You need to protect your pet from fleas and ticks this season. Research shows that the spring and fall seasons are infamous for fleas and ticks. However, do not be quick to conclude these parasites are just a seasonal problem because they can hang around your pet all year round.
As the weather warms, you may want to bring your furry companion along for some outdoor fun. This guide will help you ensure fleas and ticks do not interfere with your outdoor fun.
Seek Preventive Care
It is a great time to take your furry friend to their yearly physical checkup to ensure their tick and flea protection is up to date. A physical checkup is also a great way to detect any health problems early before they become serious complications. Several preventive treatments repel one or both dangerous vermin. These include:
Oral Pills
Your vet can prescribe chewable medications that your pet can take after every 30 days. Your furball can chew the pill on its own, or you can disguise it in your pet’s food.
Droplets
Droplets are treatments you can apply on your pet’s skin, usually at the back of the neck, where your pet cannot lick it off. The chemicals inside the droplets spread throughout your pet’s body, killing pests that encounter it. Droplets work for about 30 days before your vet administers another dose.
Vaccines
Get your pet vaccinated, especially if you live in a woody or grassy area. Vaccines can ward off fleas and ticks for up to six months at a time.
Home Repellants
Repellant cleansing creams, shampoos, and sprays can help keep parasites away from your home. Talk to your vet about suitable home repellants you can use around your home.
You can also use salt or baking soda when cleaning your carpets to help deter fleas and ticks from your indoor space. Likewise, consider buying plants that repel fleas, such as chrysanthemums, lavender, and pennyroyal.
Check Your Pet for Fleas and Ticks
If your pet has been spending a lot of time outside, you need to check them for fleas and ticks. Wear rubber gloves and search through your pet’s fur using your fingers. Touch your pet’s skin gently so you can feel any lumps.
Check for ticks and fleas in and around your furball’s ears, eyelids, collar, feet, toes, and tail. If you find a flea or tick attached to your pet’s skin, remove it without leaving the head inside. If you are not comfortable doing that yourself, contact your veterinarian.
Why Is It Important to Protect Your Pet from Fleas and Ticks?
Fleas and ticks carry harmful diseases that can make your pet’s life miserable. A single bite from an infected parasite can cause intolerable itching, and many pets end up injuring their skin. Some diseases, particularly those from ticks, can cause paralysis.
Besides, fleas and ticks are difficult to remove because you need to terminate them at each phase of their life cycle. Since they reproduce at a fast rate, early prevention is essential.
For more on preparing for flea and tick season, visit 4 Paws Veterinary Hospital at our office in Duffield, Virginia. Call (276) 431-4838 to schedule an appointment today.