IT IS FLEA AND TICK SEASON
The more you know, the more you can help your pets
Flea and tick prevention is a crucial aspect of your dog or cat’s health. Not only are fleas and ticks an annoyance, these parasites pose potential health risks to both you and your animal. The life cycle of these pests involves the sucking of blood, which serves as a great route to transmit disease. Undetected, these diseases can have devastating outcomes, making prevention so important. A major theme we learn in veterinary school is that it is easier to stop diseases from ever developing by giving preventatives than it is to treat an animal for diseases that have already begun. Thankfully, nowadays, there are plenty of safe and effective flea and tick preventative options available to pet owners that help in controlling the spread of disease.
This is an important topic to be talking about right now, because fleas and ticks thrive in warm and humid summer weather. Most commonly, dogs and cats will develop an infection either from the environment or from other animals who are currently carrying the parasites. Adult fleas are roughly the size of a sesame seed, and move quickly, which can make it difficult to notice unless you are paying close attention while grooming the animal. Oftentimes, flea infections are not noticed until a large number have made a home on your animal, which can lead to uncomfortable scratching, redness, and potential skin infections. Female fleas will begin to lay eggs within a day of finding their new host, and produce eggs daily. These eggs then fall from your pet, either into your home or the environment, where they develop to their next stage. Once the larvae have hatched, they have the potential to find a new host, and the cycle of infection continues. This is a big reason why prevention is so important! By protecting your dog or cat, you have the potential to stop the spreading of this parasite.
Ticks are found in wooded areas, and Minnesota is known to have plenty of them during our summer months. Ticks can be difficult to notice because they like to hide in areas such as the ears, folds of legs, and between paw pads; however, they can be found anywhere on the body! Tick infections can cause skin irritation, but the main concern is their ability to transmit significant infectious disease. One disease that is commonly known is Lyme disease, a health risk to both the animal and humans. Because Lyme disease is difficult to treat if caught in a later stage, we recommend using preventatives during spring, summer, and fall months when ticks are active. Even with a good preventative, we should be checking our pets and ourselves for ticks after spending time outside in wooded areas.
Helpful Ideas:
• Talk with your veterinarian before starting any products. The lifecycle of different parasites and the number of animals you own can impact what preventative is best for you.
• Keep a strict prevention schedule. Different products will need to be given at different times; some last three months while others only last a month. Consult with your veterinarian to choose a preventative that works best for you and set reminders to ensure your pet gets them on time.
• Examine your dog or cat for fleas and ticks anytime you groom them. If there ever are parasites present, the earlier you find them, the better.
• Set up an appointment with your veterinarian any time your pet is excessively scratching, chewing, or licking at their coat. This may be a sign that your pet has a skin issue.
Source: These articles are brought to you by the Student Initiative for Reservation Services (SIRVS) at the University of Minnesota and Tufts Community Action Team (TCAT) at Tufts University.
