Tips and strategies on how to eliminate fleas and ticks from your dog. Tips and strategies on how to eliminate fleas and ticks from your dog. Flea and tick treatment, though never fun, is an important part of dog care that both owners and veterinarians should be aware of in order to maintain the health and well-being of pets.
Ticks are parasites that can transmit a number of diseases to humans, such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis. They also carry other diseases that affect animals such as tularemia, babesiosis, murine typhus or tick paralysis. It’s important to check your dog regularly for ticks because they can cause your dog discomfort and serious health problems. Preventing the spread of tick-borne diseases begins with flea and tick treatment on your dog. Talk to your veterinarian about ways you can keep ticks away from you and your pets this season by asking these questions:
– How often should I treat my pet?
– What kind of product do you recommend?
– What will the cost be?
– Do you have any recommendations for bathing my pet?
Fleas can be carriers of several diseases, including murine typhus, plague, cat scratch disease, tularemia, bartonellosis, and canine parvovirus. A flea bite can also result in a local allergic reaction. The most common flea-borne illnesses are tapeworms which can cause intestinal obstruction if the dog ingests a flea carrying the tapeworm eggs. If your dog has been bitten by a flea or other insect that may have carried one of these diseases, immediately take them to the vet so they can be given medication as soon as possible to avoid any serious health complications.
Ticks can be found in your home if you live in or near a wooded area. You may also see them if you take your dog to the park or even walk through the woods. Ticks feed on the blood of dogs, wild animals, and humans, which can lead to Lyme disease. This disease causes flu-like symptoms, muscle pain, joint pain, headache, fatigue, fever and a rash. If left untreated, it can cause chronic arthritis and neurological problems. The best way to avoid getting ticks is by keeping your yard clean and brushing piles away from the house.
1. Check your dog’s coat, ears, and paws daily.
2. Use a flea comb to remove any fleas or ticks found on the skin of your dog.
3. Choose an appropriate flea or tick prevention method based on your dog’s lifestyle (e.g., topical treatments are more suitable for dogs who spend time outdoors).
4. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying medication to your dog (some forms require monthly application while others need one-time application).
5. Wash bedding regularly to avoid a buildup of dirt, dust mites, and allergens that can make your pet more vulnerable to parasites like ticks or fleas
6. Keep grass trimmed so there’s less opportunity for ticks or fleas to hang out in tall grasses
Spot-on treatments are one of the most common flea and tick treatments for dogs. They use a topical ointment that kills fleas, ticks, larvae, eggs and mites by contact. This type of treatment is applied directly to your dog’s skin without being ingested or going through its digestive system. Spot-on treatments are easy to apply since they’re applied with a dropper or syringe. Once you apply it to your dog’s skin, you should let it dry before they can lick it off or get wet in water; otherwise, the flea or tick medicine may not work as effectively. One thing that many pet owners don’t know about spot-on treatments is that not all of them are waterproof so make sure you check this information before buying the product!
main photo: unsplash.com/Ralu Gal
