Fall Flea & Tick Prevention
It may be fall, but that doesn't mean that fleas and ticks are gone! As the weather cools, you may opt to spend more time outdoors hiking, playing, and adventuring. This means more chances for fleas and ticks, which can be both irritating and dangerous in the long run, especially ticks. There are many simple steps you can take to ensure your pet doesn't become infested. Whether through medication, holistic methods, or home prevention, it's simple to ensure your fur baby doesn't suffer.
Photo Credit: Metro Paws®
Why Fleas & Ticks Are Dangerous
Ticks can attach themselves to your and your pet's skin, drink blood, and cause lifelong issues. They can tramsmit several diseases such as Lyme Disease, Canine Ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, lethargy, joint swelling, rashes, and even kidney disease. You may not see symptoms in your pup for weeks or even months. Diseases vary depending on where you live, so speak with your vet about what to look out for.
When most of us think of fleas, we simply think that they are itchy annoyances, but it can be worse. Flea saliva can trigger intense allergic response in some animals (Flea Allergy Dermatitis), which can lead to hair loss and open wounds. If enough fleas feed on your pet, this can lead to anemia. Fleas can also transmit tapeworms and Cat Scratch Disease.
Flea & Tick Prevention
Medications
Medications are the most common method of flea and tick prevention and can often prove to be the most effective. While effective, it's imperative to ensure your pet isn't allergic to the chemicals found in some topical medications which can sometimes cause a burn on the skin. There are also two methods of medications: oral and topical. Some methods might work better for some pets while others work better for some. There's also a difference in terms that oral often kills eggs before hatching while oral kills fleas that have already been hatched. Here are some of our favorites that have proven to be effective:
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Photo Credit: Good News for Pets
- Comfortis- Oral
- Bravecto- Oral (requires vet prescription)
- Advantage II- Topical
- Frontline Plus- Topical
Photo Credit: Good News for Pets
Holistic Approaches
For some people, the holistic approach might be proven to be more effective or they might not feel comfortable using drug medications. Some vets don't even recommend medications due to their side effects. “I recommend using natural flea products instead of chemicals due to the many detrimental side effects that can occur when using chemical products,” says Dr. Judy Morgan, a holistic veterinarian in New Jersey. There are numerous proven methods to deter and kill both fleas and ticks. Here are some methods we love:
Lavender: Lavender essential oil can be applied to the base of the tail and neck to deter fleas and ticks.
Photo Credit: @Wanderlust_Samoyed
Photo Credit: @Wanderlust_SamoyedRosemary: Rosemary is a natural flea deterrent and can be used as a dip, wash, applied to the collar and powder. Here's how to use it as a wash (courtesy of LovetoKnow)
Make a Rosemary Wash- To make a rosemary wash, take two pints of water and bring to a boil.
- Add two cups of fresh rosemary leaves and keep it boiling for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, turn off the heat and allow the water to cool. Strain out the leaves and save the water. You can throw away the leaves.
- Pour the cooled water into a glass container with a lid. Only use it when it is completely cool, and store excess in the refrigerator.
- First, give your pet a bath using your favorite shampoo. Rinse the dog thoroughly and always avoid getting soap and water into his ears and eyes.
- Once the dog is rinsed, pour the cool rosemary water over the animal, making sure to completely cover areas where fleas like to congregate, such as the base of the tail.
- Do not rinse out the rosemary infused water; just let it dry naturally.
- Apply again when necessary.
Apple Cider Vinegar: This natural repellant can be used in multiple ways including a few drops in the water to be ingested or mixing with water in a spray bottle and then sprayed along your pet.
Prevention At Home
By taking control of the environment that your dog or cat lives in can tremendously help prevent fleas from making home in YOUR home.
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Do you have any proven methods? Let us know!
- Keep your home clean by washing dog bedding and blankets daily, vacuuming daily, and disinfecting the floors.
- Trim yard hedges as Ticks like to chill and hop on your pet's backs as they walkthrough
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- Consider adding nematodes, small worms that feed off flea larva, to your yard as they are highly effective in reducing the flea population while not being harmful to pets.
We are not licensed, medical professionals. Please always seek out advice from your Vet regarding flea and tick preventives.