Having a cat or dog in your home is good for companionship. However, having these lovely animals as pets comes with great responsibility.
If your pet spends a lot of time in the yard, then you should be prepared to deal with flea and tick attacks. These pests can cause your pets all sorts of problems ranging from itchiness to utter discomfort. Additionally, fleas and ticks can be a nuisance to you and your family as well. For this reason, it’s important that you know how to remove fleas and ticks from your home.
When Do Fleas And Ticks Come Out?
Contrary to popular belief, fleas and ticks are not seasonal pests. Most people believe they often come out during warm weather, but nothing can be further from the truth. Fleas and ticks can cause problems at any time, even during winter. You should, therefore, be on the lookout for signs of infestation.
How To Tell If My Pet Has Fleas Or Ticks
The signs of a flea or tick infestation aren’t obvious. The fact that pets love scratching themselves makes it even harder to know if the reason for scratching is due to fleas or ticks. Nevertheless, if the scratching becomes excessive, then your pet could be infested. Here are some common signs of an infestation:
- Persistent itchiness
- Abnormal scratching
- Consistent hair loss
- Pale gums
- Visible flea eggs or flea dirt
- Red spots
Inspect your pet by turning them on their back or side and checking the armpits, ears and groin area. The presence of red spots around the groin or armpits is a clear sign that your pet has been bitten by a tick or flea. Be sure to check your pet thoroughly as ticks, as well as fleas, can be tough to spot in your pet’s hair.
Treating Fleas For Cats And Dogs
Treating fleas for cats and dogs are best left to the professionals. Your vet will prescribe various treatment options for your cat or dog depending on the severity of the infestation.
Common treatment options include:
- Flea and tick sprays
- Oral pest medications
- Topical treatments such as Advantage II, Frontline Plus and K9 Advantix
- Flea and tick collars for cats and dogs
- Flea pills for dogs
Flea And Tick Prevention
Flea and tick prevention techniques include:
- Mowing and pruning your yard regularly
- Using foggers to clean your carpet
- Always shampooing your pets when grooming
- Inspecting your pet regularly
- Vacuuming your house on a regular basis
Call A Vet Now
We at University Animal Clinic in Bradenton have a passion for preventive care. We believe that early testing is the best way to prevent the spread of heartworm disease. Don’t let your cat or dog suffer in silence. Bring them along for a heartworm test in our accredited AAHA hospital in Bradenton, Florida. Take the next step and call (941) 253-5218 or contact us online today.
