There are various types of flea control products available so there’s no need for your pet to suffer from fleabites. Topical products are applied to the dog’s skin and some of these also control ticks and other parasites. Control products are also available in pill form. Climate and the lifestyle of your dog will determine the best product for you to use. Dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors or playing in water may need a different product than that used for dogs that are in the house most of the time.

Fleas like it where it’s warm and if your pal is infested, you may even find them inside your home. They can get in bedding and carpet so extra work will be needed on your part if this happens to you. Bedding needs to be washed in hot water and carpets need to be thoroughly vacuumed. Then, if you apply a non-toxic powder containing borax or diatomaceous earth, it will kill the fleas by drying them out. Steam cleaning can kill larval fleas and the organic matter they feed on. There are also special flea bombs, easily purchased, that you set several places in your home. When you set them off, you will need to remove your pets and stay away for two hours. You may need to spray along the baseboards, around the perimeter of the yard and home, and under and around decks and patios. Also remember to treat the inside of the car and the doghouse and kennel area.

Bathe you pal with a good flea-control shampoo made for dogs, then apply the topical product recommended by your veterinarian.

Ticks are just as nasty as fleas. They attach themselves to a dog’s skin, usually around the head, neck, ears, or feet and make a meal of the dog’s blood. A large infestation feeding off a single dog can also cause severe anemia or tick paralysis.

Spring and summer are considered tick season, but anytime your dog is outdoors or in a heavily wooded area, you should check for ticks. Don’t touch the tick with your bare hands. The spirochete that causes Lyme disease can enter through the skin. Wear gloves and part the dog’s fur to look down close to the skin. To remove the tick, grasp it at the head with tweezers. Pull slowly, but firmly, to dislodge it without leaving any part of it behind. After the tick is removed, clean the bite site with rubbing alcohol and apply a topical antibiotic ointment. Do not hold a lit match to the tick, or attempt to smother it with nail polish, petroleum jelly, kerosene, or gasoline. There are products available that help kill or repel ticks, so talk to your veterinarian for the best option for your pal.