How to Combat Fleas & Ticks

Fleas and ticks are not just a nuisance to your pet. They can cause serious health issues like Lyme disease, anxiety, and skin disorders, among other things. They can cause so much anxiety that your pet may even start to balk at going out the dog door because he or she does not want to deal with the fleas outside. As a responsible pet owner, it is important to take steps to treat and prevent ticks and fleas so that you and your pet can have a happier life together.

Prevention

Preventing flea and tick infestation is much easier than treating it. Even after you treat it, you will still have to take preventative measures so you don’t have to go through this experience again. There are plenty of manufactured products on the market to help you prevent an infestation.

One good place to start is with your vet. Your veterinarian is bound to be somewhat local, so he or she has a good idea of the geographical elements of your area. This means they know what products are more effective in your area and which areas are more likely to become infested.

Other than some of the products you might look for, take the steps below as preventative measures as well:

• Clean up any leaves or other debris in the area outside your pet door. Ticks and fleas sometimes bed down in piles of leaves and other debris.
• Keep the grass short. The longer the grass is, the easier it is for fleas and ticks to travel from one place to another using the blades of grass.
• Keep trees trimmed. While you want to provide shade for your pet, you also want to limit areas that make it easier for ticks to be present.

Treatment

Treatment can be in the form of manufactured chemicals, or natural methods. Many of these products treat and protect, but not all of them. Bathing your pet in a flea and tick shampoo is a good start, but the house and yard need to be treated as well. Vacuum, sweep, and mop far more frequently than normal, and don’t forget to include things like furniture cushions and blankets.

One popular and safe option being used is food grade diatomaceous earth. You can spread it around your yard and house, and even put it in your pet food. This product absorbs the moisture from insects and ticks so they cannot survive. While the food grade version is edible, be careful not to get it in your eyes or mouth. It may not be lethal, but it can seriously irritate airways.

Sprinkle this earth around the house and area outside of the pet door. Allow it to stay in the house for any number of hours before cleaning it up. Leave it in the yard to prevent an infestation in the dirt or grass in your pet’s walking area. You can also put it on your pet’s fur, being sure to keep it away from the facial and neck area.

Browse the extensive knowledge of the pet experts at Australia Pet Doors by visiting our blog today.