The Itchy Truth About Fleas and Ticks – Is Your Pet Safe?

Many pet owners don’t think about fleas and ticks until their pets are clearly uncomfortable, trying to itch the parasites away. This is because many parents of pets don’t know that fleas can lie dormant for months, in a state in which nothing can kill them, and that they can live on any animal or surface inside the house, making them extremely difficult to get rid of.

It's important for pet owners to know that although fleas emerge from the dormant state and attach to a host once they sense warmth, freezing cold weather doesn’t kill them. In fact, early winter months are often the time of year when flea infestations are most prevalent.

The parasites infest and feed off the blood of animals that act as a host for them. They move quickly and can jump through your dog’s hair without even being noticed. Sometimes, the actual fleas aren’t even seen and instead, flea dirt, or feces the fleas leave behind, is what’s visible.

Ticks, on the other hand, are slow and can’t jump the way fleas can, so they wait for opportune times, like when a pet is rolling in the grass, to walk onboard. Ticks are especially worrisome because they carry Lyme Disease and ring worms that can be passed to humans. And although they’re fairly harmless in the medical sense, fleas can transmit tapeworm.

Once an infestation of fleas or ticks has occurred, the best way to remove them from the home is with the help of a professional exterminator, although products can be purchased from veterinarians that allow pet owners to solve the problems themselves.

Because ridding your pet and home of fleas and ticks is so difficult, the best solution is actually prevention. Pets can pick up fleas and ticks just by being outside because other animals like squirrels and rabbits have also likely been in the area. It’s important to keep your pet on a monthly topical treatment, like Frontline Plus, that will prevent the parasites from bothering your furry friends and house and will kill those that are already bothersome.

I suggest treating your yard to help prevent fleas and ticks from inhabiting your property. Pesticides can be dangerous, so make sure to use something that is environmentally friendly and non-toxic to both people and pets. It's important that our furry friends are safe and healthy, along with us!