What are the safest flea and tick treatments for your dog? This is a question that many pet owners have asked themselves. With more cases of canine Lyme disease becoming evident, people are beginning to realize that they need to do what they can to keep their dogs healthy. Even small dog breeds like Jack Russell dogs are susceptible to fleas and ticks. In fact, they are the most likely to come into contact with these parasites. Unfortunately, fleas can transmit heartworm disease and several other types of infections to dogs, so it is vital that your pet be treated right away in order to prevent further problems from occurring.
There are several different flea and tick products available today. However, you need to realize that while some of them may be somewhat effective at controlling the biting behavior of fleas, none of them will eliminate the underlying problem. Therefore, as long as your dog is suffering from an infection, the only way to ensure that fleas and ticks won’t plague your pet is to take the necessary precautions to prevent them from coming back. The following are the top three ways to protect your dog from getting sick with ticks and fleas.
First, regular inspection and baths are very important. It is important that your dog receives a bath approximately twice a year, at least once during the summer months and once during the spring. During the fall and winter months, you should inspect for ticks or fleas on your dog each month and treat them immediately if any are found. For both spring and fall, it is important that you give your dog the flea and tick medication within twenty-four hours of the bite, although you should give it up if the symptoms do not clear up in one week. If the symptoms do not clear up within one week, it is time to seek veterinarian care to ensure your dog does not have an infection.
Second, proper grooming is essential when considering what is the safest flea and tick treatments. Fleas can lay their eggs in your dog’s hair and this is the perfect environment for them to lay their eggs. Therefore, shampooing your dog daily and making sure the hair is thoroughly rinsed between baths is vital. You should also be sure to clean under the arms, around the ears, and between the toes of your dog.
Third, there are different flea products available on the market today. While some are specifically designed to tackle ticks and fleas, others are made to tackle other types of biting insects such as mosquitoes. Therefore, you should consider researching the different products available before deciding which one is best suited for your dog. This will help ensure that you will have the product that works best on your particular dog.
Fourth, when treating your dog for fleas and ticks, it is important to understand how they work. Usually, a tick will be attached to your dogs blood stream through an initial bite. The tick latches on to the dog and continues to feed on the blood of your dog. It can, in some dogs, end up removing excess skin from the dog’s body as well. Therefore, it is imperative to quickly treat any dog that has been exposed to ticks or fleas to prevent these animals from continuing to bite your dog.
Fifth, it is important to realize that while many flea and tick treatments target just one animal, there are other methods that can be used to remove the pests as well. Some of these other methods include, shampoos that are specifically formulated to tackle fleas, and sprays that will kill the fleas as well as the fleas’ eggs. These types of methods can be very effective if your dog has an existing problem with fleas. Also, it is important to keep your dog off of any hard surfaces in your home. This includes hard wood flooring and carpeting, which will make the problem worse for fleas.
Sixth, it is important to understand that it is not always necessary to resort to chemicals to rid your dog of fleas and ticks. Many people, as well as veterinarians, recommend natural remedies to treat and protect your dog from any number of ailments. Some of these natural remedies use ingredients such as, onions, garlic, aloe vera, olive leaf extract and Cayenne pepper. These types of ingredients have proven to be safe for your dog and have been proven to be very effective in the long run. Also, by keeping your dog away from ticks and fleas, you are protecting his health in the long run.