How to Treat Your Dog for Fleas and Ticks

 How to Treat Your Dog for Fleas and Ticks

Fleas and ticks can infest your dog’s skin, causing discomfort and health problems. Luckily, there are many products on the market that are safe and effective at killing these parasites. These include flea and tick collars, shampoos, topical solutions, sprays, powders and more. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the various products available so you can figure out what will work best for your dog and your household situation. We’ll also tell you how to use these products to ensure you kill the fleas and ticks on your pet!

How to Get Rid of Fleas

Before you take your dog out for a walk, check his coat for fleas. Some dogs get live fleas, but others get fleabites or tick bites. You’ll know that your dog has fleas when he begins scratching excessively—and when live fleas jump off his coat onto your carpet or furniture. To eliminate these unwanted pests from your home, grab some heavy-duty insecticidal soap from pet supply stores or veterinary offices.

How to Choose a Tick Remedy

If you want to make sure that your dog or cat doesn’t suffer from ticks again, there are several types of flea/tick treatments. All of them come in different formulations such as spot-on treatments, pills, liquids and collars. The most common type of treatment is a spot-on treatment.

How to Find the Best Spot on Your Dog

With some pets, it’s easy to spot fleas; they may be hanging off their fur, or you might see them crawling on your dog. But if you don’t spot any critters right away, don’t fret—it could take up to 24 hours after they bite your pet before they appear. So how do you find fleas? An easy way is by using a black light at night; under UV light, fleas glow bright green.

Should you give your dog flea and tick medicine?

The very nature of fleas makes them difficult to control; when a pet becomes infested, it’s almost impossible not to pick up some fleas along with your dog. Ticks thrive in moist environments, attaching themselves easily as they move from one plant or animal host to another. Prevention is key—making sure you have good pet supplies on hand can help your dog avoid these nasty pests.

What Else You Need to Know About Dogs and Fleas

If you’re a pet owner, chances are your furry friend has at least had contact with fleas. Keep your dog healthy and flea-free by buying high-quality pet supplies, getting yearly vaccinations, regularly checking your dog’s skin, ears, paws and belly for fleas and ticks, using an effective treatment like those below or implementing a comprehensive flea-control program that uses several different products.

How often to give dog flea and tick treatment?

The recommended application frequency varies by product, but most treatments can be given every 30 days. The main thing to remember is that these are preventative medications. If your dog doesn’t have fleas or ticks now, it’s unlikely that she will if you use one of these products once a month. It may take several months before you notice significant improvement in your dog’s coat; it may also take several weeks for fleas and ticks to completely die off after treating them with medication.

Is flea and tick treatment safe for dogs?

It’s important that you make sure flea treatment is safe for your dog. Just like with humans, there are over-the-counter options available in every price range. Make sure you do research on what works best and read reviews before purchasing. That way, if your dog has a reaction or gets sick, you can pinpoint what could have caused it so you don’t have any issues in the future. And always ask your vet about any products before using them on your pup!

Other Things You Need To Know About Dogs And Ticks

Unlike fleas, ticks can carry diseases such as Lyme disease. This makes it especially important to keep tabs on your dog’s health if you live in a tick-prone area. Symptoms of fleas or ticks on dogs include hair loss, skin irritation, and biting/scratching at one’s self. It is important to quickly treat your dog with chemicals from pet stores (or other drugs) so that they do not suffer from any of these problems.