Summertime, summertime, sum sum summertime…such a lovely tune to remember the best time of year. But with the beautiful weather comes the nuisances of pests. Some pests are annoying and some are down right dangerous. Ticks and fleas are not only a nuisance, they can cause all kinds of illnesses from anemia due to flea infestation to Anaplasmosis or Lyme from ticks. These are very serious illnesses that can be easily avoided with the proper application of a flea and tick repellant.
Some animals cannot handle the application of a repellant so it’s always best to consult your veterinarian before starting any type of prevention treatment.
That said, in our area, Worcester County, the products that we find work the best are Frontline and K9 Advantix.
Frontline works best if fleas are the bigger problem since it kills fleas and flea eggs quite effectively. However, ticks must bite before they start to die which may increase the risk of tick borne illnesses. Frontline has a product for cats as well.
K9 Advantix works really great on ticks since it starts killing ticks as soon as they land on your dog. In our experience, this product works better on ticks than other than other products and it works equally well on fleas. The greater benefit, however, is that it also repels and kills mosquitoes which transmit heartworm. For us, this is our go to product to protect our own dogs. The only downside to this treatment is that it’s toxic to cats so you must keep your cat clear of your treated dog until the product is absorbed completely.
Good grooming throughout the summer season is the best defense against all sorts of infestations. Your groomer should be trained to spot any type of infestation and treat it accordingly and with regard to any treatment you may have already applied.
The other advantage to good summer grooming is that your pet will be much more comfortable in the summer heat.
So, in conclusion, to keep your pet healthy and comfortable, regular grooming and appropriate pest prevention is key. But as always, check with your vet before starting any type of pest treatment.
Enjoy your summer!