5 Habits That Will Prevent And Remove Your Dog’s Ticks
September 1, 2018
Ticks cause several health problems for canines. Constant scratching from the blood-suckers will lead to wounds and skin infections. When ticks are not successfully removed or left too long in your pet, he can suffer from serious diseases. Serious tick-borne diseases include lyme disease, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, rocky mountain spotted fever, babesiosis, hepatazoonosis and bartonellosis. So when you see your dog scratching uncomfortably, it’s ideal to check for ticks right away for good measure.
Here are 5 habits that dog owners should take on to prevent and remove ticks in dogs:
Give your dog regular baths
Bathing your dog on a regular basis not only keeps him well-groomed but will also reduce the chances of external parasites. Using specially formulated shampoos that contain medicated ingredients is an easy and inexpensive way to kill ticks on contact. Even though your pet doesn’t have parasites, it’s ideal to use this kind of shampoo especially during the peak of tick season.
Treat fleas and ticks immediately
A sight of even one parasite should be taken care of immediately. The first step that dog owners usually make is to resort to spot-on treatments that can be purchased over the counter. Of course, it is best to seek the advise of your vet first to make sure you are using a good quality medicine with the right dosage. The same goes with oral medication. Be sure to read the labels carefully and to follow instructions of the medicine.
Use a tick collar
Using a tick collar, even if your pup doesn’t have fleas or ticks, is an additional preventive measure for keeping parasites at bay. Be careful when choosing a collar and observe if your pet develops an allergic reaction to it or from the chemicals that it contains.
Keep your pet indoors during tick season
To help prevent exposure to external parasites, know when tick season is then keep your dog indoors. While he would still need to go out for daily walks, be sure to check him thoroughly once you’re home, especially if you pass through grass.
Keep your lawn trimmed
Keeping the house clean and trimming your bushes, grass and trees trimmed regularly will help with tick infestation. If they have nowhere to live and breed nearby your home, the less chance your dog will be affected.
Make these 5 habits a part of your dog care routine to help keep ticks and fleas away!
Mary James is a certified dog lover – she specifically loves her Yorkshire Terrier, Missy, who is 8 years old. From all those years of experience with her dog plus plenty of research and seeking the advice of experts, she has become very knowledgeable about the Yorkshire Terrier breed, as well as dogs in general. For more tips, tricks and other helpful information about Yorkies, head over to her website where she blogs and sells awesome Yorkie merchandise.