It's Time To Protect Your Dogs From Ticks And Fleas - Here's How

Summer has rolled around, and with it the surge in parasites. And unfortunately, climate change has only made it worse. So what exactly are you dealing with, and what can you do to protect your beloved pets?

Fleas are a type of parasites that can jump two feet high – an impressive height given their incredibly small size. A blood-sucking parasite, fleas move from target to target in order to feed on their prey of choice. While doing so, they can transfer blood-transmitted diseases from host to host.

But what’s the big deal? How scary can it be? Not only are fleas and their eggs hard to kill and destroy, they can also cause the following parasites and diseases:

1. Flea Allergy Dermatitis, an allergy that causes incredible itchiness in dogs.
2. Anemia, caused by the blood loss from fleas consuming a lot of blood.
3. Tapeworms, parasites that are small enough to be transmitted in blood.

And it’s not just fleas that are an issue: ticks are similar parasites that can cause similar problems, and carry even more illnesses too – some which can be transmitted to humans. Scary stuff! So just how can we catch these things before they cause too much trouble? Some of the symptoms include:

1. Hair loss
2. Pale Gums
3. Hot spots and scabs
4. Flea eggs, which look like tiny, white grains
5. Flea dirt, which look like small, dark grains of sand
6. An excessive amount of licking, biting, or scratching of the skin
7. Allergic dermatitis

Thankfully, there’s plenty of commercial repellants and medications out there that can help protect your dogs. Just keep an eye out, and take care!

Feature Image Source: Pixabay