We all love to gush over the shiny or fluffy coat of our pets, the darlings of the home and subject to all the videos on the phone. However, if we are not careful, this coat of fur can become the habitat for irritating and dangerous parasites that can cause havoc to your dog or cat’s health and well-being.
Understanding the Flea and Tick Problem
Across the continent, depending on the weather conditions, you need to look out for fleas and ticks that may infect your pet cat or dog. The warm southern states have a flea season that is close to 6 months long while the northern states face this problem less.
Fleas and ticks get transmitted from carriers but they can also reside in other animals, not just cats and dogs. Common areas where your dogs and cats can catch fleas are places where other animals reside, like the backyard or the park.
Tackling Fleas and Ticks
Prevention they say is better than the cure and this applies to your pet’s health too. If you have a cat, the task should be much simpler than it is with canines. Cats self-groom pretty well and from your end, you need to just give it a few brushes and check its fur for jumpy inhabitants once in a while. For dogs, it is important that they get regular baths and you also have to monitor the premises if they are prone to playing outdoors.
Vacuum the house regularly to make sure those insects don’t set a base indoors. Your pets spend a lot of time on the floor and dirty rugs and carpets provide just the right place for fleas and ticks to jump on the unsuspecting animal. Cleaning and regularly replacing the bedding of the pet is also required. If you have an outdoor space, it is prudent to trim long grass and brush during the summer months.
For proper flea prevention, there are many high-quality pet-specific products that can be administered in the surroundings or on the animals. Flea collars are a very popular product and they can be effective for up to six months. There are other topical formulas that are made specifically for the sensitive skin of dogs and cats.
Ticks, unlike fleas, are less active and will fasten themselves to soft spots of the animal like the ear or the belly. At times they can be as small as a pinhead. You need to be very observant to find ticks in your animal.
Signs of Trouble
The earliest signs you can see in your pet if they have fleas is that they will be more agitated and there will be a bit of scratching. Flea bites can be very irritating and if left unattended, your dog or cat can scratch their skin so hard that there will be fur loss and even bleeding.
Allowing a flea problem to persist is a bad idea. Sometimes dogs can ingest some of the insects when they scratch or tend to their itches. Fleas are carriers of tapeworms. These can grow up to 12 inches long in your pet’s digestive system, giving you a whole new set of problems.
The blood loss from flea, lice and tick bites can be dangerous for smaller pups and kitties. Anemia can even turn fatal if the problem is not acted on.
Anti-Parasite Pet Products
If you think your dog or cat has caught some ticks or fleas, consult the vet straight away. There are many products available in the market that are dedicated to eliminating fleas, ticks and other parasites. If you are looking for solutions that need to be applied to the animal’s fur or skin, always choose pet-specific products from reputed brands. Beneath the fur, the skin of your animal is very sensitive and some harsh chemicals will cause it damage as a side effect of killing all the fleas. Most products used work like mild insecticides so a lot of care needs to be taken when choosing one.
Products need to tackle not just the fleas but also their larvae and eggs. More than just killing the parasite, a good product destroys the entire cycle to prevent the continuation of the colony.
Keeping your pet dog or cat’s fur and skin healthy will go a long way in ensuring it stays in prime fitness. A happy pet is a bundle of joy to have around the home, an integral part of the family. With good care and awareness, we can enjoy the company of our whiskered brothers and sisters for a very long time.
