Fighting Ticks and Fleas

How to Protect Your Dogs and Cats from Harmful Parasites

May 1, 2008 Venice Kichura

Ticks and fleas become more of a problem for dogs and cats once the weather is warmer. Here are some tips for protecting your pets.

If you’re a pet owner you know that warmer weather can bring more fleas and tick problems for your pets.

Fleas

Fleas are parasites that feed on warm blooded animals such as dogs and cats. Although fleas can be a problem year round in warm climates, they only surface in winter in colder areas. Because they feed on blood, your pets serve as a perfect host. Fleas are the main reason for skin disease in dogs and cats. In severe cases they can even cause death.

Detecting Fleas

Besides continual scratching, you can also detect fleas by looking for flea dirt (flea feces from digested blood) or flea eggs on your pet’s skin. Examine his (or her) rump as well as his belly.

Appearing black, flea dirt also looks reddish brown when smeared on white paper. Flea eggs resemble white sand grains and adult fleas are brown without wings (somewhat larger than the size of a pinhead.)

Treating Fleas

• Indoor treatment – Vacuum all carpets, as well as below drapes, under furniture edges and where your pet sleeps to remove flea eggs. Make sure you seal your vacuum bag in a plastic bag and dispose of it without delay. Wash your pet’s bedding and surrounding areas, and then treat it with a product containing an adulticide. Also be sure to treat any other area where your pet hangs out (such as a car, basement, etc.)

• Outdoor treatment – Using outdoor flea sprays, treat the yard. Keep in mind fleas are prone to gravitate to moist, warm shady areas.

• Pet treatment – Once you’ve taken care of your home and yard, check with your veterinarian or pet store for a good product. There are a variety of flea control products including once-a-month topical, dips, shampoos, sprays, collars and oral products.

Ticks

Although ticks are also parasites, they aren’t insects like fleas. Instead they’re more like mites. Besides Lyme disease, ticks carry several varieties of diseases which can also invade humans. A few tick killing products include topically applied chemicals, as well as sprays and tick collars. Check with your veterinarian for recommendations.

How to Find Ticks on Your Dog

Examine your pet’s skin daily, especially during warm months for ticks. It’s even more important to check your pet for ticks after it's been on a walk or running through wooded areas and/or bushes.

Besides running your fingers through his fur, rub your hands on his body to check for any skin irregularities or small lumps. If you feel a lump, pull back his fur for further investigation. A small black or brown pimple (somewhat flat) probably is a tick. A tick has eight legs (rather than 6-legged insects) which are sometime visible.

Removing Ticks

Don’t use your fingers as ticks can also hurt humans. Instead use tweezers or specially designed tools. Be sure to remove a whole tick as it’s easy to just pull off a portion. If you fail to remove a tick properly your pet may suffer from infections and scar tissue that may be with him forever. Remove the tick slowly rather than ripping it off. After removing a tick, always disinfect the invested area with alcohol, using cotton.

Finally, don’t panic if you do find fleas and/or ticks on your pets. Just treat the problem as well as prevent future infestations. Also, familiarize yourself with the different kinds of ticks so you know what you’re dealing with. Once you can differentiate between the various species you’ll avoid unneeded worry and trips to the vet.

The copyright of the article Fighting Ticks and Fleas in Pet Care is owned by Venice Kichura. Permission to republish Fighting Ticks and Fleas in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Flea Infested Cat