We love playing outdoors with our pets! It’s relaxing and fulfilling to see pets pounce around and roll in the grass. But that fun can quickly end when a hitchhiker hops on for the ride – eek!
We are talking about pests. Parasites, to be exact. Yes, it’s flea and tick season. And here in Minnesota, we know that the mosquitos aren’t far behind, too!
Ticks are common in the Midwest, due to their preferred habitat of grass and trees and our perfectly matched Northwoods landscape. While ticks are certainly annoying, the biggest concern for our pets is the possibility of ticks spreading disease. Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis can be incredibly harmful and even fatal to our companion animals.
Fleas can be incredibly disruptive to your pet’s quality of life, causing uncomfortable itching and scratching. Without intervention, fleas can cause dermatitis, hair loss and hot spots on the skin. They love the same kind of environment as ticks, so they are plentiful outside. And thanks to their jumping skills, they can land on your pet with one well-timed leap.
So how can you fight these pests?
Collars: We carry SERESTO collars for both small and large dogs, and cats. They last for an eight-month period while ensuring safety from strangulation. Collars are effective against fleas, ticks, lice and flea larvae.
Topicals: Topical applications will go directly on the dogs’ skin, generally along their spine. Typically, it is applied monthly. SENTRY Natural Defense topicals are veterinarian tested and available at Pet Evolution. The ointment stays on the skin and kills and repels fleas, ticks and mosquitos. And yet, it’s safe for use around children and other pets as its made with natural ingredients, including peppermint oil, cinnamon oil, lemongrass oil, clove oil and thyme oil.
Another natural option is Vet’s Best SPOT ON. The plant-based formula has three to eight applications in each bottle, and includes a dosage chart based on your pet’s weight and a universal applicator.
Plus, we also carry FIPROGuard Plus for dogs, which is fast acting, long lasting and waterproof. It is comparable to Frontline PLUS productions, containing the same active ingredients.
Repellant: Another option is repellant. Repellant is sprayed and worked in to your pets’ coat. It can be reapplied every 2 ‒ 3 days or as needed before the animal goes outside. We like Flea + Tick Repellent Spray by Pet Naturals, which is made from a combination of Brazilian oils. The natural oils have been used for centuries by the indigenous people of the Amazon forest to keep pests from detecting the scent from their skin. It can also be used on pet bedding and home grooming tools.
We also like Wondercide Flea & Tick repellant, which comes in a number of fresh scents like Lemongrass and peppermint. It works as both a preventative and a treatment, effectively killing the full life cycle of fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. Additionally, it can be used in carpets, furniture and flooring without staining. It is made in the USA from human food-grade ingredients and is safe for children.
Regardless of what products you use on your pet, it’s best to do regular tick and flea checks on your dog or cat, paying attention to their head, neck, ears and legs.
If you aren’t sure what products would be best for you and your pets’ lifestyle, call us! We’ll be happy to give you a recommendation.