Dogs are our best friends and being a dog parent is an amazing experience. It’s all about love, fun and joy, but, as a pet owner, you need to make sure you take good care of your pooch. Providing them with quality food, choosing the best from different types of dog beds, playing with them and visiting the vet regularly are just some of the things you’ll need to do to meet your dog’s basic needs.
One of the most unpleasant parts of dogs’ life is ticks and fleas. And they are not just a nuisance, but also a real threat to your pet’s health. That’s why it’s important to get the proper dogs flea treatment, either in the form of a topical treatment or a flea and tick pill. Getting rid of these tiny external parasites can help you keep your dog healthy and protected all year round.
Is Flea and Tick Medicine Safe for Dogs?
Fleas are not only a source of irritation and frustration for your dog, but they are also a health threat to animals as they can carry a variety of diseases, such as bubonic plague, and severe infestation may cause deadly levels of blood loss, especially in young or small pets. That’s why preventative measures are most important to keep these parasites off of your furry friend.
Finding a safe and effective flea treatment for your dog is the responsibility of every pet parent. To make sure your pooch gets the protection they need with as little risk to their health as possible, the best thing to do is get dogs flea treatment recommended by veterinary experts. To choose the right one for your dog, consider a few factors, such as the following.
Age and Breed
A flea treatment must be age-appropriate, so make sure you look at the product’s label first before making a purchase. Also, your dog’s coat type can play a big role in making the right decision. Thicker coats may be a bit of a challenge when it comes to topical treatments, so you may want to consider oral treatment for your furry pal.
Health History and Lifestyle
Always consider your dog’s health history before getting ticks and flea treatment for dogs. Their health condition, certain medication or supplements you give them and/or previous reactions to ticks and flea preventatives can help you choose the right product. Furthermore, think about the presence of children and other pets around the household as well as your dog’s daily activities in the outdoor area as these are some additional factors to take into account when selecting ticks and fleas treatment.
Location
The area where you live can determine the type of treatment you need depending on which parasites are common in your surroundings.
Typically, veterinarians recommend dog flea & tick collars as one of the safest options for flea and tick control, but to fully protect your dog, they can prescribe oral or topical flea and tick medications, sometimes in combination, if needed. So, what’s best for your pet?
Oral vs. Topical Tick and Flea Treatments
The most popular kind of effective treatments are topical medications, however, there are newer preventive measures as well, known as oral treatments. Oral flea and tick treatments are available as chews or pills. When ingested by your pet, the medicine is transmitted to adult fleas when they bite your dog. Different active chemicals are used in different tick and flea oral medications, and while some can last a few days, others can last up to a month.
Chews
Flavoured chews are some of the most popular products used as dog treatment for fleas and ticks lately. They are effective as both a preventative measure and a means of stemming an infestation. They are available in dosages for both small and large bread and are usually recommended for dogs 6 months and older. One of the advantages of using chews as a treatment for ticks and fleas is that your dog can eat them like a treat.
Topical tick and flea treatment for dogs, or also called “spot-on” treatment, can be highly effective at eliminating flea infestations and preventing new ones from occurring. The key with both oral and topical treatments is to use the products consistently, not only when fleas or ticks are observed.
Shampoos
Shampoos are very often used for dogs already infested with ticks. Bathing your dog with a shampoo that contains medicated ingredients will kill ticks on contact. It’s important to read the manufacturer’s instructions before applying the shampoo and make sure you’re extremely careful around your pup’s eyes and avoid getting shampoo in their ears, too. To get the desired results, you may need to repeat the process a few times.
Sprays
These are some of the most common topical ticks and flea treatments on dogs as they can cover all areas of the body. Same as with the use of shampoos, you need to be careful around your dog’s eyes and ears and apply the spray with caution. It’s recommendable to always spray in a well-ventilated area and keep your dog from inhaling the spray and avoid contact with your skin as well.
In the end, whatever your choice in tick and flea preventative, make sure to consult your vet and purchase from a reputable supplier. Additionally, make sure to regularly check your dog for fleas , treat your house with pet-friendly products and keep your lawn, bushes and trees trimmed, so there will be fewer areas for these parasites to live and breed.