5 tips for preventing fleas and ticks

With the warm summer months, many of us spend more time outdoors with our pets.  While this is fun for the whole family, it can also potentially expose our pets to harmful flea and tick infestations.  This exposure can lead to anemia, flea allergy dermatitis, tapeworms, and tick borne diseases such as Lyme’s Disease.  Human family members can also become exposed to these parasites when our pets bring them into our homes.  Following these 5 easy steps can help prevent the spread of diseases from these pesky parasites!

  

1) Know your products - With the help of your veterinarian, choose a high quality flea and tick product that fits your pet’s health status and lifestyle.  There are many options on the market, but it’s important to know that some may not be safe for your pet or effective against the specific species of parasites that are found in the area you live in. Fleas and ticks even have the ability to develop resistance to older topical products, which can render them ineffective.  Educate yourself on the different options so you and your vet can choose the best product for your pet together.  

2) Groom your pet regularly - Bathe your dog regularly in a shampoo recommended by your veterinarian.  Soap-free, oatmeal-based shampoos tend to be the safest and gentlest options for any pet.  If your pet currently has an infestation, it may be tempting to do a “flea dip” found at a pet store, but many of the chemicals in these products are dangerous to pets and should only be used on the advice of your vet.  Use a flea comb regularly on your pet, and check them over before bringing them in from outside, especially if you’ve been camping or hiking.  Keep the yard well maintained in the areas they spend time in, vacuum carpeting regularly, and wash their bedding once weekly.  

3) Use products properly - Never put a dog product on a cat, and don’t split large sizes for smaller pets or double up on smaller sizes for larger pets.  Make sure your pet isn’t allowed to lick topical products off their skin or a housemate’s after application.  Ensure topical products are applied onto the skin, not onto a thick fur coat.  While some products are waterproof they can still wash off with shampoos or with excessive water exposure, so make sure you clarify this with your vet and the product you’ve chosen.  Always apply products when your pet’s fur coat is fully dry.  Check the proper intervals for dosing to ensure you aren’t under or over dosing your fur baby.  

4) Treat every pet in your home - Even if you have a cat who never leaves its bed, your other pets who go outdoors may bring parasites in from outside.  This could put older, sick, or feeble pets at risk of infestations if they don’t have a proper preventative routine.  

5) Treat your home and yard when necessary – Treating animals usually isn’t enough when there is an infestation.  Sometimes it is necessary to treat your home and your yard, too.  When an adult flea lays eggs, it forms a hard cocoon-like shell called the pupae.  The pupae cannotbe killed until they hatch into adult fleas. Pupae hatch 3-4 weeks or longer after you first treat your home, so it is important to treat your home again in 3-4 weeks.  Fleas are also hitch hikers and attach to your shoes or clothing, so you must treat your yard, too!  While some of these products can be dangerous, there are many that are safe and necessary. Consult with your veterinarian and/or a skilled pest control professional to determine which methodology works best for your family’s lifestyle.  

Call the Veterinary Healing Centers today to ask about option’s to protect your pets from these ectoparasites, including a newer and very effective oral product, Bravecto! It’s a 3-month pill that prevents and controls fleas and ticks in dogs of all sizes.