Dogs are curious by nature and love to explore the great outdoors. Unfortunately, this sense of adventure may lead them to areas that are perfect for harboring fleas or ticks that could detrimentally affect their health. And, while there are several ways to make your yard less appealing to these pests, the only way to ensure that your dog is safe is with an effective prevention plan in place at all times. But what potential risks do untreated fleas and ticks cause for dogs and how can you help protect your best friend?
Why Are Fleas and Ticks Dangerous for Dogs?
Once a dog has fleas or ticks attached to it, it will become both the home and food source for these bloodthirsty pests. Once attached, a flea will continue to thrive until it dies if no treatments or prevention methods are currently in place. The only time in which a tick will detach is if it is currently molting and will need to shed its skin to reach adulthood. In most cases, nymphs and adults are responsible for the transmission of tick-borne diseases.
There are several different ways that your dog may become the next victim of fleas or ticks and all that would be necessary is a trip into the backyard. However, it is also possible for fleas and ticks to hitchhike on other animals that your dog may come in contact with including stray animals, wild animals that find their way into your yard or by coming into contact with a friend or family member’s dog that is harboring fleas or ticks. With this uncertainty looming at all times, flea and tick prevention should be your primary defense against these pests as a dog owner.
Fleas can carry a variety of diseases and parasites that could negatively impact the health of your dog including the transmission of tapeworms, anemia or the development of painful dermatitis if the dog is allergic to flea saliva. On the other hand, ticks are capable of spreading Lyme Disease, Ehrlichia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and many more devastating illnesses. The only real way to prevent this from occurring to ensure your dog remains happy and healthy is by investing in a prevention plan designed to protect them from these unwanted pests.
While dogs are most at risk of picking up fleas or ticks during the spring and summer months, fluctuating weather patterns in Oklahoma make these pests a potential problem year round. At Advanced Care Veterinary Hospital, it is our mission to ensure that your dog has the appropriate support needed to not only eliminate existing fleas and ticks but also ensure they don’t come back. But what prevention and treatment options do Advanced Care Veterinary Hospital provide to Oklahoma dog owners?
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What Flea and Tick Prevention Options are Available for Dogs?
While there are many different over the counter flea and tick prevention options for dogs available at your local pet store, the veterinary staff at Advanced Care Veterinary Hospital encourages you to seek professional help when choosing a product for your dog. This can help you avoid the long list of unapproved remedies that have shown up in the past 20 years and ensure your dog doesn’t experience any adverse effects throughout the process.
The veterinary staff at Advanced Care Veterinary Hospital can examine your dog and determine any risk factors that may be present for them to determine the appropriate flea and tick prevention option to use and at what dosage. This can help ensure not only effectiveness but also could potentially be a cheaper option than you would find attached to an over the counter treatment option. Instead of playing a guessing game and potentially still exposing your dog to these pests, let us help make sure they are protected.
The veterinary staff at Advanced Care Veterinary Hospital can examine your dog and determine any risk factors that may be present for them to determine the appropriate flea and tick prevention option to use and at what dosage. This can help ensure not only effectiveness but also could potentially be a cheaper option than you would find attached to an over the counter treatment option. Instead of playing a guessing game and potentially still exposing your dog to these pests, let us help make sure they are protected.
No matter what breed your dog may be or the current size that they are, we are confident that we will have an appropriate flea and tick prevention option available. Our knowledgeable and compassionate staff is here to lend our expertise whenever it may be needed to Oklahoma dog owners and we believe flea and tick prevention is invaluable for the health of man’s best friend. Let our team help create the perfect flea and tick prevention plan for your dog.
No matter what breed your dog may be or the current size that they are, we are confident that we will have an appropriate flea and tick prevention option available. Our knowledgeable and compassionate staff is here to lend our expertise whenever it may be needed to Oklahoma dog owners and we believe flea and tick prevention is invaluable for the health of man’s best friend. Let our team help create the perfect flea and tick prevention plan for your dog.
What Flea and Tick Treatments are Available for Dogs?
If your dog has already become the victim of fleas and ticks, it is important to ensure they have an effective treatment as soon as possible to eliminate the chances of them contracting a tick-borne illness or suffering from the potential effects of a flea infestation. Currently, there are seemingly endless flea and tick treatment options available to dog owners; however, finding the right product is key for ensuring your dog has the support it needs. Some of the flea and tick treatments that you may find for your dog include:
If your dog has already become the victim of fleas and ticks, it is important to ensure they have an effective treatment as soon as possible to eliminate the chances of them contracting a tick-borne illness or suffering from the potential effects of a flea infestation. Currently, there are seemingly endless flea and tick treatment options available to dog owners; however, finding the right product is key for ensuring your dog has the support it needs. Some of the flea and tick treatments that you may find for your dog include:
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Oral Tablets
As the most highly recommended flea and tick treatments for dogs available on the market currently, oral tablets are designed to kill fleas and ticks the moment that they attempt to consume the blood of your dog. For an effective oral flea and tick treatments for dogs, consulting a veterinarian will be necessary.
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Flea and Tick Collars
There are seemingly endless dog flea collars, powders, and sprays available at your local retailers. And, although they may have been incredibly popular in the past, many of them are not safe to use on your dog, and may even be toxic to them.
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Topical Flea Treatments
If you’ve had a dog for long, there’s a good chance that you have some experience with spot-on flea and tick treatments. Applied directly to the neck of a dog where they can’t lick it off, this treatment type is available in varying strengths and effectiveness. If you are interested in spot-on treatments, please consult with one of our veterinarians.
Finding the right treatment option for your dog’s unique needs is critical for limiting discomfort or other potential problems that may occur with use. Working with a veterinarian to discuss and choose an available flea and tick treatment options can help ensure your canine remains healthy and happy.
How Do You Spot Fleas and Ticks on Dogs?
Because dogs will often spend a lot of time outdoors, knowing the signs and symptoms of flea and tick infestation is critical for keeping your dog safe year-round. If left untreated, the damage these pests are capable of causing can become apparent quickly including scratches, bruising, red bumps and ongoing irritation that doesn’t seem to clear up. While the first sign that most pet owners will see is that their dog begins scratching excessively, they may not know an infestation is present until it directly affects them.
In many cases, fleas will congregate around the ears, armpits, back, and groin of a dog because of the warmth and protection that these areas provide for them. However, ticks aren’t too picky as long as they are able to have direct access to the bloodstream to feed off of. As you might imagine, this means that a thorough inspection may be needed regularly to ensure your dog hasn’t picked up any unwanted hitchhikers. If you suspect fleas or ticks may be present, a warm bath and the use of a flea comb may be needed to determine what pests are present, if any.
Failure to address flea and tick problems affecting your dog can have lasting and potentially fatal consequences. At the first sign of these pests, it is important to bring your dog into Advanced Care Veterinary Hospital for the appropriate treatment and ongoing prevention support they need to remain healthy and happy. In addition to providing great service to remove fleas and ticks from your dog, we also work to educate you on how to avoid the problem in the future.
In many cases, fleas will congregate around the ears, armpits, back, and groin of a dog because of the warmth and protection that these areas provide for them. However, ticks aren’t too picky as long as they are able to have direct access to the bloodstream to feed off of. As you might imagine, this means that a thorough inspection may be needed regularly to ensure your dog hasn’t picked up any unwanted hitchhikers. If you suspect fleas or ticks may be present, a warm bath and the use of a flea comb may be needed to determine what pests are present, if any.
Failure to address flea and tick problems affecting your dog can have lasting and potentially fatal consequences. At the first sign of these pests, it is important to bring your dog into Advanced Care Veterinary Hospital for the appropriate treatment and ongoing prevention support they need to remain healthy and happy. In addition to providing great service to remove fleas and ticks from your dog, we also work to educate you on how to avoid the problem in the future.
If you are interested in the wide variety of prevention options that are currently available to help protect your dog throughout the year, we encourage you to schedule your appointment with one of our Veterinarians today. Let us help find the most effective and safe prevention or treatment options available on the market for your best friend. We look forward to helping you and your pet continue to make the most of the warmer seasons.
If you are interested in the wide variety of prevention options that are currently available to help protect your dog throughout the year, we encourage you to schedule your appointment with one of our Veterinarians today. Let us help find the most effective and safe prevention or treatment options available on the market for your best friend. We look forward to helping you and your pet continue to make the most of the warmer seasons.
Why Choose Advanced Care for Dog Veterinary Services?
Advanced Care is more than just a primary care hospital. Our patients and clients are special to us and are the reason why we always treat everyone who comes to visit as another member of our family each and every time they walk in our doors. We do not treat every patient the same because we understand that each one requires individualized care and attention.
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