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What are Flea & Ticks?
Fleas & ticks are insects sized from 1mm to 3mm, depending on their life stage. Flea sizes are smaller than ticks and comparatively harder to find. Both these insects feed off of their host, our dog. They stay on the dog’s body until they are killed through treatment or die off naturally. The pooch is the home & the food source for both these insects.
How can Flea & Ticks be harmful?
Fleas & ticks can cause a bunch of diseases if not treated successfully. They can cause Lyme Disease, Tick Fever, Ehrlichiosis, Anemia, Tapeworms, Joint pain, Weakness, Lethargy, Enlarged Lymph Nodes, Weight Loss, Gum Discoloration, etc., to name a few. Many of these diseases can be fatal and life-threatening.
Everything you need to know about Fleas
Flea size varies from 1mm to 2mm, and they can lay up to 50 eggs a day, which could lead to a Flea breakout at your residence, place of stay, or environment in a matter of days. Fleas can be easily picked up from outside when we take our dogs for walks or from infected pets, including dogs & cats.
Fleas can lay eggs on your dog, carpet, bed, or furniture. Vets estimate that for every 1 Flea, there are 100 more Fleas present in your environment. Our fur-balls and even humans are at risk from flea-related infections, including skin infections and scratchy/inflamed skin.
Flea infestation generally shows its signs when your pooch constantly scratches itself. Flea is highly scratchy, and pooches can’t help but scratch themselves. Check your pooch’s neck, belly, the base of the tail, or hindquarters thoroughly because that’s where flea infestation generally happens, BUT it can happen anywhere.
How to Identify Flea
Look for red, inflamed skin from constant abnormal scratching due to flea infestation. A flea can cause Tapeworms in your pet, which may or may not be dangerous for your pooch.
Flea infestation will make your pooch very itchy and scratchy. Flea appears brownish, primarily with a hint of reddish black. If not treated successfully, it can cause:
● Skin irritation
● Infection
● Red, inflamed skin
● Constant scratching and cuts
Everything you need to know about Ticks
Ticks embed their teeth into your pooch’s skin and stick to it. They feed off of blood and can stay in search of their host for up to a year. The most common way for your pooch to catch Ticks is by taking them for a walk. Ticks stay in the grass or shrubs around our household or environment. Ticks can be found on any part of your pooch’s body, and a way to check if your fur-ball has ticks (or even Fleas) is to:
Place a plain white towel under your pooch and brush them. The Flea or tick that is not stuck on them will fall off onto the plain white towel & you would easily be able to see them.
How to Identify Ticks?
Ticks can easily be felt on your palm when petting your pooch. Their size generally varies from 1mm to 3mm, and when you pet your fur ball, you can feel them easily. There are various Tick Types, such as:
● American Dog Tick
● Deer Tick
● Brown Dog Tick
How to Remove Ticks from Your Pooch’s Body/Skin?
Removing Ticks from your pooch’s skin is fairly easy. Because of their size, ticks can be grabbed hold of. You could either:
Wear gloves and pick the tick and remove it from your pooch’s body. Use tweezers which are specially made for removing ticks.
Keep in mind that ticks embed their teeth into our beloved pooch’s skin, so you might have to pull the tick off, which might be a little tricky if you’re doing it for the first time because you don’t want your doggo’s skin to get pulled too, but it’s not rocket science. Read the two ways mentioned above and pick the way you want to go.
How to stay Flea & Tick Free?
Keeping your home and environment free of these insects is highly advised and will do a bunch of good, like keeping you healthy and your pooch safe. There are various ways in which you can get rid of these insects:
Shampoo
There are various Anti-Flea & Tick shampoos available in the market. Bathe your fur ball with such shampoo and watch these insects fall off and get washed away.
Collars
Various Dog Collars available in the market are made specifically to eliminate fleas & Ticks. They have different working durations, i.e., a given period for which they work. It is generally a good amount of time for the benefits they offer in the price range, such as Anti Flea & Tick Collars for four months or Anti Flea & Tick Collars for eight months.
Spray
There are various Anti-Flea & Tick sprays available in the market that you can just spray on your fur balls. However, remember not to spray excessively, and DO NOT SPRAY ON your pooch’s FACE.
Medication
Various medications are available for your pooch to be Flea & tick-free. Consult your Vet before purchasing any. Just like you would never have any medicine without consulting your doctor, your doggo shouldn’t be given any medicine without a prior go-ahead from its Vet.
Happy Parenting!!!