Comb your dog's hair from back to front for a good look at his or her skin.Looking for red, irritated skin on your dog's neck, belly or hindquarters.Fleas can be difficult to detect because they are only about 1-2 millimeters in length, but there are several ways to check for fleas on your dog, including: Too much scratching can lead to skin infections, and fleas on dogs can possibly lead to the spread of various diseases. If your dog is allergic to flea saliva, the itch can be insatiable. How To Identify Fleas On Dogsįleas are very itchy and annoying and will primarily cause your dog to scratch. Although there are various remedies to treat ticks on dogs, it is essential to make sure the method you choose is safe and effective. We strongly recommend consulting the veterinarian at your next visit if you suspect a tick infestation. There are various methods for treating ticks on dogs, including: It is also common to find the tick still attached. Ticks cause welts and bruises on dogs around the bite location. The larvae and nymphs are about half that size and difficult to identify. The adult tick is about 3mm and is visible to most. The larvae and nymph stage of the tick are very small and can easily be missed. Because they penetrate into the bloodstream, ticks can also spread blood-borne illnesses. Ticks feed on the blood of the host and use tiny but sharp teeth to embed themselves firmly into a dog's skin and tissue. If left untreated, fleas and ticks can become a serious nuisance and potential health problem for your dog. How To Identify Ticks On Dogsīecause dogs spend so much time outdoors, ticks are a common problem and a big concern for owners. Our veterinarians would be happy to share their recommendations for the best flea and treatments for your dog at your next appointment. However, if you should notice any symptoms or behavior changes, please call us. Link to EPA webpage article from Īs with any medication, there is some risk of adverse reaction to flea and tick treatment. This resulted from a rash of dog fatalities attributed to the inappropriate use of some products. The influx of unapproved flea treatment for dogs in the early 2000s, and specifically spot-on treatments, led the Environmental Protection Agency to issue a warning in 2010 about possible toxic reactions to flea medicine for dogs. The amount of over-the-counter remedies has grown rapidly in the past 20 years. There are many different flea and tick prevention products on the market. Why You Should Avoid Over The Counter Flea Treatment For Dogs Our veterinarians are here to help you develop a flea and tick prevention program that will best suit your needs and lifestyle. With the right plan and products, flea and tick infestation is easily preventable. It is important that you take measures to reduce the risk of an infestation. This is why it is critical that you are aware of the health dangers that fleas and ticks can pose. Psychological issues from constant scratchingįleas and ticks can also result in the transmission of disease to humans through petting and sharing a living space with a host dog.Transmission of disease and illness to you and your dog.If not prevented or treated, fleas and ticks can cause a variety of potential health issues for dogs, including: If your dog is not on a preventative or adulticide (product to kill fleas and ticks), it is possible for dog and possibly your home to develop a serious infestation within just a few short weeks. Ticks transmit the most disease to dogs and humans in the nymph and adult stages. Ticks will leave the host and "molt" from one stage to the next. Ticks, however, go through various life stages. Just like the adult flea, the adult tick will remain on your dog and eventually produce eggs while feeding on your dog. Once a flea gets on your dog, it will remain there until it is killed by a flea product or dies naturally. Your dog is both the home and food source for fleas and ticks. How Does My Dog And Home Become Infested? While not as common, fleas and ticks can also enter homes from visiting pets and on people's clothes. However, because dogs spend a larger amount of time outdoors, they are at a higher risk than cats for ticks. Dogs and cats which spend time outdoors are at an equal risk of picking up fleas. This is especially true because these insects can thrive in our homes. While the seasons will affect the activity of these insects, it is possible to pick up fleas or ticks during most of the year. Fleas and ticks are a source of annoyance and potential health threats in every part of the US.
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