Fighting Ticks and Fleas

Ticks and fleas become more of a problem for dogs and cats once the weather is warme. If you’re a pet owner you know that warmer weather can bring more fleas and tick problems for your pets.

Fleas

Fleas are parasites that feed on warm blooded animals such as dogs and cats. Although fleas can be a problem year round in warm climates, they only surface in winter in colder areas. Because they feed on blood, your pets serve as a perfect host. Fleas are the main reason for skin disease in dogs and cats. In severe cases they can even cause death.

Detecting Fleas

Besides continual scratching, you can also detect fleas by looking for flea dirt (flea feces from digested blood) or flea eggs on your pet’s skin. Examine his (or her) rump as well as his belly.
Appearing black, flea dirt also looks reddish brown when smeared on white paper. Flea eggs resemble white sand grains and adult fleas are brown without wings (somewhat larger than the size of a pinhead.)

Ticks

Although ticks are also parasites, they aren’t insects like fleas. Instead they’re more like mites. Besides Lyme disease, ticks carry several varieties of diseases which can also invade humans.

How to Find Ticks on Your Dog

Examine your pet’s skin daily, especially during warm months for ticks. It’s even more important to check your pet for ticks after it's been on a walk or running through wooded areas and/or bushes.

Besides running your fingers through his fur, rub your hands on his body to check for any skin irregularities or small lumps. If you feel a lump, pull back his fur for further investigation. A small black or brown pimple (somewhat flat) probably is a tick. A tick has eight legs (rather than 6-legged insects) which are sometime visible.

How to protect your dog from fleas and ticks

If you have your dog house in the garden, you can protect your dog from ticks and fleas white the fertilizer. But be careful your dog must not ever eat the fertilizer. Sprinkle fertilizer around, and below dogs house. After a while the fertilizer will dissolve. Dogs will be assured from fleas and ticks!