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Last updated: 11 Nov 2024
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Leading Insect Repellent for Dogs: Keep Away Mosquitoes Once And For All

author-image
By Destin Benoit
Published 3 Dec 2020
Show contents
Premium Insect Repellent For Dogs 2024- A Guided Review
  • 1 Bug Soother Spray
  • 2 Vet’s Best Mosquito Repellent
  • 3 Wondercide Mosquito Spray
  • 4 Flys-Off Insect Repellent
  • 5 Absorbine UltraShield Fly Spray

Do you think insects are only a nuisance to your dog? Besides buzzing around you and your furry companion, these pesky creatures bite your pooch. More than that, their bites result in the transmission of fatal diseases. So, are you willing to tolerate these harmful creatures? West Nile Virus and heartworms are leading infections associated with the bites of mosquitoes. If you do not have an insect repellent in your home, your desire to enjoy hiking, fishing, and playing around in the backyard may go down in flames. Well, there is a way to savor play time outside the home in the summer without carrying the fear of bugs. Yes, an insect repellent for dogs keeps away mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks from your beloved companion. Let’s figure out the perfect insect repellent for your dog to keep them safe.

Premium Insect Repellent For Dogs 2024- A Guided Review

1

Bug Soother Spray

– Editor’s Choice
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THE SCOOP

Keeping insects away from your dog with hypoallergenic substances is the best way to take care of them. Bug soother spray does this job successfully. Whether it is gnats, mosquitos, no-see-ums, or sand fleas, it is undoubtedly a super insect repellent engineered to knock down insects. This environment-friendly spray is secure for dogs, children, and adults.
The exquisite natural ingredients, such as castor oil, a composite of vitamin E and soy lecithin, refined water, and glycerin, are aimed at giving a soothing effect to your pet.

When vanilla complements undiluted lemongrass oil, it imparts a comforting aroma to you and your pet. Rather than curtailing outdoor time with your dog, spray this repellent on yourself and your pet to keep away damaging insects.

Pros
  • Beneficial for dogs, humans, chickens, horses, and even tigers
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Free of DEET and all other artificial chemicals
Cons
  • Short effective time
2

Vet’s Best Mosquito Repellent

– Runner Up
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THE SCOOP

Protect yourself, your dog, and your family members with the vet’s best mosquito repellent. The active natural ingredients have magnificent biocidal effects on insects. The mixture of lemongrass oil and geraniol is substantially successful in not only repelling mosquitos but killing them. It is incredibly effective at killing insects that carry the West Nile virus and heartworms. If your pet is 12 weeks or older, apply this repellent to witness its beneficial influence.

Additionally, the extracts from clove and peppermint plants boost the effectiveness of this spray to combat and keep away pests. The efficacy of this product is cemented by 30 years of experience by Vet’s Best to use natural ingredients for the wellbeing of pets. To protect you and your dog’s skin from mosquitoes, you have to spray this repellent every two hours.

Pros
  • Ingredients are certified natural oils
  • Scent is pleasant for the user
  • Very effective at keeping away pests
Cons
  • It may irritate sensitive dogs
3

Wondercide Mosquito Spray

– Honorable Mention
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THE SCOOP

Is it enough to merely repel the mosquitoes? Wondercide mosquito spray lets you marvel at its efficiency for pet care. It puts an end to the entire life cycle of pests. Whether it is larvae, eggs, or adults, this spray kills all and thus reduces the number of mosquitoes and pests. Cedarwood oil and lemongrass oil are active components for this purpose. This repellent gives you comfort when you realize that both your pet and your family are safe from artificial chemicals. 

No matter the age of your pet and who uses it, it is effective for both animals and humans in all stages of life. It is safe to use, from applying it on indoor surfaces like furniture, carpet, and flooring to topical use for dogs. You can also get it to kill fleas in the shelter of your dog. What is more comforting is the lemongrass scent that makes it practical for indoor and outdoor use.  

Pros
  • Beneficial against 98-100% mosquitoes and fleas
  • Naturally derived components
  • Recommended by vets
  • The oils do not leave specks
Cons
  • Pets may find the odor very penetrating
4

Flys-Off Insect Repellent

– Also Consider
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THE SCOOP

Flys-off insect repellent stands among the top insect killers. It includes pyrethrin extracted from chrysanthemum flowers. These potent pesticides are very effective in keeping your pet safe and healthy. These are natural substances and are toxic to pests. The other active ingredients entail piperonyl butoxide and butoxy polypropylene glycol. All these components play a vital role to keep away flies, gnats, mosquitoes, ticks, lice, and fleas. 

With this spray, your dog will be able to fend off insects. It will give you the comfort to enjoy outdoor activities with your lovely dog. You can apply this spray to adult dogs and cats. They should not be 12 weeks old. This 6-ounce bottle spray is perfect for both indoor and outdoor use. You have to reapply this spray to your pet every nine days for an effective outcome.  

Pros
  • It has no odor
  • The handy pump spray is comfortable to use
  • Potent as a surface repellent on bedding
  • Safe for pets
Cons
  • Some users have received less or empty bottles
5

Absorbine UltraShield Fly Spray

– Also Consider
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Buy on Amazon
THE SCOOP

Absorbine Ultrashield fly spray has a superb formula to help dogs and outdoor animals like horses repel insects. This sets it apart from other insect repellents. Your pup and horse become able to ward off ticks, gnats, mosquitoes, biting flies, etc. Absorbine ultrashield spray is a natural product outright. Seven active botanical extracts are put together to give a brilliant insect repellent spray.

The different natural ingredients, harmful for insects, are combined skillfully to create a water-based formula. This makes it convenient to use. You can apply this spray to dogs, ponies, and horses. Also, it does not abandon any remains.

Pros
  • Secure for the environment
  • Non-greasy oils do not stain when the animal brushes against you
  • Comfortable handgrip and perfect to spray hard to reach places
Cons
  • Less effective time

How To Choose the Best Insect Repellent For Dogs: A Complete Buying Guide

Types of Insect Repellent For Dogs

There are plenty of insect repellents on the market. To choose a superb insect repellent, you must have an idea of how it will deter mosquitoes and ticks. Depending on how an insect repellent achieves this goal, it has three common forms.

Insect repellents for skin

This is a priority for those who spend a lot of time outdoors. These insect repellents keep away biting mosquitoes and bugs. Insect repellent sprays are the most common products used for this purpose. Although they protect you amazingly, you have to reapply them regularly and meticulously.

They contain either synthetic chemicals, such as DEET, or natural extracts of plants as active components. The effective natural oils entail lemongrass oil, cedarwood oil, geraniol, etc. The active ingredients determine the effective span of repellents. The synthetic ingredients give a longer span but are more likely to cause skin and neurological problems.

Insect-repellent clothing

There are clothes and different wearables that ward off mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks. It can be a put-on, dog collar, wristbands, and clips. Some dog collars are imbued with natural essential oils such as peppermint and geraniol that repel insects and save your pup from mosquitoes. As for insect-repellent dresses, you can either get pretreated clothes or spray permethrin, an artificial chemical, on them to keep away mosquitoes. However, you should apply insect repellents to the skin also to complement the action of insect-repellent clothing. It gives more security to your dog and family.

Airborne insect repellents

If you dislike applying chemicals on your dog’s skin or putting on clothing treated with insect repellants, airborne insect repellent will be your perfect pick. Although they are convenient to use, they can cover only a specified area. When you power the device with fuel and activate it, this tool disseminates synthetic or natural repellents into the atmosphere. If camping attracts you or you want to secure your backyard for your lovely dog, it is a good choice. It won’t help you if you love hiking or trekking.

Factors To Count While Choosing Insect Repellent For Dogs

Making the right call for a first-class insect repellent for your dog is strongly connected to some essential determinants. Let’s become mindful of them.

Active ingredients

The first thing to consider when choosing an insect repellent for your dog is its active ingredients. These decide whether your product is natural or synthetic. Although manufactured substances have as much efficacy against insects as needed, they may prove to be a wrong decision in the future. For instance, DEET causes nuisance and seizures. It is harmful to dogs.

Natural essential oils, like lemongrass, peppermint, geraniol, etc., are less potent than synthetic components. Nonetheless, you have to take precautions to thwart allergies. Your veterinarian is also a go-to source to consult about this concern.

Type of protection

Are you looking forward to repelling both mosquitoes and ticks? Do you need an insect repellent for home or to cover a limited range? Most of the insect repellents keep away mosquitoes only, and some can cover various species of insects. DEET influences mosquitoes, ticks, and some fleas also, but it can harm your dog. Its controlled use may prove beneficial. Permethrin is a synthetic chemical that keeps mosquitoes and ticks away from your dog and family. Most natural essential oils are good to kill mosquitoes and some other insects.

Duration of effectiveness

If you are a keen hiker, trekker, or love fishing, you will indeed consider this aspect of insect repellents. When you spend a lot of time with your pup in the backyard and outside the home, getting a repellent that has a long-lasting shield against mosquitoes and ticks is better. DEET provides almost 12 hours of protection. When you use natural and essential oils on your dog and yourself, you have to reapply them repeatedly. Lemongrass repellent prevents the bites of insects for a maximum of 2 hours.

Scent

While you have to apply insect repellent topically on your pooch and yourself, it is essential to find one that soothes you. A lemongrass repellent has a soothing effect on your dog. Also, it is frustrating for mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks. This feature makes a repellent user-friendly for your dog and your family and hostile towards insects.

Versatility

Some insect repellents provide a good deal of versatile uses. This factor benefits you enormously. You can apply insect repellent to yourself, your pet, indoor surfaces like carpet, furniture, bedding, etc. This great feature saves your money to some extent. Moreover, a versatile insect repellent is eco-friendly. You can use it both indoors and outdoors to stay safe and healthy.

Some insect repellents are age-specific, and some are used for both young and adult dogs. If your dog has an allergy or wound on the body, you should consult a veterinarian to prevent aggravation.

Repellent for Dog FAQ

Q: What is an efficient way to repel mosquitoes from my dog?

A: Insect repellents are the best way to keep mosquitoes away from your dog. Although they do not assure a 100% guarantee, they are superb enough to repel most mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks. A good deal of active ingredients help a repellent attain this aim. An insect repellent repels the mosquitoes with its unfavorable odor for mosquitoes, and it also disturbs them to recognize carbon dioxide. These features enable a repellent to prevent the bites of insects. Some can even kill insects.

Q: Are insect repellents safe to apply on dogs?

A: Be cognizant that your insect repellent does not entail DEET as an active ingredient. It is detrimental for dogs. Natural products are more protective in this case. Their efficacy might be less than synthetic repellents but are also less probable to cause allergy and neurological issues. Nevertheless, you have to make sure that your pet does not lick its damp fur.

Q: What is your top pick among insect repellents?

A: Bug soother sprayer is a top pick for you. This DEET-free insect repellent is safe to take care of your pup. It shields you and your dog from mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks triumphantly. The natural active ingredients like lemongrass oil and castor oil make it amazingly effective against insects. You can spray this handmade insect repellent to enjoy your outdoor activities under the sun.

Contributors

author-image
Destin Benoit
Former Special Forces Canine Handler
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