

Dog Flea & Tick Control

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Dog owners have been doing battle with fleas and ticks for as long as dogs and people have been living together. These parasites are in so many environments that even pets that rarely leave the home should be considered at potential risk for picking up fleas and/or ticks. Thankfully, controlling these nasty parasites has never been easier.

"Owners should examine their dogs on a regular basis for fleas and ticks."

Why Should Pet Owners Be Concerned?

Fleas and ticks are not just a nuisance. A flea-infested dog may scratch and bite himself until he is covered with red, oozing sores. When a large number of fleas are present, they suck a lot of blood from the body, and particularly if the pet is very small or young, a potentially life-threatening anemia may develop. Flea bites can pass very serious diseases from one animal to another, but ticks are even better at disease transmission. Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis and Lyme disease are just a few of the diseases that ticks can transmit.

How Do I Know If My Pet Has Fleas Or Ticks?

Frontline Plus

Owners should examine their dogs on a regular basis. Use your hands to part the fur so you can see directly down to the skin. Look over the dog's whole body, but pay special attention to the area around the base of the tail, back of the hind legs, around the face and in the armpits and groin. Here is what to look for:

Fleas are smaller than a grain of rice. They have a body that is taller than it is wide, and can move very quickly, often dashing across the skin or leaping away when disturbed. Flea feces, also called flea dirt, looks like coffee grounds and is often visible even when fleas are not. Through self-grooming, dogs may remove much of the evidence of a flea infestation. If your dog is itchy, fleas are still a strong possibility even if you don't see them on your pet.

Most ticks are significantly larger than fleas, although some species and immature ticks can be quite small. They are often found with their mouthparts firmly embedded in the skin. A tick that has fed on blood will look like a plump bean, rather than having the relatively flat appearance of a tick that has not yet eaten.

Treating Flea & Tick at Home

If you find ticks on your dog, they need to be removed. Use a pair of tweezers or tick pliers to firmly grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull with steady pressure. Flush the tick down the toilet and wash your equipment and hands immediately.

Dogs that have fleas or a lot of ticks on them require a more generalized approach. Sprays, shampoos and dips are all useful, but they don't do much to prevent the parasites from coming back in the future. The best way to keep fleas and ticks off of your dog for a month or more is to use one of the longer acting products, like Frontline Plus or K9 Advantix II. If your problem is limited only to fleas, Capstar, Advantage II, and Program are all also good choices, or you can use a flea-only product and add a Preventic collar to deal with ticks. Revolution, Sentinel and Advantage Multi combine flea control with protection against other parasites including heartworms. Collars that claim to control both fleas and ticks are not as effective as some of the other choices now available to dog owners.

K9 Advantix II

Fleas can quickly start breeding inside the home and move from pet to pet so all animals in a household need to be treated. Vacuuming carpets, floors and upholstery and washing pet bedding is very helpful and usually sufficient if an effective monthly flea control product is also used. If more environmental control is necessary premise and yard sprays and foggers are available.

Whatever type of flea and tick control you choose, carefully follow the manufacturer's directions to maximize its effectiveness and safety. Cats are extremely sensitive to some of the chemicals used to treat parasites. Never use a product that does not clearly state that is safe for cats on or around these animals.

Veterinary Care

Your veterinarian can help you determine which flea and tick control product is right for your dog. If your pet has an especially severe infestation, or is acting sick in any way, bring him in for an exam.
