March 1st marks the “official” start of flea and tick season. You are ready?
Fleas are the most common external parasites that affect our dogs and while they prefer dog blood, fleas are happy to dine on our ankles too. And while ticks aren’t as common, they are potentially more dangerous to us and our dogs, because they can carry diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Fleas and ticks thrive when and where the humidity is above 50 percent and the temperature is above 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
Diagnosing a possible flea infestation is relatively simple…your dog will scratch. Also, you can usually see the tiny creatures, or see black and white grains, the size of grains of sand, on your dog’s fur (these are flea eggs and feces). Tick infestation can only be detected by finding one or more ticks on your dog’s skin, so it’s a good idea to check for these parasites when you groom your dog several times a week. To remove a tick, use tweezers to grasp it as close to your dog’s skin as possible, then slowly pull it out. After removing the tick, clean the bite area with an antiseptic.
While your dog’s reaction to a flea infestation is usually mild (scratching, itching), other sensitivities may occur, including allergies to flea saliva, bacterial skin infections, and, in very young puppies, anemia, from which is always good to do what you can. to help keep your dog flea free. Ideally, treatment should begin before flea season begins in your area (early spring).
Since the 1980s, pharmaceutical companies have developed many new chemical treatments to control or prevent fleas and other external parasites, and today there are excellent products available in the form of flea collars, pills, oral liquids, spray formulas, and shampoos. specials. . Look for products that contain IGRs (insect growth regulators), IDIs (insect growth inhibitors), neurotransmitter inhibitors, naturally occurring neurotoxins, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), or cell growth inhibitors.
IGRs and IDIs (for example, Program) should only be used when your dog is flea-free, so now is the perfect time to invest in these products. If your dog gets fleas, that’s when he uses topical products, like Frontline, Advantage, or Revolution.
Remember, if there is a flea problem in your home, there is no point in treating your dog alone. Your dog’s total environment (including the carpet, your dog’s bedding, yard, and even your car), as well as any other pets you own, should be treated to eliminate fleas at all stages of the life cycle.
Flea larvae are also likely to live in your dog’s bedding, as well as any furniture your dog likes to rest on. It is not good to just get rid of the flea itself, you need to treat your dog’s environment to eliminate fleas which may be in various stages of the life cycle. A female flea lays up to 50 eggs a day, and these eggs are dislodged throughout her environment when your dog scratches, so on any given day, fleas in your dog’s environment (your home!) could be on different stages of its life cycle.
Professional carpet treatment can be very effective in preventing flea eggs and larvae from maturing, and many of these treatments come with a one-year warranty. Check with your carpet cleaners about this type of treatment.
Fortunately, most flea and tick infestations are relatively easy to diagnose, do little harm to our beloved dogs, and will respond to treatment. But it’s always up to us to make sure our dogs are protected.
Copyright 2006 by Lisa Pallardy.