The warm spring weather brings an invitation to enjoy the outdoors with your pet. But, watch out! The warm weather also brings the flea, tick and mosquito season! No fear, there are many great products available for instant prevention and protection from these painful pests. Not only can these parasites cause a lot of pain and discomfort, but they can also transmit serious diseases to your pet. Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD), and the West Nile Virus are only a few of the health risks these parasites can infect your animal with.
Ticks are one of the most hazardous parasites that are attracted to your pet. A tick can attach itself to any warm-blooded animal, drawing blood while transmitting several different types of diseases. The most common disease that ticks carry is Lyme disease having symptoms of itching, pain, appetite loss, lethargy, fever, swollen joints or lameness.
Another parasite that often wreaks havoc on households, as well as pets, is the common flea. The flea can burrow homes in your pet as well as throughout your home. Clothing, bedding and carpets are common places for these fleas to hide while taking a break from your pet’s fur. Fleas easily reproduce, which can create a massive infestation inside your home. Serious medical problems can occur for your pet so it is imperative to protect your pet from becoming infected.
Finally, mosquitoes are the carriers of deadly parasites that can transmit the West Nile virus, which although rare, can be contracted by your pet. Mosquitoes do not typically live a very long life, but can lay 200 eggs at a time. Carriers that have the West Nile virus can actually hibernate until warmer temperatures emerge.
Thankfully, there are many products that help protect pets from these vermin. K9 Advantix (for dogs only) can repel 98.5 % of ticks within two hours of application. It is the best protection for repelling and killing mosquitoes before they bite. It also stops fleas from biting within five minutes.
Another product to the rescue is Advantage, for dogs and cats, which has the fastest flea control by stopping fleas from biting within three to five minutes. In an hour, fleas begin to die and are eventually killed within twelve hours. It’s the best protection from fleas for both cats and dogs.
Bio Spot is specifically produced for killing and repelling adult fleas, ticks and mosquitos for dogs. This product lasts up to four weeks and kills flea eggs and larvae for four months. Veterinarians also recommend Frontline Top Spot for both dogs and cats. It attacks both fleas and ticks before they bite your pet.
Program, or the “pill” is a product preventing flea eggs from hatching. Unlike other products mentioned, it is given orally either in tablet form or as a liquid mixture. Once an adult female flea bites a dog or cat treated with Program, she ingests the formula, which passes to her eggs. If you would like to get flea and heartworm medication in one dose, try Sentinel, a companion product. For additional details on these products, speak with your pet’s veterinarian, who is the best source of information on the product best suited for your pet.
In order to protect your pet from these diseases and more, the key is prevention. By keeping a clean home and using good judgment, you will not only protect yourself from these parasites, but make your pet more comfortable and happy, indoors and out!