Tiny Predators this summer

I am a HUGE summer time fan, love the sun, love the heat and the kid’s running around and sleeping late, I am not a fan of varmits jumping all over me or my pets!

Fleas and ticks thrive in warm weather and can survive year-round in all parts of the country. These external parasites can make life miserable for our pets and transmit serious diseases! It breaks my heart to see Copper scratching his tummy frantically.

Know your enemy:

Ticks

• The brown dog tick has adapted to survive in houses and kennels and is found just about anywhere dogs reside.
  
  
• These ticks can turn a home sweet home into a tick infested misery establishment.
• Ticks are non selective in their “host choice” and sometimes will feed on whatever makes the mistake of wondering within range.
• Most tick life stages prefer smaller hosts (rabbits, rodents etc); adults tend to feed on larger hosts such as dogs, cats and deer.

Fleas

• Fleas also love to live indoors especially in the humid months and they can multiple quickly!
• Fleas have six life stages
• With near perfect conditions, the larvae can hatch from the egg and develop to the adult stage in just one week.
• A female flea can produce up to 50 eggs per days
• Ten female fleas can produce 3500 eggs in a week

These annoying critters can really cause some irritation and sicknesses to our doggies or any pets for that matter:

• Diseases
• Skin irritation
• Allergic reaction
• Lyme disease
• Rocky Mounted Spotted Fever
• Tapeworms

Your veterinarian is the best source for help in developing an individual flea and tick control regimen for your pet or pets. He or she is the person most familiar with the season and your area as well as common tick and flea diseases.

Controlling Fleas and Ticks

• See your vet for products to help your pet ~ the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) recommends that dogs and cats be placed on year around flea and tick control.

According to CRC Pest Control Services in the Atlanta, Ga area , the following steps help minimize flea populations:

• Vacuum regularly and thoroughly, especially where pets sleep, before and after treatment. Dispose of used vacuum bags in an outdoor garbage can. Sweep and mop all non-carpeted floors.
• Treat pets under veterinary supervision on the same day the home is treated . Wash all pet bedding in hot water.
• Treat the home and yard using a licensed pest control company. Cover fish tanks, remove bird cages and pet food and water dishes beforehand. Arrange to be away from home during this time (pets, too).

Pet owners should follow these steps to protect pets, homes and themselves:

• Treat vegetation around the home as well as cracks and voids. Ticks typically "ambush" hosts after detecting movement in vegetation.
• Carefully monitor for ticks on the body and on pets.
• When finding a tick, grasp it firmly and as close as possible to the skin's surface with tweezers. Pull upward carefully. Avoid squeezing the body. Smash and dispose of the tick in a trash can or flush down the toilet. Disinfect bite area and wash hands.

On a much happier note, try a great dog flea product called Flea the Scene! Its great! This dog flea product contains sunscreen to protect from the sun rays and it's all natural and perfectly safe even if your dog licks it off! Flea the Scene contains no pesticides or poisons and you can even use it on yourself and contains no SLS or Parabens...and of course, is cruelty free!!! This doesn’t take the place of flea and tick

maintenance but will help repel on the walk to the beach or down the street.

Another great thing to mock fun at those nasty dog critters is this perfect dog t-shirt that says “From Flea to Shining Flea”. This Fourth of July doggie dud is perfect for the 4^th of July and very affordable. SO..I guess if you MUST SCRATCH do it in doggie fashion and don’t let those pesty dog bugs get you down!

Have a great 4^th of July!