Not that season! Flea and tick season. The more people I talk to about this the more surprised I am how few people use preventative measures; or worse, understand what prevention is all about.

When talking to potential adopters I always tell them what sort of flea prevention the dog has had, when they had it & when they are due for another treatment.

Without fail, 9 out of 10 times they will say “Why? Does he have fleas?” Whether or not a dog has fleas is irrelevant when it comes to prevention. The trick lies in stopping them from getting fleas in the first place.

Fleas are nasty little creatures that will hitch a ride into your house, leave your dog with itchy, red bites barks and then go live in your carpets and furniture. They take procreation very seriously and if left untreated, you will soon have an infestation. They will bite you, your cat, your dog, your kids and your guests.

Ticks are also nasty little creatures that attach themselves to your pet and feast on their blood. They are itchy & bothersome and have been known to carry Lyme Disease*.

There are several types of prevention medications out there. Some prevent fleas and ticks, some kill only eggs, some kill just fleas. Talk it over with your veterinarian and decide what works best for you.

If you do find a tick on your pet and decide to remove it yourself, it is best to do so under bright light & to use a magnifying lens so you can ensure the head comes off as well.

Do not use flea treatments that you can get at a department store. These are in most cases very ineffective in a lot of cases they have caused serious health issues for pets. Also do not use cat treatment on dogs or vice versa. They are a different species of animal and do not react the same way to medications. This will cause serious health problems and a costly vet bill.

*LYME DISEASE: For more information about Lyme Disease, please consult your veterinarian or follow this link.

http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/lyme-disease-dogs-canine-lyme-disease