Three Tick Prevention Strategies for Dogs
Your dog is your fur baby, and you want them to be as healthy as possible. That means keeping any and all bugs off of them. One pest always looking out for a gorgeous doggo to latch onto is a tick. Ticks can pester your pooch and other pets, pestering you by extension. You love your dog, of course, and hate to see them suffering. Ticks and fleas are potential sources of health issues for everyone in your house, and these insects are also a big source of annoyance and irritation to your animals' fur and skin. Naturally, we want our dogs to be as happy as they can, so tick prevention is important. Here is how to deal with ticks around your dogs, keep your pets safe and what to do if you find a tick trying to make a meal out of your pal.
Stop Ticks from Pestering Your Pooch
A bite from a tick infected with Lyme disease can spread this serious illness to your four-legged pals. One of the most common methods employed to protect dogs from ticks is the use of flea and tick collars. You can also use repellent sprays for surfaces and on your pet's skin. Both of these methods can be effective, but if you worry about using too many chemicals on or around your animals, you can use other methods and strategies to prevent ticks on dogs naturally.
You could also get a chew for your pet to help prevent ticks from wanting to make a snack out of your dog. For Lyme disease, talk to your vet about the canine vaccine and see if it is the right option for your pet. That way, even if you find a tick on your dog, you could take away the worry about them becoming sick.
- Inspect Your Pets Regularly for Ticks
Inspect and remove ticks from your pet immediately. While this strategy might seem like a no-brainer, it's easy to become complacent. During the height of tick season (April to September and in all warmer months, regardless of the season), whenever your dog is outside for an extended period - during a walk in the woods or your backyard - inspect your pooch for ticks when you get home. This holds especially true if your animal is bounding through bushes and tall grass - both places where ticks thrive.
You can remove ticks from your dog with a pair of tweezers (don't use your fingers). Locate the tick, then spread the fur around the tick apart, exposing your dog's skin. Get the tweezers around the tick (close to the skin), then gently pull the tick up and out. If the tick can be kept alive, put it in a plastic bag to take it to the local vet or health department to have it tested for diseases. Make sure the skin is clean. If part of the mouth is still stuck in the skin, don't fret too much, as it will fall out in a day or two.
And while inspection and tick removal methods aren't perfect because you might miss one of these small pests, they are good, natural defenses against ticks. Sometimes the answer is the simplest, easiest option.
- Remove Tick-Friendly Habitats from Your Property
Tick prevention on dogs is given a big assist by removing or reducing tick-friendly habitats from your property. Chances are your dog spends a lot of time in the backyard running around, which means your yard needs to be tick-free as much as possible. By removing leaf piles, tall grass, messy woodpiles and cutting back out-of-control bushes, you'll reduce places for ticks to live. Fewer habitable areas mean fewer ticks, which equals a more tick-free environment for canines and humans alike.
Also, it's a good idea to discourage deer, raccoons and other animals ticks tend to cling to from entering your yard, maybe by putting up some tall fences. Wild or stray animals carrying ticks can quickly reintroduce them to your property after you've put in all of that effort to reduce tick habitats. We know seeing the wildlife up close is amazing, but seeing them from the edge of your yard is just fine.
- Treat Your Property for Ticks
Last but not least, you can always treat your property for ticks if you feel like you need additional help. Some areas in the country have a higher tick population, have warmer weather long where ticks can thrive better and for longer or your property just becomes overrun with bugs, and you need backup. MosquitoNix® offers effective solutions for keeping your property free from ticks and mosquitoes (the latter transmitting the heartworm parasite to dogs).
Our mosquito deterrent options help to control ticks and flying insects as well, reducing the harm these pests can cause humans and animals in and around private and commercial outdoor spaces. A treatment plan specific to your yard and family could really take some stress away. Don't feel like you have to deal with this alone. Show your pets how much you care by fostering a tick-free environment for them.
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