Flees and Ticks are Coming!
Can you feel the spring that is in the air? We can! And after a cold isolated winter, all of us are eager to get out in the warmer weather – our four legged friends too! Warmer weather also means that we are entering into flea and tick season for dogs and cats. Even if your pet spends most of their time indoors, it is important that they get preventative care for when they do occasionally venture outside.
What are fleas and how are they a risk to your pet? Fleas are flightless insects that jump onto hosts to feast on blood. A female flea can consume 15 times its body weight in blood each day. The average flea has a lifespan of two to three months. With an ample food supply, an adult flea can live up to 100 days. A female flea can lay about 2,000 eggs over the course of its life, and lay eggs within 35 to 48 hours of its first blood meal. Fleas can carry several diseases, and act as hosts for the flea tapeworm, one of the most common tapeworms for dogs and cats.
What are ticks and how are they a risk to your pet? Ticks are members of the arachnid family. Ticks begin seeking a blood meal when temperatures rise above 4 degrees Celsius. Ticks cannot jump or fly; they find a blood meal by crawling to the tips of grasses and shrubs and latch onto passing animals or people. The blacklegged tick is the most common carrier of Lyme disease. Lyme disease symptoms in dogs include fever, loss of appetite, reduced energy, lameness, stiffness, pain, and joint swelling. Kidney failure, cardiac and neurological problems will occur in severe cases.
How can you prevent flea and ticks from latching onto your pets and your home? Muddy Paws offers several solutions to help!
Consider the Zodiac flea collars: a low risk, low maintenance approach to keeping fleas/ticks off your pet and out of your home. Flea collars work by emitting a repulsive scent to fleas and ticks and should be replaced every 2-7 months. Flea collars may not be ideal in all cases and many prefer to use a topical ointment. Zodiac Flea & Tick Topical treatment is the next step up in terms of flea and tick prevention. One vial every month is dispersed against your pet’s skin between the shoulder blades. The oil quickly spreads under their fur to prevent fleas and ticks from latching onto their skin or laying eggs.
Prefer to treat selectively before hikes or outings?
Try Zodiac Preventative Flea Spray! Spray your dog from nose to tail and rub into their skin before going outside once a month. For hiking in high-risk fields or forests, preventative flea spray can be used in addition to other flea prevention measures for added protection. The spray can also be used to eliminate pre-existing fleas from your pet. In all cases, be careful not to get these preventative products in your pets' mouth.
Did you forget about flea and tick season and are paying the price? If handled in a timely manner, you can correct flea and ticks infestations before they take over the whole pet and house! Muddy Paws offers a line of flea and tick shampoos, cleaning sprays and disinfectants. Stop by or call us for assistance with flea and tick season now!