Our advice to Italian Greyhound owners on tick flea and tick prevention is to opt for a safe, non-toxic, natural alternative to the chemical “spot-on” approach.

Spot-on treatments are pesticides

The main active ingredients in spot-on treatments are fipronil (in Frontline), imidacloprid (Advantage) and various chemicals classified as pyrethoids. All are toxic chemicals commonly used as pesticides, although fipronil and imidacloprid have been banned from use on farms now for many years. One flea treatment of imidacloprid (the active ingredient in Advnatage) for a medium sized dog contains enough pesticide to kill 60 million bees, according to Professor Dave Goulson of the University Sussex.

The devastating impact on UK waterways

In 2020, a research team at the University of Sussex looking into the potential role of veterinary flea products in widespread pesticide contamination of English rivers found that fipronil was present in 99% of water samples taken from 20 UK rivers, and the average level of one particularly toxic breakdown product of the pesticide was 38 times above the safety limit. The results of the study strongly suggest that our mass use of these spot-on treatments results in environmentally significant quantities of fipronil and imidacloprid used in veterinary flea treatments entering freshwater systems. The Guardian also reported on the problem in January 2025.

Choose a safe, natural alternative for flea and tick treatment

There are many, many safe, non-toxic alternatives to keep fleas, ticks and mites at bay and away from your dog. Here are just a small selection …

Natural supplements for ongoing prevention

CSJ – ‘Billy No Mates!’ – Herbal Flea, Tick & Mite Deterrent

A nautral tincture of mint, seaweed, fenugreek, neem leaves and lemon balm that can be added to your dog’s food to repel ticks, fleas and mites. Available as a dry formula or as a liquid.

Available at The Neem Team

Neem Shield Herbs Flea Control Supplement for Cats & Dogs

Neem is a powerful tick, insect and mite repellent. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and is antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal. The Neem Team’s Flea Shield Herbs include Neem Leaf Powder, Lemon Balm, Fenugreek and Seaweed.

Available from The Neem Team

Garlic Oil Capsules

Garlic Oil can be purchased from most supermarkets or health food stores. Give one capsule daily in their food. This makes the dog’s skin environment unpleasant for fleas and harvest mites.

Available at many stores including Holland & Barrett

Homeopathic Sulphur 30

Should you experience a flea infestation, the homoeopathic remedy Sulphur 30 will soon eradicate them. Give one tablet daily by crushing between two teaspoons and tipping the powder onto the dogs tongue. 

Available from Ainsworths

Natural topical treatments for prevention

Neem Shield Pet Spray

A powerful natural formula that repels fleas, ticks and other biting insects. Neem Shield Spray contains a blend of insect repellent ingredients including Lavender, Lemongrass, Rosemary and Sage and Organic Apple Cider Vinegar. Apply a light spray to your dog.

Available at The Neem Team.

LAVENDAR OIL

Lavendar Oil can be used as a natural flea repellent on your dogs bedding and in your home, applied as a topical spray. It can also be applied directly to your dog but avoid eyes, ears, nose and mouth. Add a few drops of neat Lavender Oil to water in a spray bottle (plant mister or similar) and shake well. Use to spray dog beds, carpets, rugs and other soft furnishings.

Available at Holland & Barrett.

Hitchhiker Away

A herbal solution made with a blend of natural Ingredients including Aqua, Quassia Bark, Sage and Cyder Vinegar, and with essential oils of Lavender, Lemongrass and Anti-Parasitic 12x. Apply neat directly to the back of your dog’s neck once a week. The solution can also be diluted and used as a preventative spray on dog bedding and soft furnishings in the home.

Available at All Natural Pet.

Please do not use any chemical based flea or tick treatment on an Italian Greyhound.

Some breeders who include in their Puppy adverts that their IG’s have been ‘de-flead’ are merely exposing their complete ignorance of the breed; confirming to the world they are breeding for nothing other than financial gain at the expense of the poor Italian Greyhounds welfare.