Traveling with Your Dog

New Arrivals

Merial Frontline Plus Flea and Tick Control for 45- to 88-Pound Dogs and Puppies, 6 Month

Merial Frontline Plus Flea and Tick Control for 0-to-22-Pound Dogs and Puppies, 6 Doses

Novartis Capstar Flea Treatment Blue Tabs for Dogs and Cats

How To Protect Your Dog From Fleas and Ticks

Spring and summer are the two most important seasons to be diligent about protecting your dog from fleas and ticks. Fleas and ticks are pretty persistent pests once they get a foothold on your property and they can really make your dog miserable. There are many ways you can make your dog happy by creating a very unfriendly property for fleas and ticks.

Even the cleanest of homes can become infested with fleas and ticks especially if you live in an urban area or near woods. If this happens you can use Hartz Advanced Care 3 IN 1 Home Flea & Tick Spray.

Fleas love tall grass, so keep your dog away from any area that may have tall grass like when you go on walks near tree lawns or parks with trees that may have slightly unkempt grass. Other attractive areas for fleas are problem areas such as where refuse is stored, lawns, trees, plants and bushes. Your dog may also come into contact with fleas and ticks when they are exposed to other dogs such as when they roam free or are taken to community parks.

Keep your garbage area unfriendly to fleas by keeping the garbage receptacles clean and tightly closed with a lid. Your dog is attracted to the smell of garbage, and so are fleas. Keep refuse areas fenced off if you can if your dog roams free outside.

Keep bird feeders away from where your dog eats, drinks or exercises because wild birds can carry many tiny pests and diseases that can affect the health of your dog.

Do not let birds share water dishes with your dog and do not let your dog drink out of the birdbath. Feed and water your dog inside. It is a good idea to keep your dog inside when you seed your lawn as birds will likely come near then.

The best way to deter fleas and ticks from coming on your lawn is to keep your lawn, trees and bushes well trimmed. Keep your dog away from areas such as in between bushes and small trees, and the garden.

Use flea and tick preventive lawn sprays; the kind that attaches to your lawn hose and you spray. Also spray trees, plants and bushes. You can find these sprays at most department stores, hardware stores and even some large pet stores. You should spray outside once a month from March through October and later if the temperatures in your area remain mild after October. Any balcony, deck, garage or deck areas that your dog uses should also be sprayed with anti-flea and tick sprays (aerosol cans).

Do not use dog houses, or concrete pet runs or other pet containment areas as these can be havens for not only fleas and ticks but other pests and disease as well. Even when these areas are cleaned properly, they still can harbor pests such as fleas and ticks.

Stay away from public areas that contain tall grass, or poorly maintained flora, wild animals or lots of other dogs and cats, as these are prime spots for fleas and ticks to be.