Say no to hitchhikers on your pooch!

As Summertime approaches and temperatures rise, so does the risk of seasonal pesky parasites like fleas and ticks. While the mild temperatures and early spring weather have been great for getting outside with your pets, it also means an earlier flea and tick season.

Ticks survive the winter in microclimates, and after the thaw a feeding and breeding female tick can lay hundreds to thousands of eggs at one time. Fleas can survive freezing temperatures on wild or feral animals, cocooned as immature pupae, or inside houses and buildings. With temperatures above 10°, an early spring also means an early season for these bloodsucking parasites.

It’s practically impossible to keep fleas and ticks completely at bay. But there are some steps you can take to try and minimize the opportunities for contact with your pet.

Look around your yard. Identifying the areas where fleas and ticks are likely to live is fairly easy. Fleas love to congregate in places where they are protected from bright sunlight and that have slightly higher humidity. This includes your dog’s house, sleeping and feeding areas, and underneath lawn structures.Ticks, on the other hand, do best in tall grasses and branches, where they can climb up to grab onto a passing animal or human.

Keeping pets out of grasses and woods helps to reduce their exposure to fleas and ticks. Removing leaves and clearing brush and tall grass from around the house and kennel areas can also help reduce the number. It can be helpful  to alter the landscape around your home to make it unsuitable for ticks and their hosts. For example, keep the lawn mowed, remove leaf litter accumulations and prune shrubs and trees.

Treatment of the environment also involves investing in a flea comb, regular vacuuming (at least once a week) and throwing away the bag - don't forget under the skirting boards, under the sofa cushions and the dog's bedding.  85% of fleas will be in the home environment not on your dog or cat!

Diligently scan for ticks post summer walk, especially in long coated breeds, and invest in a tick remover.  Ticks hide in long grasses and are eager to ambush a likely ‘host’ be it canine, feline or human.

Use a natural flea and tick control product such as our Flea & Tick Defence Drops (spot on) or Flea & Tick Defence Spray. Applied weekly, it will help keep your pet free of external parasites, offering a natural alternative to conventional products, which contain ingredients that are potentially harmful to your pet. Combining our Flea & Tick Defence Drops or Spray with regularly checking your pet  for any signs of fleas and ticks will keep the pests at bay.