April 25, 2012
Posted in Flea & Tick Preventatives

Most pet owners will keep their dogs on flea and tick preventative medication like Frontline Plus or Comfortis all year long to ward off these pesky pets at all times. However, even using these products year round doesn't mean the dog can't ever get a flea or tick on them. Understanding the most effective way to prevent fleas and ticks is important for the overall health of a dog. 

Owners should first learn how to apply flea and tick preventative medications before putting it on their dogs as placing it in the wrong spot can be just as ineffective as not using preventatives at all. It's best to apply the medication on the back of the dog's neck as this is a spot the dog cannot reach for licking or scratching. Make sure the skin is dry before applying and never split an application between two dogs.

Even if you've always put the medication on in the right spot, there is still a chance the dog could pick up a few fleas while outside. Flea eggs can be especially difficult to kill with topical medications since many roll off of dogs' coats after they are laid. This means they can fall off onto a dog's bed, onto your carpet or furniture where they can grow and go on to infest your home. To keep this issue at bay, it can be helpful to spray your home with flea preventatives to make sure no fleas are festering inside. Try pet products like the Bio Spot Inverted Carpet Spray, which is an aerosol used to eliminate fleas and ticks in the home. The spray can be used on carpets, rugs and upholstered furniture and kills all four stages of fleas – eggs, larvae, pupae and adults, keeping your home flea and tick free for up to
210 days.

Another important aspect in flea and tick prevention is keeping your yard free of infestations. Nearly 80 percent of the flea life cycle occurs in the environment, giving them ample time to hitch a ride on your pooch. You can help keep fleas and ticks out of your backyard by using a product like the Virbac Yard Spray. You can easily attach the spray bottle to your garden hose to cover up to 6,000 square feet of yard. The spray works to prevent re-infestations and will not harm your grass or foliage in the process. 

Related posts:

1. How To Effectively Control Cat Fleas
2. Dog Flea Meds Not Working?
3. Pet Armor: Part of Your Total Flea Control Program
4. When your puppy gets fleas
5. Keep your puppy flea free