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What to Do If Your Pet Has Fleas or Ticks

Dr. Britney Lipps, DVM | Oct 16, 2022

Most pets love a chance to play, run, and explore everything around them outdoors. Some live inside and only go out occasionally, and others stay outside. Even if your pet rarely goes outside, they're at risk of fleas and ticks year-round. These external parasites are more than just irritants and can cause serious illnesses or, in some cases, even death. If your pet has fleas or ticks, you can take steps to treat them and keep the parasites from spreading to other animals and people. Here are some helpful tips to help keep your pet free of fleas and ticks all year.

Is There a Specific Flea and Tick Season?

Fleas and ticks are a genuine concern for any pet owner, regardless of the time of year. While they are more prevalent during the summer months, they can get worse in September, October, and November, depending on what part of the country you're in. While the cold winter months may kill off pests outdoors, fleas can still be a problem indoors. The risk may be higher because adult fleas lay eggs, which fall off your pet and keep warm in carpets and pet bedding.

Pet owners must guard against fleas year-round and ticks during their peak season. In Canada, the tick season is primarily spring and fall, especially around the border where most people live. Ticks need moisture to survive, so they can be found in wooded and leafy areas and deciduous trees and are active in temperatures as low as 4˚C.

How Do These Parasites Find Us?

Fleas are opportunistic pests that can latch onto anyone they encounter, such as wild animals, humans, or pets. They often hide in shrubs and trees, wait for a host to wander by, and then jump on to be transferred into your house. A female flea can lay up to 50 eggs daily for over three months, and the eggs hatch, and the cycle begins again. If your pet has fleas, you'll want to have them treated, wash all bedding (pets and humans), and shampoo the carpets with special flea shampoo.

Ticks are part of the arachnid family and can't jump like fleas. They lie in wait for a host to pass nearby and crawl up from the foot to the head. The tick's various methods for finding a host differ depending on the temperature, the tick's age, and the hours of daylight. When the days begin to get longer, ticks become more active and search for a host by identifying movement vibrations, body heat, and odors. They find well-worn pathways, crawl onto a blade of grass or tree leaf, and wait for a host to brush against it.

What to Do If Your Pet Has Ticks?

The Humane Society recommends wearing gloves to avoid contact with the ticks. Use tweezers to grasp the tick close to its head, near your pet's skin. Pull it out in slow and steady motion. Don't yank it out because you can leave bits of the tick behind.

You can also get a tick remover and slide the notch of the remover under the tick, which will pull it free. Drop the tick into isopropyl alcohol and pay attention to the date. Monitor your pet for the symptoms of a tick-borne illness like arthritis or lameness that lasts three to four days. Other symptoms include swollen joints, fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, loss of appetite, and neurological problems.

After you remove the tick, you'll need to bathe your pet with medicated shampoo and apply a topical prescription or vet-recommended spray. Wash your pet's bedding frequently and any other blankets and bedspreads they use regularly.

How Can You Prevent Fleas and Ticks?

Veterinary-approved flea and tick products are the best way to protect your pet against ticks and fleas, and it’s essential to be diligent about the application. There are many available, such as a flea collar or a topical medicine that you apply to the back of the neck once a month. Talk to your vet about treatment options during your pet's wellness visit to help you choose the right one for your fur family.

You can also support preventive care by keeping your environment uncomfortable for parasites. Regularly mow your grass; don't let it get overgrown or tangled with weeds. This attention keeps out moisture and light and allows the flea and tick spray to reach everywhere they might be hiding.

Keep your pets and other family members away from areas known to be infected with fleas and ticks. Inspect your pets regularly when they come inside, and ensure the kids and other family members know how to identify and remove ticks.

You can also try some natural remedies recommended by veterinarians. Create a natural, citrus-based tick repellent by boiling two cups of water with chopped citrus fruit. Boil for one minute and then simmer for an hour. Spray it on yourself, your kids, and your pets. Sprinkle table salt or Borax (boric acid) in areas you know are infested to help kill tick eggs and larvae. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth (DE) around the perimeter of your house and in pet bedding. DE is finely ground exoskeletons of tiny fossilized sea organisms, which act as a desiccant for insects and dries them up. Build a homemade tick trap to control ticks using a bucket, dry ice, and double-sided tape.


Reclaim Your Territory by Eliminating Ticks and Fleas

We at Furkin believe, preventing ticks and fleas should be part of your pet's routine, along with regular wellness visits and Furkin Pet Insurance. Treatment for flea- or tick-borne illnesses can be costly, and having insurance can help cover these costs. However, you must remember to maintain preventive care by using the medication from your vet. To learn more about how pet insurance can help your pet stay safe and healthy, speak to one of our customer care representatives today!