Fleas and ticks are pesky external parasites that love to hide in your dog’s fur and attach themselves to the skin for feeding. Dogs that spend time outdoors, especially in high grass or wooded areas, are at risk, but they can also be found in shorter grass and around shrubs in your yard. Ticks and fleas are commonly seen in warmer months, but some can also survive freezing temperatures. They also jump from pet to pet, so even if your dog stays indoors most of the time, these parasites can find a way to infest their body.
Fleas and ticks often carry other parasites and diseases that can be harmful to your dog’s health and in some cases may even be fatal. Humans are also at risk of medical issues since these parasites are interested in feeding on blood from animals or humans and they can live in your home in search of their next host.
It’s critical to learn proper flea and tick removal as well as prevention to stop disease transmission from occurring, keeping you and your pet healthier and happier.
How To
To get rid of ticks and fleas on your dog, know how to look for them.
Ticks tend to be larger than fleas, and like to live on warm, dark, moist areas on the body. It is important to frequently feel your dog all over, including in between the toes, ears, armpits, groin, and facial folds. Try to check daily if your pet is often outdoors, or a few times weekly if they only go out for walks. The sooner a tick is located and removed, the less likely that medical issues will occur, since it takes several hours (usually up to 36 hours) for disease transmission to occur once a tick attaches to the skin. Brushes and combs may be helpful to search for ticks, but a thorough once-over with your hands is the best way to find a tick on your dog. Always wash your hands after checking your dog for ticks.
Removal of Ticks
Once a tick is located, use small tweezers to grab the tick at the base where it has burrowed into the skin and lift with steady, firm upward pressure. Once the tick mouth is removed from the skin, place this tick in a container or a plastic bag and contact your veterinarian. Use a small amount of alcohol or antiseptic to dab the affected area of your dog’s skin after removal.
Removal of Fleas
Fleas are smaller than ticks and typically infest many areas of the body. Symptoms include intense itching, hair loss, skin redness, and scrapes on the body. The first place to start your search is at the base of your dog’s tail or neck, parting the fur and looking closely for any small, dark, jumping bugs. Sometimes adult fleas are not found actively hopping. You may also see small white specks at the base of the hair which are flea eggs, or dark specks on the skin which are flea droppings.
The easiest way to find fleas on your dog is by using a flea comb. When you comb through the fur, flea eggs or droppings may be visible, which is confirmation of flea infestation. Fleas tend to be more difficult to remove than ticks, because they are smaller and more numerous. Even if you remove the adult fleas with simple bathing, the eggs will eventually hatch or fleas in the home will jump back onto your dog, causing another infestation.
Medicated baths, flea medications, and flea and tick preventatives are necessary to ensure there are no further issues.
Prevention
Prevention of fleas and ticks is much safer and simpler than treatment of possible issues once your dog has been infected. There are many options on the market that work to prevent flea and tick infestation, though none are 100% effective, which means routine body checks and home cleaning are still important. Preventative chewable tablets, topicals and collars should be discussed with your veterinarian to determine the best options based on your pet’s lifestyle.
Flea and/or tick preventative chewable tablets for dogs include:
Isooxazoline ingredient products:
- Bravecto, NexGard, Simparica Trio
- The active ingredient in these products kills fleas and ticks once they bite your dog, by attacking the parasite’s nervous system. These are safe, effective products, though vets have noted a low risk of seizures, which seems to affect those dogs with a tendency for seizure behaviour (such as epileptic dogs).
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