Warmer weather doesn’t just mean summer is here, it also signals the arrival of flea and tick season. Summer
is here, and along with the sunny days and warmer weather come some
less than welcome guests – those nasty fleas and ticks.
Itchy skin, excessive scratching and the possibility of serious
illnesses such as Lyme Disease or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, are
just a few of the annoying (and dangerous) accompaniments to a flea or
tick problem.
Fleas – Fleas are very tiny, black creatures which
can sometimes be seen crawling through your dog’s fur. They’re easiest
to spot around the eyes, ears and on the tummy. If your pooch is
allergic to the elements of flea-saliva he, or she, could develop
flea-allergy dermatitis. This is a condition which causes itchy,
irritated, sometimes weepy skin, excessive scratching and the loss of
hair in patches which can sometimes be fairly large.
One flea
can bite as many as 400 times in one day! If your poor pup had a whole
community of these little pest crawling all over him, imagine how
uncomfortable he would be!
Ticks – Ticks can vary in size from
very tiny ones, about the size of a pin-head, to some that can be as
large as a kernel of corn – especially when engorged with blood. They
have tear-drop shaped bodies, 8 legs and can be black, brown, tan or a
dark-red color.
When it comes to nasty parasites such as fleas
and ticks, prevention is definitely better than cure and there are many
different products on the market that have been designed to repel, kill
or prevent fleas and ticks from making their home in your dog’s fur.
Products
such as flea collars, sprays or powders are not usually very effective.
The best, most fast-acting and longest-lasting protection comes from
the popular topical liquids (such as Advantage or Frontline Plus) which
are applied to your puppy’s skin on a monthly basis.
You need to
consider your dog’s level of infestation and choose carefully when
deciding which flea, or flea and tick medicine to use. Advantage works
very quickly (killing all fleas on your pet within 12 hours) but only
kills hatched fleas. Frontline Plus works almost as fast (killing all
fleas and ticks on your pup within 18 hours) but kills adult fleas,
eggs and larvae PLUS it kills ticks too.
Flea and tick
preventatives such as Advantage or Frontline Plus are very safe and
effective if used according to the manufacturers instructions. However,
as with any kind of medication or drug you need to be sure to follow
the instructions on the packaging very carefully.
Here are a few tips to help you kill your puppy’s fleas and ticks safely :
1. Make sure your pup is at least the min. recommended age for the product you intend to use.
2.
Pay close attention to the directions and be particularly careful to
adhere to the weight guidelines. Never use a medication meant for dogs
on cats – or the other way around!
3. Wash your hands thoroughly after applying the liquid and avoid it coming into contact with your skin or eyes.
4. Store the medicines somewhere safe and cool, away from children or other pets.
5.
If you think your puppy seems unwell or is acting in an unusual way
after treatment, seek advice from your veterinarian promptly.
Once
you have your puppy free of fleas and ticks, it’s usually a good idea
to treat their bedding, blankets, crate, carpets and soft furnishings
as well. Any live fleas in your house will continue to multiply and
jump back onto your little pup. The flea and tick medication you used
on your puppy will kill these little parasites, but the whole process
will be faster if you eliminate as many of them as possible the first
time around.
You can buy several different kinds of sprays or
‘bombs’ (pressurized canisters of chemicals that will kill fleas) and
one treatment should be enough, unless your pup had a severe flea
problem. You can repeat the process or even call in a professional pest
control company to do the job for you.
Reprinted with permission: www.articlebiz.com
