Food And Care : Protecting Your Dog from Fleas and Ticks

One way to ensure your dog stays in excellent health is to safeguard him from the threat of fleas and ticks. In addition to being a terrible irritant to dogs, often causing excessive scratching that can leave a dog’s skin open to infection, fleas and ticks often serve as disease vectors for potentially deadly diseases.

These diseases can include Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and even paralysis. Additionally, ticks and fleas can pass on other detrimental parasites, including tapeworms to your pet. Furthermore, the old saying, “lie down with dogs, wake up with fleas” has never been more true, as once fleas or ticks infest your dog, your home, yourself, and your family is at risk.

Different parts of the country are affected in different ways by fleas and ticks. Some parts of the country experience year round problems from fleas and ticks, whereas other parts rarely see infestation during any time of the year. The best way to determine your dog’s risk of flea or tick infestation is to speak with your dog’s veterinarian.

He or she will be able to better inform you of this risk. Furthermore, different parts of the country are affected by different types of fleas and ticks, which can lead to different problems. For example, the deer tick—or black legged tick—is the main vector for the type of bacterium that causes Lyme Disease. These ticks are found mainly on the northern part of the Eastern seaboard, upper Midwest, and the northern California and Oregon coasts. If you live in any of these areas, be sure to immediately look into protection for your dog.

Many of these medical problems can be transferred to humans, so by protecting your pooch, you are also protecting yourself and your family. An excellent way to ensure your dog—and in return, your family—is protected from flea or tick infestation, carefully monitor your dog’s coat. Often comb your pet using a fine toothed comb and check for areas usually affected by fleas or ticks, including the inside of your dog’s ears and on the underside of your dog’s neck. Furthermore, carefully inspect your dog and yourself after outdoor walks, especially through tall grass or unkempt areas.

Another way to protect your dog and your home from flea or tick infestation is to avoid letting your dog socialize with unknown animals. Also, avoid feeding stray or wild animals, since they often harbor a large flea or tick colony due to lack of care. Furthermore, keep your home clean and regularly launder your dog’s bedding. Flea eggs use the dog’s bedding to hatch and develop into larvae, so insuring the bedding is clean will discourage this development and end the life cycle of the flea. Furthermore, regularly vacuum your floors and any upholstery where your pet sits.

Be sure to routinely change any vacuum cleaner bags, since they serve as an excellent place for flea eggs to hatch and larvae to develop. There are many special carpet and upholstery sprays and powders that are geared for use in an environment with pets or with a current flea infestation.

In addition to keeping your home clean, keep your dog clean. Regularly bathe your dog using specialty shampoos that will deter an infestation from fleas or ticks. Also, speak with your veterinarian about prescribing a monthly treatment program.

Popular treatment programs that discourage flea or tick infestation include Frontline, Bio Spot, and Program. All of these treatment programs are proven safe for both your dog and your family, and will protect your precious pup from experiencing an aggravating and potentially dangerous flea or tick infestation.