Are you a pet parent who wants to give their dog the world? If so, you want to be sure you’re staying on top of their overall health, including everything that has to do with keeping them safe from fleas and ticks. To help you keep your pets healthy and happy, here are a few ways that you can spot fleas and ticks in your pets and what you can do about it if you find any:
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Know what they look like
One of the first things you’ll need to do when it comes to keeping your pets tick and flea-free is to know what to look for. If you cuddle with your pooch or kitty, chances are that you groom or bathe them regularly, and you probably see their fur up close and personal. In these moments, fleas can be easier to see. They are small, but they’ll show up when you’re washing them, especially if they have a lot on them. However, because of how small they are, they may not be so easy to see on a dog or cat with darker fur.
Ticks on the other hand could require closer inspection. While a fresh tick arrival may show up and be easy to spot, sometimes you’ll want to look more intently for bumps on your dog’s fur. When they’re embedded in the skin, they could be harder to spot.
Symptoms of flea or tick infestation
Beyond being able to see the pests with your naked eye, there are symptoms that often accompany their presence. Biting at their fur, scratching, and itching or all ways that your pet could be telling you that they have a flea infestation.
Another foolproof way to know if your pooch has fleas on them is if you wipe their fur with a cloth and discover black specs that turn red when touching the cloth. A closer inspection with your vet could also help you know if your dog or cat has fleas.
Treatment when needed
While you can do a lot to keep your pet safe from fleas or ticks, if they do get infected, you will want to get them treated. Dog flea medicine can be a helpful way to treat your pet’s flea problem but make sure you talk to your vet about the best course of treatment for them. It may be a wash or some other sort of topical solution that rids your animal of fleas or it could be a simple chew that makes it easy for you to say goodbye to their fleas and hello to a happier pooch or kitty.
Things to look for
As a pet parent, you want to learn how to watch for the signs your dog or cat has fleas on their body. But something else to look for are the areas where they may be picking them up. For example, they may be getting them from furry friends at the dog park.
Perhaps, other pet parents aren’t as keen on keeping up with their flea and tick prevention protocol. It could be that the places where you and your pets like to hike are also full of pests that jump to your pet’s fur with ease. Keep an eye out in public places so that you can keep fleas and ticks away.
How to keep them away
There are different things that you can do to keep fleas and ticks away, such as by using a flea and tick bath wash when grooming them or by getting a flea and tick collar. Talk to your vet about flea and tick prevention chews, as well, which make it easy for you to keep your pet happy and healthy.
In Conclusion
If you want to do your best to have a happy pet who doesn’t itch or get sick, avoid the risks of fleas and ticks by following these tips mentioned above.
