Prevention, Detection and Quick Action Keep Pests from Infesting Pets and Homes
Courtesy of Farnam Pet Products
Third in a 5 part series on pet parasites
Part II - Make Fleas, Ticks, and Mosquitoes Feel Unwelcome
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure - especially when it comes to flea and tick control. Once these pesky critters have set up housekeeping on a pet or in a home, your unwelcome guests can be a challenge to eliminate. Keep in mind that for every pest that is found, many more are lying in wait to hatch and latch on to an unsuspecting pet - or human
Several simple steps can be taken to minimize the likelihood that you'll have these unwanted guests on your pet and in your home:
- Wash pet's bedding regularly with a detergent, then dry on high heat.
- Clean, mop and vacuum your home to get rid of immature fleas and their food sources.
- Vacuum frequently and change the bag right away, discarding the old bag in a closed plastic bag.
- Check pets regularly for fleas and "flea dirt," the feces of adult fleas, with a flea comb. Flea dirt looks like tiny dark specks and will turn red if you get them wet and rub them a little. If detected, treat the animal and the environment (bedding, carpet, furniture, etc.) with appropriate flea and tick products to kill fleas and prevent eggs and larvae from developing. Always read labels carefully.
- Check pets (and yourself) for ticks, especially after spending time outdoors in wooded or grassy areas. If a tick is found, remove the entire tick with fine-point tweezers, then wash hands thoroughly.
- Mow lawns frequently and remove brush, tall grasses, leaves and debris to make your yard less inviting for ticks. Ticks lie in wait for hosts in such areas with front legs extended, then latch undetected on to passing animals or people.
- To reduce the risk of heartworm, reduce your pet's exposure to mosquitoes by removing standing water from buckets, old tires and other areas in the yard where mosquitoes may breed.
- Use flea, tick and mosquito repellents on pets, in the home, and in other areas as needed to keep pests at bay. Read labels carefully and use only as directed.
Even with the most diligent efforts, pets and homes can still find themselves falling victim to these creepy critters. When that does happen, it is essential to prevent the flea eggs from developing into biting, breeding adults.
See Also:
Fleas
Click here
to learn to everything about fleas. (Separate page of listings devoted
to fleas.)
Back to Viewer Viewpoint Table of Contents
Do you have something to say to the VetMed viewers? Click here to read the User Agreement and submit your work!
NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in the Viewer Viewpoint are not necessarily your Guide's views and opinions.
