ticks

Preventing Fleas and Ticks – Orange County Pet Grooming

Fleas and ticks are external parasites that can cause a lot of discomfort for your pet. During the summer, Orange County pet grooming shops typically have to deal with a lot of fleas and ticks and the problems that come along with them.

Fleas

Fleas can be found almost anywhere. Although there are more than 2000 species of fleas, the common cat flea is the type that is most often seen on both dogs and cats. Fleas prefer warm, humid conditions. This is why fleas are more prevalent during the summer and early fall.

Fleas can cause flea allergy dermatitis, which is a severe allergic reaction to flea saliva. In severe cases, flea allergy dermatitis causes intense itching and inflammation that often leads to bacterial or fungal infections. Fleas also play a role in the transmission of tapeworms and cat scratch fever. In severe infestations, fleas can remove so much blood that they cause anemia.

Ticks

Ticks are not actually insects. They are closely related to spiders, scorpions and mites. There are approximately eighty tick species in the U.S. but only a handful of them pose a problem for people and their pets.

Tick bites can be both painful and irritating. However, the real concern with ticks is the number of serious diseases that they are able to transmit.

Ticks can be found all over the United States. Although they can be seen during any time of the year, they are most prevalent during the early spring and late fall. Ticks prefer dark, moist, brushy places.

Preventing fleas

Today, there are many safe and effective flea control products to choose from. These products are administered either orally or topically. Some flea control products are only active against adult fleas, while others target other stages of the flea’s life cycle. Keep in mind that these products are separately labeled for dogs and cats. Never use flea medication meant for dogs on your cat.

Once an infestation is established it can be extremely difficult to get rid of. It might be necessary to treat your pet several times. It is also important to treat the pet’s environment.

Preventing ticks

Many major flea control products have formulations that help prevent ticks as well. These products are usually applied topically at the back of the neck. Just make sure that you never use medication intended for use on dogs on your cat.

Keeping your pet out of heavily wooded areas and tall grass are an important part of tick prevention. It might be necessary to treat your yard to reduce the number of ticks.

It’s a good idea to check your pets regularly for ticks. If you find ticks, never attempt to remove them with your bare hands. Your veterinarian or groomer can help you figure out the best way to remove ticks.

Claws N Paws Day Spa can help keep your pet free of fleas and ticks. For more information or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

Removing Ticks From Pets

Humans, birds, reptiles, wild and domestic animals are all susceptible to ticks. Ticks feed on the blood of their host and can sometimes pass serious diseases. In fact, pets can contract multiple diseases from just one tick bite. Ticks must be removed carefully and should never be removed with bare hands. The following steps will help you safely remove ticks from your pets:

Start by filling a jar halfway with isopropyl alcohol. Set the jar on a stable surface where it will not get tipped over.
Have another person restrain your pet. Have them gently stroke, praise and reassure your pet to keep it calm.
Put on latex gloves to avoid direct contact with the ticks.
Dampen a cotton ball with alcohol and gently dab it around the tick. This will disinfect the area and reduce the chance of your pet developing an infection.
Using tweezers or a special tick-removing device, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull the tick out by applying steady pressure. Be careful not to jerk or twist the tick. This can cause its mouthparts to detach inside of your pet’s skin.
Place the tick inside of the jar of alcohol. This will preserve it in case laboratory identification or testing becomes necessary. Do not flush the tick down the toilet as doing so will not reliably kill it.
Disinfect the area around the bite wound with more alcohol.

Ticks should be dealt with as quickly as possible. Inspect your pet regularly for ticks, especially after walking in grassy areas.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers professional pet grooming services in Fountain Valley, California. We also offer mobile pet grooming to all areas of Orange County. If you are unsure if your pet has ticks, or how to remove them yourself, we would be happy to show you. For more information, or to schedule your next grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005 today.