The warm, sunny weather is the perfect opportunity to get some fresh air with your beloved pet. Whether you have an active dog that loves to go for walks or a cat that enjoys sitting outside in the sun, be sure to maintain its health all year long. With tick season upon us, you’ll want to take several preventative steps to keep your pets safe. Ticks are tiny insects that burrow into your pet’s skin, potentially causing disease and other complications. Our team at Blue Lake Animal Hospital provides solutions to tick prevention based on your pet’s unique health needs. Here are a few tips for preventing these dangerous critters from threatening your pet’s well-being.
After a walk or outdoor excursion, perform a physical check to see if you can spot any ticks. Even though ticks are small, it’s possible to see them hanging from your pet’s fur before they burrow deeper. There are several places that ticks tend to hide. Check the following areas on your pet’s body:
Manual checks can help reduce the risk, so be sure to do a thorough check whenever possible.
One of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of diseases carried by ticks is to use a tick prevention product. These special medications are designed to prevent ticks, fleas and other pests along with the diseases they carry. What’s more, these products are available in topical and oral forms, so you can find something that works best for your pet. Before using any products, talk to our veterinarians to learn more about what options are safest for your pet.
Regular grooming is effective in preventing ticks. Give your dog a bath within two hours of returning from the outdoors to wash away ticks before they attach to the skin. Use a fine-toothed comb to help find and remove ticks that are not embedded. We also recommend you wash your pet’s bedding weekly to ensure no critters make their home there. Wipe down surfaces your pet likes to frequent as well.
While a diligent prevention plan can help you and your pet avoid most cases of ticks, there are times when you may discover a tick on your pet anyway. As such, it’s important to be aware of the signs of tick bites and tick-borne diseases. Be on the watch for:
These symptoms usually develop a week or two following exposure. Contact our veterinarians right away if your pet shows any of these signs.
Ticks are a major threat to your pet’s health, so learn how to prevent tick-borne diseases at Blue Lake Animal Hospital. We provide a number of effective treatments and prevention plans that suit your pet’s individual needs. Call today to schedule an appointment.
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