The threat of fleas and ticks are ever present and if you are a pet parent you need to be always on guard. These parasites are carriers of life-threatening diseases some of which can even affect humans.
While a lot of home remedy blogs recommend “natural” solutions for fleas and ticks, only a few, if any, works as well as regular flea and tick medications for dogs. Spot-on treatments are quite effective as well fleas and tick pills made by reputed pet care manufacturer.
Employ one or more conventional flea and tick control methods to keep your dog protected. It is also important to know how fleas and ticks make their way to your pet’s body. This post reveals the 7 sneaky way ticks and fleas can invade your pet.
Dog Parks or When Out for a Walk
Dogs often get ticks and fleas when they are outside. Fleas and ticks can be present in the backyard or any wooded areas. They usually dwell in tall leaves and enter the dog’s body when they brush against bushes and shrubs. This is why it’s always recommended to use a tick and flea collar when going outside. The collar acts as a secondary force field that supplements the effects of the regular spot-on medication your pet is on.
From Your Own Backyard or Home
Backyards or even your neighbor’s backyard can turn into a breeding ground for ticks and fleas. Fleas can even invade your home and dwell on your sofa, carpeting, and upholstery.
Pet parents often make the mistake of just treating their dogs for fleas and ticks. While good flea and tick pills for dogs can eradicate the parasitic population from your pet’s body, the ones that are in your home continue to thrive and populate. While common fleas can live inside your home not all species of ticks can survive an indoor environment without a host. Brown dog ticks are usually the most common type of ticks found inside the home, but they still need the host to complete their life cycle.
This is why it’s recommended to use a multi-pronged approach. Use pet medications to keep your pet safe from ticks and fleas as well as use products like yard sprays and carpet sprays to kill the resident parasites in your home.
During Hikes in the Wood
Many species of ticks including deer ticks, Rocky Mountain Wood ticks, and Lone Star Tick live in wooded areas. They usually target wild animal species and they often infest deer, rodents, and other mammals. When you go hiking with your dog, these parasites can invade your pet’s body as well as yours.
Dogs typically like to forage in the woods and sniff random things, this gets them close enough for the ticks and fleas to latch on. Make sure your dog is on a proper flea and tick preventive and has a flea collar on. It’s also a good idea to check your dog’s coat for fleas after a long hike.
See also: How Pets Can Improve Your Mental Health
Kennels and Pet Boarding
Kennels, pet boarding facilities, and even some vet’s offices can become a hotbed for flea and tick activity. Mainly because these facilities often house many pets at a time and even a single animal with fleas or ticks can cause contamination.
Pets that stay a few days in these kennels and facilities are often at high-risk of getting infested with fleas and ticks. Make sure to choose a reputed kennel or pet boarding facility. Ask specifically about the measures they employ to keep pets safe from parasites.
From Human Guests
It may seem unlikely, but humans can also be a host for fleas and ticks. Fleas can often hide in clothes and socks and hitch a ride to enter your home. Once they enter, they make their way to your pet’s body and start populating. A proper home flea treatment product creates an inhospitable environment for these parasites.
Traveling to Warmer Destinations
People living in extremely cold climates often employ little to no measures to control ticks and fleas. Mainly because ticks and fleas thrive in warmer climatic zones. However, if you are traveling with your pet to a warmer destination, your pet’s chance of getting infested increases considerably. You can even go to a place where the climate is warm without your pet and transport ticks and fleas back to your home.
From Flea-Infested Animals
Sometimes animals from the wild venture into the backyard. From rodents and birds to deer and foxes, fleas and ticks can be present in all animals in the wild. Installing a barrier to prevent the entry of animals is the first step, but it often proves to be insufficient. Make sure your yard and home are treated with proper anti-flea products. This way the fleas and ticks that do enter gets automatically killed off.