“Learn about the importance of flea and tick prevention for dogs to keep them happy and healthy. Discover effective preventatives, best treatment methods, and choosing the right products to safeguard your furry companion from these harmful parasites
To keep your dog happy and healthy, preventative care plays a major role. Using monthly flea-and-tick prevention is one of the most effective ways to prevent health problems.
What is the importance of flea and tick prevention for dogs?
The fleas and the ticks on your body are called ectoparasites.
To survive, fleas or ticks must feed off the blood of their hosts. The bites of fleas and ticks directly affect your dog’s well-being. Flea saliva can lead to severe allergic reactions, Dermatitis anemia, itching, and infection. Tick bites may cause abscesses and paralysis. They can even be fatal.
The parasites are also capable of spreading a wide range of illnesses to your dog, such as:
- Lyme disease
- Anaplasmosis
- Bartonellosis
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
- The Tapeworm
- Babesiosis
These diseases can even be transmitted to your family members. It is important to remove fleas from your pet and your house.
What is the best time to treat dogs for fleas and ticks?
It is important to protect pets in the summer months. You should keep your pet on tick and flea prevention year-round if you live where temperatures are warm all year.
Even northern states experience some warm days that feel like spring during winter. Fleas, ticks, and their eggs can take advantage of these brief periods of warmth to infest your home and pets. Fleas will continue to multiply in your home, residing on the carpet, floorboards, and wherever else your pet lives. Ticks can crawl from your dog to humans if you don’t use tick prevention.
What are the best flea and tick preventatives for dogs?
You can use a number of different products to keep your dog parasite-free. They can come in the form of Pesticides or repellents. These preventatives target pests in different stages of their lifecycles, preventing infestations.
Some products only work against one type of pest, usually fleas. Flea baths and powders are examples of products that can be used. Additional medications may be needed to ensure that your dog is protected against both ticks and fleas.
These products contain multiple active ingredients that fight different pests. The combination flea and tick preventatives for dogs contain multiple ingredients to combat different types of pests.
Always consult your vet before choosing a tick and flea medication for your dog. Check the label of your product and speak to your vet to ensure:
- This product will be the right species for your pet.
- It is designed for the life stage of your dog: puppy, adult, or senior
- It is the right weight for your pet
- It is administered properly (is the product a chewable, or topical)
- This product is effective against parasites of the right kind
- When the product is to be used with food
- When should you administer the product?
- When will the product start working?
- You can wash your pets
- The product may also be unsafe.
- In the case of an allergic reaction, you know the right phone number to dial
You should always read the instructions and warnings on the packaging, even if you have used it before. If you are unsure about anything, contact the company or your veterinarian.
How to choose a combination medicine for dogs that will treat fleas and ticks
Finding the right flea and tick preventative for your dog can be overwhelming. You can narrow down the options by consulting your veterinarian.
Consider these 7 factors when choosing the right flea and tick medication for your dog.
Applicable Method
Most commonly, flea and tick prevention comes in two different forms.
- To be taken orally is a chewable tablet for your dog.
- Topical: A liquid that can be spread on the dog’s back or between its shoulder blades.
The topical preventatives for fleas and ticks can be a good option for dogs who are fussy eaters, or pets with sensitive stomachs. If you are using the product on small animals or children, be sure to wait until it is dry before allowing them to touch or lick it.
The spot-on options for fleas and ticks may smell medicinal or cause temporary itching or irritation, or hair loss. Topical flea and tick treatments may not be the best option for dogs who like to swim or need regular baths. The efficacy can be affected by water.
Because they are given as a treat, oral treatments make it easy for pet parents to administer. It is important to watch your dog closely when using oral treatment to ensure that they are eating the tablet completely and not throwing it up.
Call your vet if your dog vomits immediately after eating an oral tick and flea preventative. Also, report any possible reaction. Oral preventatives can be fed with meals to help reduce upset stomach and improve product absorption.
Geographic
Local parasite populations vary depending on the geographic location. These include fleas, ticks,S and other parasites like intestinal parasites, and heartworms.
The Companion Animal Parasite Council can be a useful resource for identifying the parasites that are present in your locality so you know which flea-and-tick products will protect your dog.