Your Dog: Flea and Tick Free

Dogs and owners alike are miserable when fleas and ticks have attached themselves to the dog. Fleas can leave the dog and its owners itching, and ticks could transfer serious illnesses to both the dog and the owner. The best way to get rid of fleas and ticks is to avoid attracting them in the first place. Here are a few tips for keeping a dog flea and tick free.

Bathe the Dog

Fleas and ticks are attracted to dirty animals. This is one reason why rodents attract them so frequently. Dogs should be washed at least weekly, especially if the dog spends a lot of time out of doors. Washing the dog can be quite the task, but washing the dog is the first step to keeping it flea and tick free.

Keep the Dog Healthy

Unhealthy dogs attract fleas and ticks. In order to keep the fleas and ticks off of a dog, owners should make sure they maintain a healthy dog. They should also be sure to give their dog plenty of exercise. This does not necessarily mean hooking the dog to a run in the back yard. Dogs need to run or walk everyday to stay healthy.

Clean up the Dog's Environment

If the dog's area is also where the owner stores firewood, piles of junk, or stacks of supplies, owners should consider cleaning up. By organizing the dog's area, owners will prevent rodents from nesting in the dog's area and bringing fleas and ticks with them. Rodents are able to squeeze into many places, so owners should be sure to close off any small holes or corners that might be attractive to rodents.

Also, owners should cut all of the tall grass and weeds in the dog's area. Fleas and ticks like tall grass and weeds because from the top they are able to latch onto animals. By cutting down tall grass and weeds, owners will be preventing having a flea or tick latch onto their dog.

Keep the Dog Close

When owners take their dog on a walk or hike, they should be sure that the dog stays on the trail. If owners let their dogs venture off into the woods or shrubs along the trail, they may be making their dog vulnerable to ticks or fleas. Owners may consider a short leash that will help them keep their dog out of dangerous areas. Also, owners should treat their dogs with some sort of repellent before venturing on a long hike or walk.

Treat the Dog

There are many different types of treatments available for owners to treat their dogs with. Some of these dog treatments must be applied daily, weekly, or even monthly. Many of the treatments contain chemicals, so owners should be sure to consult with a veterinarian before applying any type of treatment to their dog. However, many of these treatments will kill fleas and ticks on contact which can keep a flea from biting or a tick from burrowing into a dog's skin.

Treat the Dog's Area

Owners can also buy sprays and dusters that will kill any fleas or ticks that may already be inhabiting an area or that may ever try to inhabit an area. By spraying or dusting the fences, sheds, dog house, and in some cases the dog's bed, owners will be making strides toward keeping their dog flea and tick free.

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