Fleas and Ticks – Don’t Let Them Ruin Your Pup’s Summer Fun!

Fleas and Ticks – Don’t Let Them Ruin Your Pup’s Summer Fun!

 

By Ashley Cone
Shepherd Stylist | Grooming Goddess

We’re getting into the dog days of summer and your pup is constantly outside running around and having a blast, but you see a flea or tick on your dog, now what? First, let’s talk about fleas. Fleas are very tiny insects that can bite your dog and feed on their blood. They may look like tiny specks on your dog, but one or two can quickly multiply into hundreds and make your dog very itchy! Some signs your dog may have fleas are itching, or you notice small black “dirt” specks on the dog (which is dried blood). You may also see red, raw spots where the dog is chewing himself. You can use a flea comb to remove fleas and follow up by bathing your dog in flea shampoo. Flea prevention is very important, and most medications that kill fleas will also kill ticks.

Dogs will commonly pick up ticks while outside in the yard, on a walk, or in the woods. Ticks are very important to keep an eye out for since they can cause illnesses in your dog such as Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and others. We recommend checking your dog for ticks, especially after your dog has been in or around wooded areas. There are many tools you can use to remove a tick such as tweezers, tick twisters, or tick keys. Below are some preventatives that kill and repel fleas and ticks. It’s recommended to keep your pup on a flea and tick preventative year round because fleas and ticks can survive in temperatures as low as 33 degrees!

How can we prevent fleas and ticks on our pups?

  • Seresto Collars: One collar effectively kills and repels fleas, ticks and lice for 8 months. These collars are odorless, non greasy, and water resistant.
  • Topicals (K9 Advantix, Frontline, etc): Topicals come in small tubes of formula that you apply to your dog’s shoulder and back area. They last 30 days and most repel and kill fleas and ticks (some also kill and repel biting flies, lice and mosquitoes).
  • Chewables (Nexguard, Bravecto): Soft chews that you add to your dog’s food once every 30 days or 90 days (depending on which brand it is). After the dog eats the soft chew there is no need to worry about flea and tick prevention until it is time for the dog to take the next chewable.

Wag Central’s Groom Room offers flea bath services and our boutique sells Seresto collars. If you have additional questions regarding keeping your pup safe from fleas and ticks, please contact Ashley.