Tips for Tackling Fleas and Ticks

Summer is the season of swimming, going on hikes, and exploring the great outdoors! And, of course, the dreaded fleas and ticks. Our furry friends who spend time outside might come back itchy because of these pesky little bugs, and they’re not exactly easy to get rid of! That’s why regular flea and tick prevention is so important. Wondering how your pets get fleas or ticks? Not sure where to start with flea and tick treatment? No worries, we’ve got you covered with this complete guide to treating and preventing these pests! 

Where are fleas and ticks found? 

Most commonly, fleas and ticks naturally occur outside. They especially love hiding in tall grass, wooded areas, cool and moist shaded spots, leaves, and even shrubbery. If you were looking for more motivation to keep up with the yard work, preventing an infestation of fleas and ticks should do the trick! 

How can I prevent my pet from getting fleas and ticks? 

There are several methods of flea and tick prevention: regular topical medication, wearable medicated collars, regular bathing, limited exposure to the above common areas of their natural habitat, and checking your pet thoroughly after time outside. Let’s go over each one in more detail so you know exactly how to prevent your dog, cat, or small mammal from getting fleas or ticks: 

• Topical Medication - Some of the most common flea and tick topical treatments are from name brands such as Frontline, Advantage, Bravecto, and NexGuard. These topical ointments are typically recommended to be administered monthly for consistent prevention. These medications are the most effective at killing adult fleas and ticks.
• Flea and Tick Collars - Cats and dogs can wear these convenient medicated collars for up to eight months!  Collars are not only more convenient than topical treatments, but also less stressful to treat your pet with, and longer lasting! They’re rated just as effective as topical treatments, too. Add the PETOPIA Natural OSFA Flea & Tick Protection Collar to your cart today!
• Regular Bathing - This is more for dogs since cats clean themselves pretty effectively, but it’s important to note that most soaps (even ones not specifically made for treating fleas and ticks) are very effective at killing fleas! 
• Limited Exposure to Flea and Tick Natural Habitats - Obviously this one is pretty self-explanatory, but if you enjoy frequenting the woods or live in a wooded area, then you should be keeping your pets out of the heavily grassy areas, piles of leaves, and shrubs to avoid them as much as you can. 
• Checking Your Pet After Outdoor Time - When you come back from a long hike, playtime at the dog park, or just hanging out in the garden, make sure to do a quick check that your pet is free of ticks. They’re most commonly found around armpits, ears, legs, around the collar, groin, and face. 

My pet has fleas! How do I treat them? 

Oh no, you saw the dreaded itching and jumping little black bugs on your pet! Not to worry, there are many ways to treat your home, too, to prevent them from coming back. 

• First things first: Bathe your pet! You can use a designated flea and tick shampoo (check reviews before buying and make sure to closely follow the directions on the bottle!) or just original blue Dawn dish soap. This will kill the adult fleas currently on your pet. 
• Second: Use a flea comb to thoroughly go through the fur and remove eggs and any remaining adult fleas. You can drop them into a bowl of warm, soapy water to kill them. They also make electric flea combs that zap anything in the comb, which is convenient! 
• Third: Vacuum every carpeted surface in your house and throw all bedding in the wash. This sounds like a lot, but it’s important because those are the places fleas like to hide in! 
• Fourth: Get flea treatment. Topical ointments, oral capsules, or flea collars are all effective methods at eradicating fleas once they come in contact with your pet. 
• Fifth: Repeat 1-3 weekly until all signs of fleas are gone and be consistent with your treatment! 

For severe infestations, you can get some flea bombs to set off in your house. It’ll take a few days for the fleas to die off, but they are effective. You can also salt your carpets and rugs daily, as this will suffocate the fleas. 

I found a tick on my pet! What do I do? 

Once you see a tick on your animal, you must act quickly and remove it as soon as possible! Use a pair of tweezers to gently remove it from your pet. Be careful and make sure to remove the head especially, as they can continue to bite your poor pet even if the body has been removed. Gross! After the tick is removed, wash the area with warm water and mild soap. 

Ideally, you want to have flea and tick prevention ahead of time, but if you’re just now seeing a tick on your pet for the first time and you don’t have any medication then it’s a good time to call your vet and see if they have any available oral tablets for immediate prevention from another tick bite. Topical ointments and flea collars are ideal for long-term prevention. 

Why does flea and tick prevention matter so much? 

On top of being annoying parasitic bugs, there are many reasons why it’s so important to prevent your animals from getting infested with fleas and ticks! 

• Flea bite allergies cause severe skin irritation and illness.
• Anemia
• Tick Paralysis
• Infections
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
• Lyme Disease - yes, dogs and cats can get this too!
• Canine Bartonellosis
• Canine Ehrlichiosis
• Canine Anaplasmosis
• Feline Anaplasmosis
• Canine Babesiosis
• Canine Hepatozoonosis
• Feline Cytauxzoonosis
• Tularemia

This isn’t a complete list of all of the things that can happen to your beloved pet if it gets fleas or ticks, either, but these are the major diseases and complications. Get ahead on your prevention and take extra care when going outdoors! Fleas and ticks are most active from spring through early fall, so make sure to be prepared for a few months.