May 22, 2012
Posted in Flea & Tick Preventatives, Pet Health, Pet Supplies

Keeping a dog free of ticks, fleas and other parasites is a priority for many owners, but if you are unsure why exactly it is so important, you are not alone. Many owners are lackadaisical about administering pet drugs to prevent fleas, ticks and mosquitoes, many times because they are not convinced the insects are such a big deal. So what's so bad about them?

Diseases

Ticks, which like to hang out in the woods, tall grasses and most other outdoor spaces, suck blood from a number of different mammals, meaning they also transmit diseases between animals. That is why ticks are able to transmit Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other illnesses to your dog. Mosquitoes are carriers of heartworm disease, which is among the most serious and deadly diseases dogs can get. Prevent ticks and mosquitoes with monthly medication like Revolution.

Skin problems

Even if your dog doesn't contract a disease from a tick, mosquito or flea, the insects can wreak havoc on the pooch's skin. Many dogs have allergic reactions to flea saliva, causing itchy patches of skin and occasionally hair loss. The constant scratching of bites from any of these critters can also cause raw sores called hot spots. Hot spots are painful in and of themselves, but they are also an ideal breeding ground for bacteria that can cause infections. Keep fleas off your dog with pet products like Comfortis, Frontline Plus or Pet Armor.

They might take a bite out of you!

Fleas, ticks and mosquitoes survive by sucking your pet's blood, which, in extreme cases could cause anemia. However, keeping the pests out of your home may be in the best interest of you and the other human members of your family, too.

Flea bites can be itchy and having a flea infestation at home can be extremely uncomfortable for everyone in the family. Ticks that latch a ride inside on your dog can dig into your skin just as well as they can make themselves at home in your dog's, and the diseases they carry are zootonic, meaning they can be passed from animal to human.

Keeping your pet on a flea and tick preventative medication is easier and less expensive than controlling an infestation or treating your pooch for an illness caused by the infestation later on. 

Related posts:

1. What are fleas and ticks?
2. Can I catch something from my pet?
3. Managing your dog’s reaction to fleas
4. What is the difference between mites and fleas?
5. How to remove fleas on kittens