to see if any of these plants are air purifying plants that can help keep your home’s air pure. You can use any of these plants to keep flies away inside the house.
How to repel flies inside the home with cleaning
Keeping your home and kitchen clean is the best way to stop flies from getting attracted inside.
Don’t let your indoor containers fill up too much, and keep them clean, especially your food bin.
The first thing you should do if you have a fly infestation is to give your home a complete cleaning. To get rid of any fly eggs, vacuum, wash any surfaces with disinfectant spray or wipes, and clean behind furniture and anywhere else that might not be immediately accessible—where that’s flies like to hide.
Make a homemade fly repellent
White vinegar is a great natural fly repellent that works so well that even the smell of boiling vinegar can deter flies.
A paper cone, some sweet water, and a jar are all you need to produce another simple DIY fly repellant. The sugar draws the flies, and the jar and cone prevent them from escaping once they are caught.
With these techniques, you can bid these pesky and unwelcome guests farewell.
