Depending on where you and your dog call home, summertime may mean that your pup needs increased protection from dangerous and pesky parasites. Parasites generally thrive in warmer environments, so the climate of your region will determine whether your pooch needs to be protected from parasites year-round or only during the warmer months of the year. Take a look at the following tips to protect your dog from parasites this summer.
1. Talk to Your Vet About Heartworm Prevention
Heartworms are unfortunately all too common in dogs, yet they are very easy to prevent. Heartworms are transmitted via mosquitos and mosquito bites because many of those pesky mosquitoes carry heartworm larvae. When your dog licks a mosquito bite or manages to chomp on a whole mosquito, the larvae enter their bodies and travel to the heart. Here, they grow into heartworms that are deadly for dogs if left untreated.
And yes, there is thankfully a treatment. But it is an intensive and expensive process. Avoid this by talking to your vet about heartworm prevention. It comes in oral and topical forms that range in their spectrum of protection, so talk to your vet about which option is best and most convenient for you and your pup.
Are you moving with your pet soon? Here are our tips for finding a vet new in town.
2. Stock up on Flea Protection
As anyone who has ever experienced a flea infestation knows, fleas are the ultimate nuisance. What begins with a few fleas here and there can quickly turn into a complete infestation in your home. And they don’t just stay on your dog, either. They’ll start living in the carpets, rugs and furniture, and they’ll start gnawing on anyone else in the household that they can.
In addition to being itchy and annoying, fleas also carry tapeworms, which your dog can contract if they ingest the larvae from a flea or a flea bite. It’s also fairly common for dogs to have a flea allergy, which only exasperates the skin irritations from the bites. There are a variety of flea preventatives on the market that are also available in oral and topical forms, so protect your dog from parasites this summer by taking a little trip to the pet pharmacy.
3. Keep an Eye Out for Tick Protection
While you’re on the hunt for flea protection, keep an eye out for the ones that also include tick protection. Ticks carry serious diseases like Lyme disease, ehrlichia and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, among others. So if you like in a region with ticks, providing your pooch with tick protection is a must.
4. Keep the Backyard Safe
Protect your dog from parasites this summer not only by providing them with protective medication, but also by treating your outdoor property as well. There are a variety of yard treatments available at home improvement stores that can help keep your yard free of pests like mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are notorious for carrying multiple devastating diseases like West Nile Virus, so keep your dog and your other household members safe this summer by keeping mosquitoes and other pests away altogether.
Are you moving with your pet? Take a look at our Moving With Pet Checklist
If you’re making a move this summer, don’t forget about your most trusted pet moving company. Whether you’re moving in or out of a parasite-prone area, the experts at Pet Van Lines are here to help. Contact us today for more information.