Remember that our dogs and cats can be tick-carriers

Here are some simple ways of minimizing the risk of having Rover or Tabby carry ticks into your home, and some natural repellents to help keep ticks from finding your pets a desirable place to live.

Cut down overgrown weeds and grass that pets may roam or lay in.  Check them as you do yourself and your kids, when they come back into the house, before they go into bedrooms or onto furniture.  Brush or comb them often. 

READ MORE: Protect your kids from ticks

As an extra precaution, we found some natural repellents meant to be harmless to your best friend, but undesirable for nasty ticks.

Earth Animal, a Connecticut-based company, has a nice selection on their website. Here are two products of interest:

Internal Powder: "Internal Powder is a special blend of dark brewer's yeast, garlic, B vitamins, minerals and special nutrients that work together synergistically and more effectively for fleas than yeast and garlic alone. Taken orally, the Powder produces an odor that is undetectable by humans and is loathed by fleas and ticks, mosquitoes, and black flies. Taken regularly, the Internal Powder makes your animal less attractive to infestation. All ingredients are human food grade with no insecticides, chemical preservatives, salt or sugar."
($18.99)

READ MORE: Is your family at risk for Lyme Disease?

No More Tick Drops: "Helps bitter your Animals blood to help DEFEND against ticks and any tick-borne diseases. Helps fight against the symptoms caused by Lyme, Tick Bites, Ehrlichiosis or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Ingredients: Garlic, Yerba Santa, Goldenrod, Tobacco with Flower Essences of Tansy, Broccoli, Elder, B-1 & Zuchinni." ($25.99)