Recommendation for all natural tick repellant

[Kamela & Beckett]

Hi all! While we live in a suburban setting with a fenced in yard (no wooded areas), in the past few days we have found numerous ticks on Beckett. Luckily, none were embedded yet, but as he is a big poof ball, we are bound to miss one at some point. I'm looking for an all natural topical repellant that we can use on him. He is currently on Sentinel for fleas/ heartworm and I don't want to change. I'm not really sure how the oral type works with ticks anyway. If a tick has to bite your dog to be killed, doesn't that defeat the purpose? We're having some issues with Beckett with presumed allergies and itching, so I'd prefer not to add anything else that he injests nor do I want to use a topical that is applied monthly (as I assume I'd have to switch from Sentinel). Hoping an all natural spray will be the way to go. Anyone use one that's well tolerated by your dog and is effective?? Thanks!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Unfortunately, there is no "natural" tick repellent that is effective, and the dangers of tick-borne diseases make it imperative that you use something effective. 

JD is under the care of a veterinary dermatology specialist for severe allergies, and she recommends Frontline Plus, if that's any help. 

[Kamela & Beckett]

Thanks, Karen but Frontline covers fleas, too so we'd have to switch from Sentinel. I like Sentinel because it covers intestinal worms (which we seem to have an issue with) and is safe for Aussies. Given he's an Aussiedoodle, we are limited in the heartworm meds he can have.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I don't know of any preventative that only works for ticks. You may have to double up. 

[Kamela & Beckett]

I can't find anything that tells me HOW the Frontline works. It's says after 48 hours. 48 hours after applying Frontline or 48 hours after the tick is on the dog? Does it kill on contact or does the tick have to bite the dog? If it's 48 hours after the tick makes contact and it has to bite, what good is that? My understanding of ticks is they are different than fleas. If your animal gets fleas, you are likely to get an infestation in your house, their bedding, etc. I thought ticks pretty much had to be introduced to animals via a third party host (mouse, deer, etc.) getting on your dog when they are in grassy or wooded areas. If every tick is from a new source, breaking the lifecycle isn't really the goal.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

My package doesn't say anything about 48 hours, that I can see. I know it's 24-48 hours before you can bathe your dog after applying, though. It does say that fleas and ticks do not have to bite your dog to die. 

I have never seen a tick and don't know too much about them, but I do know that they carry some really deadly diseases, and quite a few dogs here have been affected. It also sounds to me like the dogs (and people) get them just from being in wooded areas, not necessarily coming into contact with a third party host. 

[Kamela & Beckett]

From the Frontline website: FRONTLINE® kills fleas within 24 hours and ticks within 48 hours. FRONTLINE® must first spread in the oils of the skin, over the pet's body. This process, called translocation, occurs in about 24 hours, (translocation can be delayed in pets with very dry skin or limited mobility, such as caged animals). Once fleas and ticks come in contact with FRONTLINE® they are killed within 24 to 48 hours.

I'm a little concerned that it can take 48 hours after coming in contact with the dog to kill ticks. What are the ticks doing during that time? Biting my dog?? If I'm going to apply yet another pesticide to my dog, I'd at least like it to be effective and I'm wondering a bit about that timeline.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

According to what I'm reading, there can be tick infested areas in your yard and outdoors: 

http://www.petsandparasites.org/dog-owners/ticks/

[Kamela & Beckett]

My husband sprayed the area of decorative bushes we have in the backyard (with a pet & child safe) insecticide. There are a few pine trees on the other side of our fence, but there's not much we can do about those because the property is part of a park that belongs to the city. So I was correct in that animals bring ticks in from outside. You don't get one tick and they multiply and infest your house. I'm aware of all the nasty diseases they carry, hence my desire to do something about them. Unfortunately we're working with a fairly complicated set of restrictions, though. I'm not sure doubling up on flea treatment is advised. To use the Frontline, I think we'd have to switch to a heartworm only oral and I am hesitant to do that.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I can understand that, with Beckett being part Australian Shepherd. You might consider having him tested for the MDR1 gene mutation. If he doesn't have it, it would make your choices a whole lot easier. 

http://vcpl.vetmed.wsu.edu/

[Kamela & Beckett]

We hadn't bothered (or gone to the expense of) having him tested because we were happy with Sentinel. But it probably makes sense to go ahead and do it now as that way we'd know- either he doesn't have it and we aren't restricted in what to use or he does have the mutation and we need to continue to avoid Ivermictin.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

When I lived in Seattle (flea city), our standard poodle was on Sentinel.  Our vet recommended we use Frontline plus for fleas and ticks.  Remember, Sentinel does not kill adult fleas, but it will prevent flea eggs from maturing.  

[Kamela & Beckett]

Thanks! I will have to ask our vet. A quick check online said they were ok to use together. Our vet practice recommends Trifexis and Bravecto, neither of which I'm interested in using.