Fleas and Your Pets: What You Should Know
There are several things that you should know about fleas, ticks and your pets. What to look for, removal of fleas and ticks, as well as prevention will make your pets happy, healthy and give you peace of mind.
Fleas and ticks love warm fur. This makes cats and dogs extremely prone to catching them. Grass and shade are places to find these pesky critters, so be on the lookout, especially if your pets frequent the outdoors.
What Fleas Look Like and How to Spot Them
Use a flea comb to find fleas, droppings and small dark spots that move. Fleas mostly like the neck and baseline of the tail so check these areas most thoroughly.
“How can my pet get fleas?” you may ask. Your pet can get fleas if it goes outdoors. Even indoor cats can catch fleas by just going out on to the patio.
Power in Numbers
Did you know that a female flea could lay forty to fifty eggs in a day. This can lead to flea infestation in a single day!
Fleas not only enjoy pet blood, human blood is also a favorite. If fleas are found on your pet, there is a good chance they may be on their way to making your carpet, bed and furniture their next home. In the event of an infestation, you and your pet could suffer Anemia and skin disease, as these pests can take on up to 15 times their own weight in blood. Replacing carpeting is recommended and keeping your home dry will help make your home less friendly to fleas.
Warning Signs of Fleas on a Dog
- Flea droppings (dark specs) on fur
- Flea eggs (white specs) on the fur
- Excessive licking or scratching
- Scabs on the skin
Warning Signs of Fleas on a Cat
- Excessive scratching
- Hair loss
What Ticks Look Like and How to Spot Them
You can feel ticks when you pet your cat or dog. They tend to hide around the head, neck, ears or paws. On cats you can find them around the ears and eyes. If your cat becomes infected by a tick bite, Cytauxzoonosis may occur, which is fatal.
Ticks are common in warm climates and in wooded areas in the Northeast. They prefer warm, grassy areas and may be in sections of your yard. The brown dog tick can reproduce in your home. Some favorite indoor hiding spots include, cracks in the walls or door jambs, curtains, under rugs and furniture, as well as behind radiators.
How can my pet catch ticks? Ticks like to crawl on tall grass and shrubs and wait for your pet to pass by to catch a free ride and make their new home your pet’s fur.
How can I remove ticks safely from my pets?
- Use gloves to cover your hands.
- Grasp the tick with tweezers from the side of its head close to the skin.
- Pull straight up and do not twist.
- Do not squeeze or pop the bloated belly.
- Wash the bite area and your hands.
Types of Ticks
Brown Dog Tick: very common across the U.S. The adult tick is reddish-brown and usually attaches around the ears or a dog’s toes. Though they rarely bite people, these ticks can carry a serious disease that can affect dogs called ehrlichiosis, a bacterial disease that is transmitted through a tick bite.
Deer Ticks: adults are reddish-brown and live in wooded areas. These ticks are particularly dangerous because they can carry Lyme disease, which can be transmitted to humans and dogs. Symptoms include fever, joint pain and sometimes serious kidney disease in dogs.
American Dog Tick: common tick. This breed feeds on people as well. Females are easy to spot because they have a large silver spot on the back of the head. American Dog Ticks can swell to size of a small grape after feeding. Additionally, this breed can spread Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever if they have attached for at least 5-20 hours, which can be fatal in dogs and cause serious symptoms in people.
Signs of Tick Borne Disease
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Joint swelling or pain
Flea and Tick Prevention
Shampoos: mainly useful for killing flea’s and ticks that are on your pet. They won’t prevent ticks. Buy the right kind of shampoo. You need to cover the animal’s entire body and wait 10 minutes before rinsing.
Flea collars: can ward off fleas and ticks. Don’t let children play with collars and wash your hands with soap after handling flea collar. Tablets: dogs and cats can take some treatments by mouth talk to your vet. Skin treatments: put on your pets back. Work well for one month, then repeat. Vaccines: Lyme Disease vaccines are available for dogs. Check with your vet to determine if this vaccine is right for your dog.
Use of a fogger or bug bomb can also rid your home of these nasty pests and prevent new fleas and ticks breeding.
Remember, it is your job to keep you and your pets safe and healthy. Knowing what to look for and how to eliminate and prevent future infestations is key.
