When it comes to keeping your pet safe and healthy, it’s important to choose a good flea treatment. Fleas are tiny biting parasites that can transmit diseases and illnesses to your dog, including tapeworms, skin infections and allergic reactions.
When it comes to keeping your pet safe and healthy, it’s important to choose a good flea treatment. Fleas are tiny biting parasites that can transmit diseases and illnesses to your dog, including tapeworms, skin infections and allergic reactions.
The best method of keeping your dog free of these ailments is to choose a good preventative medication.
Topical treatments consist of gels, which are placed between your dog’s shoulder blades. As your dog moves around, the gel slowly coats the entirety of your pet’s fur. If a flea jumps on your dog, it is immediately killed by the gel before it can bite your pet. This is a great choice for dogs that are allergic to the bites. However, the gel can cause allergic skin reactions, so it’s important to monitor your pet for a few days after using a new topical treatment for external parasites to make sure your pet is not allergic to it.
Many pet owners prefer monthly chewable oral tablets for parasite protection. These tablets are typically flavored to make it easier to give to your dog. Once your dog eats the tablet, he or she is toxic to external parasites. Oral tablets are typically given every 30 to 45 days. When a parasite jumps on your pet and bites, the medication kills the parasite. This method is great for pet owners who want a convenient preventative treatment to kill fleas and ticks. However, if may not be the best option if your dog is allergic to the bites as the parasite has to bite your pet before the medication works.
If your dog has a bad infestation, the quickest method of removable is to buy a dog shampoo that is specifically designed to kill fleas and ticks. This method requires you to give your dog a bath and completely wash his or her fur in the medicated shampoo. This immediately kills all the parasites on your pet's skin in order to provide immediate relief. Once you get done bathing and drying your pet, you’ll want to choose a more permanent method to prevent parasitic infestations in your pet’s fur, like a tablet or gel.
Flea and tick sprays can be purchased for your home and your pet. The sprays that are designed for use on your pet can contain aloe or another skin-soothing medication or just the insecticide. It’s up to you which version you choose. When applying a spray to your pet’s fur, it’s important to avoid spraying it in your pet’s eyes, and you don’t want to spray in on your pet’s head, but you can spray it everywhere else. Once the medicine is on your pet’s fur, it works immediately to kill any current parasites, and most sprays stay active up to one month.
There are also pet-friendly sprays you can purchase for your home. These are designed to be sprayed on carpets and furniture and can be purchased from any big box retailer or pet store. These sprays kill fleas and ticks on contact and usually provide continuous protection for several months. However, you never want to spray for fleas while your pet is in the room, and you’ll want to keep your pet out of the room until the spray has completely dried.
There are special collars you can buy that will kill fleas and ticks on your dog. These collars typically contain a powdery medication that brushes off onto your pet’s fur. When a parasite jumps on your pet, it is immediately killed by the medication before it can bite your pet. This option is great for dog owners who want a very simple and affordable solution.
Regular grooming can help control fleas by removing mats and tangles where external parasites hide. It’s also a good way to catch external parasitic infestations early because many pet groomers are trained to look for signs of fleas and ticks, and if they see any evidence of parasitic infestations, they can alert you so that you can get your dog treated in a timely manner.
By choosing the right medication to control external parasites, like fleas and ticks, you are helping to keep your pet healthy and comfortable. If you aren’t sure which medication would be right for your pet, you can always ask your local veterinarian, who can recommend the correct product based on your pet’s health and lifestyle.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional consultation or advice related to your health or finances. No reference to an identifiable individual or company is intended as an endorsement thereof. Some or all of this article may have been generated using artificial intelligence, and it may contain certain inaccuracies or unreliable information. Readers should not rely on this article for information and should consult with professionals for personal advice.