Fleas and ticks are common parasites that feed on our furry friends’ warm coats, feeding off of them as food sources and transmitting serious diseases, including Lyme disease.
Veterinarians generally recommend year-round flea and tick prevention for dogs. There are various treatments available, from collars and powders to chewable medications containing pesticides that kill or repel fleas and ticks.
Prevention
Fleas are tiny wingless insects that feed off blood, while ticks are eight-legged arachnids with eight legs that attach themselves to animals, feed off their blood, and can transmit diseases including those which can be fatal. Entomologists have identified 2,200 flea species and 800 tick species; therefore it should come as no surprise that pet parents often worry about these pests.
Pets can pick up fleas and ticks from other pets, wildlife such as squirrels, raccoons or chipmunks, nature (such as tall grasses or bushes) as well as people visiting parks or taking their dog for walks. Once an adult flea or tick has laid its eggs on the ground where they hatch into larvae that search for an ideal host animal; your pet is an ideal candidate due to his long, sticky fur which allows fleas to climb onto his coat quickly while ticks latch onto his coat allowing fleas or ticks to attach themselves securely.
Once fleas and ticks attach themselves to an animal host, they may live up to one year – their life cycle includes eggs, larvae, nymph and adult stages – so it’s crucial that pet parents commit to ongoing flea and tick prevention measures for the sake of their pet’s wellbeing.
Oral treatments, such as tablets or chewables, provide pet owners with a convenient option to manage their pet’s condition. Unfortunately, however, some products require prior veterinarian approval or prescription and tend to cost more than over-the-counter alternatives.
Pet parents seeking more natural solutions such as tea tree oil can turn to over-the-counter sprays and powders like tea tree oil as options, but Richardson and Potzler advise against their use as they can be toxic to pets; for this reason it’s wise to consult your veterinarian first when selecting alternative preventatives like this one. However, due to reported issues related to oral preventatives linked to gastrointestinal distress in some dogs who frequently vomit or who suffer from gastrointestinal disorders; in these instances a collar containing imidacloprid or flumethrin may provide effective protection.
Treatment
Fleas and ticks can be dangerous parasites that spread disease to both you and other members of the household. Therefore, it’s vitally important that proper flea and tick removal and prevention methods be employed so as to safeguard the wellbeing of both yourself and your pet.
There is a wide selection of prescription and over-the-counter flea and tick treatments for dogs available, so there’s bound to be something that meets everyone’s needs and lifestyle. Your veterinarian can assist in selecting one suitable to you based on factors like topical spot-on treatments, oral tablets or flea collars.
Some treatments provide quick solutions that kill adult fleas within 30 minutes and then work to stop their eggs from hatching, while others begin killing fleas on contact with your pet’s skin and continue killing them every month – providing protection from hookworms and roundworms as well. There are also chewable treatments such as Capstar or Advantus available which kill fleas when consumed by your pet, such as chewable pills.
While many options exist to combat fleas and ticks, none are 100% effective, so regular body checks and home cleaning remain key in protecting against these parasites. Your vet can recommend additional ways to combat this threat such as natural supplements and herbal remedies that could keep fleas at bay for your pet.
If you discover fleas or ticks on your pet, make sure they’re removed properly – without twisting or jerking! Use rubber gloves and disinfect the bite area since tick saliva carries Lyme disease or Ehrlichiosis infections; store the tick in an alcohol-filled jar for later examination by your veterinarian.
Once your pet is free of parasites, a veterinarian can assist in treating their yard, house and any other animals in the household with sprays, diatomaceous earth, nematodes or natural repellents to keep fleas and ticks at bay throughout all parts of your property.
