Keep the Bugs OFF this Summer!
It’s June! The heat is here and so are those pesky picnic ruining insects! This month American Grooming Academies Tips and Tricks will focus on how to treat and prevent the most common canine parasites. Parasites are around all year long but when families spend more time outdoors, at beaches and parks often they pose a more significant problem! The best advice comes from your veterinarian, but here are some helpful ideas to get you moving in the right direction!
Fleas!
Tiny bugs that suck the life out of not only canines but anything with a warm body! Fleas are some of the most common insects in the world. They are found in dirt, sand, gardens blankets…pretty much anywhere an animal can go you have the potential for fleas. Fleas live in four life stages. Egg, larva, pupa and adult, making protection against all life stages difficult. In the past flea powders, collars and baths were the norm, but none of these ever deleted all four life stages. with new advances in flea treatments we as a population are more capable of stopping flea infestation. Topical treatments, pills and even great tasting dog chews, help to rid our furry friends of the dreaded blood suckers. Some of the easiest ways to rid your home of fleas is a great flea bath, treatment of your choice and treating your yard and home! This makes not only the family happy but your furry friend will be happier too.
Ticks!
Ticks are awful little creatures that can cause a significant amount of damage to you and your pets. They are also four life cycle parasites, but unlike the flea, only adult ticks attack vertebrates. Much of the beginning of their life is lived in bushes, grasses and forests environments. The main reason why ticks are so dangerous is the fact that they carry Lyme Disease which affects humans as well as pets for the rest of their lives. Many symptoms are attributed to Lyme including fever, headache, joint problems, and rash. If left untreated symptoms can become much worse. Many times pets can be treated for Lyme with a few weeks of antibiotics, and although they will always have it in their systems, a pet can live a long happy life if treated promptly when symptoms arise. Topical tick medicines work great at prevent ticks from living on your pet, also staying out of tick prone areas and doing a “tick check” after walking, hiking or camping can help prevent the spread of Lyme.
Mosquitos!
Nasty flying bugs who prey on every vertebrate mammal known to man, the mosquito, can not only ruin a camping trip but can also cause a condition in your furry friend that is fatal. The mosquito carries a very aggressive disease called heartworm. Heartworm is infected when mosquitos carry microfilia from one warm blooded vertebrate to another transferring the cells to an uninfected host. The microfilia then lodge in the heart. The worms grow in the heart causing blockage of the ventricles, making cardiac arrest the cause of death. Some of the best mosquito preventions are found at your veterinarian. Some of the things you can do at home help with decreasing your mosquito population. Make sure there is no standing water in or around your property. Use mosquito traps and treat your pets outside area with bug prevention. The most important thing is to notice if your pet is acting strangely to make sure they are seen by your veterinarian.
