Connor's Tips: Keep your Pets Protected

Animal owners love their pets, and they certainly don’t want to see anything happen to them.  This is not always an easy task, though.  Fleas, ticks and mosquitoes are active during the spring and summer months, and they can be very harmful to pets.  Take some precautions this spring and summer to ensure your furry little friends don’t get sick.

Fleas and Your Pets

When you think of fleas, you probably think of itchy little pests that irritate your dog.  What you might not know is fleas can also cause some serious ailments.  They can cause dermatitis and anemia, and can even pass tapeworms to your beloved animals.

The best way to prevent fleas is to get flea protection from your vet.  You can get pills or a liquid that you place on your pet’s back.  This will keep the fleas from getting on your animals.

If you have a serious flea issue, though, this may not be enough.  If that is the case, you need to treat your yard and your house.  Remember, you need to stay outside for several hours after treating your home, so make other arrangements ahead of time.

As frightening as fleas can be, they are actually the least of your worries when it comes to pets.

Ticks

Humans know how dangerous ticks can be.  However, when they think of that danger, they often only think of what ticks can do to people. They forget about what ticks can do to pets.

Ticks cause Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and tick paralysis.  These conditions can be fatal if they are not treated swiftly.

Just like fleas, you can protect your pet against ticks by getting protection from your vet.  When you get flea protection, get one that includes tick protection so your pet can have the full treatment.

Also, be sure to inspect your pet for ticks every day.  Just move your hands across his body, and if you find one, remove it promptly.  Make sure you get the head out as well, as you do not want the pet to get an infection.

Mosquitoes

How many mosquitoes have you swatted away this spring?  It’s pretty annoying when they come out and start biting. Unfortunately, it’s dangerous as well.  A pet can catch heartworms from mosquitoes.  Heartworms are often fatal, so you need to protect your pet from mosquitoes.

You can do this in two ways. First, purchase heartworm prevention medication from your vet. Second, keep mosquitoes off your property.  Remove standing water from your property, as that is where mosquitoes breed.  Also, clean up your brush and debris so they don’t have any hiding places.

You love your pet, and you want what is best for him.  Part of taking care of your pet is protecting him from pests. Follow these tips and you will have a healthy and happy pet.