#Flea and tick prevention for dogs skin
Excessive scratching, licking or biting at skin.Droppings or “flea dirt” in a dog’s coat (small dark "grains of sand").Common symptoms of fleas on dogs include: Though there are many species of fleas, the one that most often affects both dogs and cats in North America is the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis.įleas are most commonly noticed on a dog’s abdomen, the base of the tail and the head. Depending on your lifestyle, your pet’s lifestyle, and your needs and preferences, your veterinarian will help you choose a product that works best for you and your pet.Fleas can live for as few as 13 days or as long as 12 months-and during that time, can produce millions of offspring. Some are given daily, some are given monthly, and some can last for several months. Some are applied to the skin, some are worn as a collar, and some are given by mouth (orally). Some are stand-alone products and some are in combination with other treatments/medications. Some are over the counter and some are prescription. What are the different kinds of flea and tick prevention? However, because both fleas and ticks can survive in a variety of climates and can live inside your home and on your warm pet, many veterinary professionals agree that year-round prevention is recommended when possible.
Some areas of the world have fleas and ticks present year-round, while others have flea and tick “seasons”. Sometimes the only sign of fleas and ticks is skin irritation, and in these cases, flea and tick prevention is used as a treatment trial. Sometimes finding the flea or the tick is difficult, especially on cats because they are constantly grooming. Ticks can attach anywhere on the body, but prefer dark and hidden areas like the ears, armpits, groin, tail, and between the toes. They can be as small as a pin head or poppy seed or as big as a pencil eraser. Ticks, depending on the life cycle and feeding stage, can vary in size. Fleas prefer the head and neck area of cats, and the rump and tail area of dogs. Flea dirt (flea feces) looks like brownish-black granular “dirt” that will dissolve and turn red when placed on a wet paper towel. Using a flea comb can help identify the presence of adult fleas or flea dirt. Physical examination is the most useful method to identify signs of fleas or ticks. How do I know if my pet needs flea and tick prevention?įleas and ticks are small and can sometimes be difficult to identify on your pet. "Fleas and ticks can transmit many infectious diseases when they take a blood meal from either pets or people."Įach tick species is known to transmit specific infectious diseases, including but not limited to the following: Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, rickettsiosis, tularemia, cytauxzoonosis, and hepatozoonosis. Fleas in general can transmit hemoplasmosis and tularemia. Other flea species can transmit salmonellosis, plague, rodent tapeworm, murine trypanosomiasis, dwarf tapeworm. The most common flea of North America can transmit murine typhus, flea-borne spotted fever, cat-scratch disease (bartonellosis), and flea tapeworms. What kinds of illnesses can fleas and/or ticks cause?įleas and ticks can transmit many infectious diseases when they take a blood meal from either pets or people. Because they have different life cycles (see handouts "Flea Control in Cats", "Flea Control in Dogs", "Ticks in Dogs", and "Ticks in Cats" for more information on life cycles), treating an infestation is much more difficult (and costly) than preventing an infestation. Prevention is also important because both fleas and ticks can infest the home. Prevention is key to avoid these problems. Some of these diseases can be deadly and others can cause severe, chronic, and lifelong illness. Two, they both can carry diseases and can cause illness both in pets and people. One, they can cause discomfort and skin irritation through their bites, and in some cases can cause severe allergic reactions in both pets and people. Why is flea and tick prevention important?įleas and ticks can cause two specific problems. Ticks cannot jump like fleas, but will grab you or your pet as you walk by via a behavior called questing. Ticks can be carried by a variety of wild animal hosts such as deer, horses, and rodents. Ticks can also live in many climate zones, and prefer humid and shady environments, especially areas with woods, shrubs, weeds, and tall grasses. "Fleas and ticks can be found worldwide."
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