An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Truer words were never said when it comes to preventing parasites like fleas and ticks on your furry friend. Left untreated, these pests can pose a real threat, as an affected animal can develop severe health problems like rashes, allergic reactions, skin infections, anemia, Lyme disease, etc.
How can I tell if my pet has fleas or ticks?
Running a fine-toothed comb through your pet’s fur can help detect the presence of fleas or ticks. It is important to do this after your pet has played in tall grass or in a wooded area.
At first, ticks are very small—hardly a few millimetres in size. As they feed on blood, they get bigger. They will often attach themselves to your pet’s paws or face. They are very well camouflaged in long or dark fur.
If you find a tick, never remove it with your hands. Use a tweezer specially designed for this purpose to be sure that it is completely removed and so as not to hurt your companion. If you aren’t comfortable removing the tick yourself, our team can do it and take the time to show you how!
As for fleas, you can check for them in a few minutes by performing an easy test at home:
- Vigorously rub your pet’s fur against a white surface (paper or sheet). Some debris will come off.
- Spray a bit of water on the surface and on the particles of dirt.
- If you notice red lines forming around the debris, it means this is flea excrement (dried blood).
- If nothing appears, it’s simply dirt.
If in doubt, our veterinary team can help you and will propose different treatment plans.
My cat never goes outdoors. Is it really necessary to protect my pet against fleas?
Unfortunately, all animals are at risk of contracting parasites, even if they spend all their time indoors. Fleas are very common and can enter your home on your clothing and shoes, through window screens, on another animal, or on visiting family or friends.
What are the preventative treatments against fleas and ticks?
Several types of treatments against fleas are available: collar, tube and spray. The fleas are killed as soon as the product is applied, and it continues to work for a few weeks.
Preventative treatments against ticks can be applied on the skin or take the form of treats or collars. They keep ticks away. Vaccination is also offered for dogs.
Your veterinarian will give you advice about the best option based on your pet’s lifestyle. You will also receive recommendations on how often to repeat the treatment because most are only effective for about four to eight weeks.