The sun starts to come out, and the days keep getting longer. Ah, bliss – summer is finally on its way! Unfortunately, so are the bugs. Warm, humid, wet springs lead to mosquitoes breeding for the hot summer months. If you’re looking for natural or homemade mosquito repellent for dogs, with no nasty chemicals, read on to learn our top tips.

Mosquitos are a nuisance to you and your pets. From their annoying buzzing, painful bites, and disease spreading, they are not the most welcome pests in any home. It is crucial to stay on top of repelling these pests from the outset of spring and summer.

Mosquitoes spread a plethora of diseases to both you and your dogs, depending where you live. In dogs, mosquito bites can spread heartworm, West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis virus, Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus, and tularemia.

DEET is a chemical used as an active ingredient in many bug-repellent products. It is banned in many places because of health problems coming from exposure to the chemical. It causes skin rashes and scarring in adults and neurological problems in children. And Picaridin, which is another popular repellent ingredient, is also not good for your pets.

So, what can you safely put on your dogs for mosquito repellent?

Even before the DEET ban, many people have started living a more natural lifestyle. Thankfully, there are many natural ways to repel mosquitoes and other pests. Natural Essential oils are effective in repelling pests and are better for people, animals, and the planet.

Learn more:

• Are Pothos Plants Toxic To Dogs?
• Is Lemongrass Plant And Oil Safe For Dogs?
• Is Fabuloso Dangerous For Dogs?

Homemade Mosquito Repellent For Dogs

Some examples of essential oils that repel mosquitoes are:

• Peppermint Essential Oil
• Catnip Essential Oil (warning – your dog may attract a lot of attention from your cat!)
• Lemon Eucalyptus Essential Oil
• Tea Tree Essential Oil
• Clary Sage Essential Oil

If you find yourself asking, how can I protect my dog from mosquitoes naturally, try using these essential oils. Use them sparingly on their own, in DIY mosquito repellents, or look for them as an active ingredient in natural insect repellent products.

A basic recipe for homemade mosquito repellent for dogs using essential oil is:

• 10-15 drops of any of the essential oils we mention in this article. We recommend lemon eucalyptus
• 2 ounces of a pet-safe carrier oil, such as almond oil or MCT oil
• A glass spray bottle for mixing and storing

Keep reading to find the answer when you ask yourself what you can put on dogs for mosquito repellent.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are a great natural alternative to repel mosquitoes from your dogs. You might ask yourself, what is the safest mosquito repellent for dogs? Most essential oils are safe for dogs, but you want to be conscious of the amount of oil you put on your dog.

Essential oils are used by themselves or in a mosquito repellent mixture. DIY recipes make making your dog mosquito repellent easy. Look at the different essential oils that repel mosquitoes from your dog.

Peppermint Essential Oil

Peppermint essential oil is a favorite in the essential-oil world. Its high levels of menthol make it a top contender in soothing aches and pains. The cooling effect menthol has on your body relieves pain.

The menthol in the peppermint essential oil produces a fragrant smell. This smell is pleasant to most people, but bugs hate it. It is too strong for most bugs to handle, including mosquitoes. 

Not only will peppermint essential oil repel mosquitoes, but it can also kill them. When applied to your dog’s fur, your dog will be left smelling clean and mosquito-free. Peppermint oil can kill both adult mosquitoes and mosquito larvae. It is also effective in soothing mosquito bites.

Catnip Essential Oil

Nepetalactone is the essential oil found in catnip. Studies have found that nepetalactone is ten times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET. This natural alternative is a good choice in repelling mosquitoes from your dogs. 

The study found that catnip essential oil repels all types of mosquitoes. They were focused on a certain type of mosquito known to carry yellow fever in the United States. Through their study, catnip essential oil was effective in repelling this type and all other types of mosquitoes.

Unlike peppermint essential oil, catnip essential oil does not kill mosquitoes. The nepetalactone in catnip essential oil will only repel mosquitoes, but it is very effective at repelling them.

Lemon Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Lemon eucalyptus essential oil has been approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an effective ingredient to repel mosquitoes. In a certain study, lemon eucalyptus essential oil was more than 95 percent effective in mosquito protection for 3 hours.

Because of its pleasant smell, lemon eucalyptus oil is commonly found in cleaning supplies as well as insect repellent products. It also has antifungal properties and is used to treat toenail fungus. 

Lemon eucalyptus essential oil is a safe and effective way to repel mosquitoes. It does not kill mosquitoes, but its strong scent repels them from you and your dog. It is effective, but does not last as long as DEET products, but is safer for you and your environment.

Tea Tree Essential Oil

Tea tree essential oil is an oil you have to be careful with when using on your dog or cat. Large amounts of tea tree oil can cause adverse effects and even death to your animal. This being said, use tea tree oil only when it’s really needed, and use it sparingly.

Even with its adverse effects, tea tree essential oil is commonly found in products made for dogs. Flea and tick shampoo, dog coat conditioners, and insect repellent spray often have tea tree oil as an active ingredient. 

Tea tree oil is an effective way to repel mosquitoes. Its pungent smell is too strong for mosquitoes to handle, repelling them from the site it is applied to. 

Clary Sage Essential Oil

Clary sage essential oil is effective in repelling ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes from your dog. It is very effective in repelling tiger mosquitoes. 

Not only is it great at repelling mosquitoes, but clary sage essential oil leaves your dog smelling like fresh-cut flowers. Clary sage will not kill the mosquitoes or mosquito larvae, but its strong scent will deter them from your home and your pets.

Clary sage is known to be safe for dogs, but just like with any other essential oil, it is important to use it with carrier oils. Use sparingly and only when needed to repel mosquitoes and fleas.

Natural Products

Along with plain essential oils, natural flea, tick, and mosquito repellents are made by producers. People have realized people are leaning towards more natural lifestyles, so they have made products to replace chemical repellents. Check out these three natural bug repellents that are proven to be effective!

Vet’s Best Mosquito Repellent for Dogs and Cats

Vet’s Best Mosquito Repellent is a safe, natural mosquito repellent that can replace products that contain DEET. It uses nature’s most powerful plants to deter mosquitoes from you and your pets. 

A blend of geraniol from citronella and lemongrass oil makes Vet’s Best Mosquito repellent an effective way to repel mosquitoes. This plant-based product can be used year-round and will make you feel good about using it. It is safe for you, your children, your pets, and your environment. 

Be sure to read the label of this product before use. Even with its natural and safe oils, it is still important to use according to directions to get the best use from the product.

Nantucket Spider Natural Insect Repellent for Dogs

Nantucket Spider Natural Insect Repellent was formulated to repel spiders from dogs. Because of the nature of these natural products and how insects behave, most products that repel spiders, ticks, or fleas will also repel mosquitoes.

This DEET-free product uses natural ingredients like organic cedar oil, organic rosemary oil, organic thyme oil, organic peppermint oil, and organic geranium oil. These effective ingredients allow your pet to live pest-free.

You can simply spray this product on your dog’s coat and underbelly. You can feel good about the products applied to your pet when you use Nantucket Spider Natural Insect Repellent for Dogs.

Wondercide – Flea, Tick, and Mosquito Spray for Dogs, Cats, and Home

Wondercide Flea, Tick, and Mosquito Spray is another great alternative to traditional insect repellent products that contain DEET. It uses essential oils to naturally deter pests from your pets. 

This product will not just repel pests, but kill them. It is 98–100% effective in repelling and killing all stages of the pests’ lifecycle – eggs, larvae, and adults. This product is holistic-approved and will leave you feeling good about the product you just applied to your pet. 

It is safe for dogs and cats of all ages, and safe around your kids. This company is owned by moms that wanted safe alternatives to the chemicals commonly used in insect repellents. 

Other Natural DEET Alternatives

If you aren’t in the essential oil scene but don’t want to buy pre-made products, there are other natural DEET alternatives that you might have laying around your house. Use any of these products to deter mosquitoes naturally.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Does apple cider vinegar repel mosquitoes on dogs? Yes, it does! Apple cider vinegar has a pungent odor that wards off most pests, including mosquitoes. If you do not like the scent of apple cider vinegar, it may not be the best option for you and your dog.

Applying apple cider vinegar to your dog’s coat has other benefits, too. It acts as a natural conditioner that aids the health of your dog’s fur and skin. If you do decide to use apple cider vinegar to repel fleas and mosquitoes, it is important to dilute it before applying.

Applying straight apple cider vinegar to your dog’s coat and underbelly can irritate their skin.

Geraniol

Geraniol can be found in roses, geraniums, and palmarosa. It is a naturally-occurring monoterpenoid that is effective in repelling mosquitoes and ticks. It’s also the primary component in geranium oil.

It is a pale yellow liquid with a rose scent that is safe to use on dogs and cats. Using geraniol to repel pests from you or your pets is a great, natural choice.

Conclusion – Natural & Homemade Mosquito Repellent for Dogs

If you want to get away from harmful chemicals but still want to keep mosquitoes and other harmful pests away from your dogs, don’t fear! Some many great essential oils and common household products work great as a mosquito repellent for dogs.