Canines Health - How To Safely Control Fleas And Ticks

Ticks and fleas in dogs are as natural as having to see frogs and crickets by the pond; or to catch bees and butterflies in our rose patch. But because parasites are not welcome in our home, any person who has or intends to keep a pet in his abode must have some basic information about these two vermin that naturally infest our furry friends.

Dog fleas are six legged wingless little insects that measure about 1.5 To 3.3 Mm long. It is very active and can hop either horizontally or vertically up to 200 times its own height. Its body is hard and polished with tiny hairs directed backwards making it very easy to move around the fur strands of its host. Its armor-like shell provides protection that is very resistant to finger pressure. It feeds on mammals’ blood by sucking its host.

Fleas - Life Period and Habitat
An adult female flea after having a good feast of fresh blood from its host may lay up to 50 eggs per day. A healthy well fed pair of these micro-monsters living in a very suitable environment and perfect climate can produce around 20,000 nasty fleas in 3 months! Their eggs are laid normally on the skin of their host and hatches after about two days to two weeks. These larvae will feed on tiny food debris (dried blood, skin debris, and so on). After some time, it can turn into miniature pupae which, later on, will hatch into a new batch causing harm to the dog but also to its owner! It is important to keep in mind the life cycle of the flea before considering what kind of preventive measure you are going to undertake. This could give you a better chance of breaking the cycle of procreation.

To determine if your canine friend is infected with fleas, you can check for these common signs:
- Little bits of dark reddish brown “grains” attached to the dog’s fur itself. You can experiment if these indeed are fleas’ excreta (digested blood) by wiping these bits with damp paper towel. A noticeable dash of blood red on your paper towel will confirm infestation.
- Use of flea comb.
- Bald patches due to skin irritation or excessive scratching, redness, and tiny red spots on your dog’s complexion

As soon as you confirmed that your dog is infested with fleas, consult your respective veterinarian on the topic of preemptive care and management for fleas.

Ticks on the other hand is a close relative of a spider. They are eight legged arachnid that are known to spread diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Tick paralysis. The most conventional among its genus that feed on dogs are wood tick, brown dog tick, and the deer tick; they all thrive in woods and shrubby areas.

Not like fleas, ticks are slow movers, hence they can be spotted easily. With the use of cotton buds dipped in antiseptic, one can perfectly remove ticks. They’re commonly found between the dog’s armpits, inside ear flaps, between digits and paw pads, tail, inside thighs, etc.
Using the tweezers, grasp the tick purposefully, then, gently rock the bug back and forth until it lets go. Be sure to avoid contact with the ticks' body fluid by wearing clean gloves or surgical bags. To prevent local infection on the spot where the ticks were removed, a blob of antiseptic is recommended.

To control tick infestation, start to look for places that are appropriate for them to proliferate. Trim frequently garden grass or damp bushes. Over-the-counter medicated shampoos and other products in spray and powder form can also help. Nevertheless, a visit to a licensed veterinarian is highly recommended to make certain appropriate care of your treasured dog and safety of your family.

By: Daryl B. Chapman

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