Fleas and ticks can make your pet physically uncomfortable and can also endanger his or her health. Knowing how to prevent your pet from getting fleas and ticks and how to treat this problem properly can help you take care of your pet in Overland Park Kansas.
How Your Pet Can Get Fleas and Ticks
Fleas are primarily introduced to pets through exposure to other animals and exposed surfaces. If your pet interacts with a pet that has fleas, or if your pet lays down on carpeting with fleas or spends any time outdoors, then the fleas may transfer to your pet’s body.
Ticks latch onto your pet outside, where they wait on tall grasses and in yard debris.
Prevention
The best way to prevent fleas and ticks is by using a good quality flea and/or tick preventative regularly. This should be done until we get two to three hard freezes. There are many good products to choose from, including topical, oral and collars. All products are not created equal, give us a call and we can make appropriate recommendations for your needs.
To additionally protect your pet from ticks, keep your yard well maintained. Compost or dispose of organic debris quickly, and keep your grass well-trimmed. This is especially important if your pet is an outdoor animal and spends a lot of time roaming around your yard.
Prevention
The best way to prevent fleas and ticks is by using a good quality flea and/or tick preventative regularly. This should be done until we get two to three hard freezes. There are many good products to choose from, including topical, oral and collars. All products are not created equal, give us a call and we can make appropriate recommendations for your needs.
To additionally protect your pet from ticks, keep your yard well maintained. Compost or dispose of organic debris quickly, and keep your grass well-trimmed. This is especially important if your pet is an outdoor animal and spends a lot of time roaming around your yard.
Symptoms & Treatment
Pets with fleas and ticks may spend a lot of time itching their bodies in one particular area. Some pets itch their bodies so much that they develop skin irritation and hot spots. This can lead to a painful infection.
If you notice that your pet is spending a lot of time shaking his or her head, scratching a specific area of his or her body or is developing a condition like hives, this could be indicative of a problem. If your pet has a tick, you may also notice that your pet has a small, hard lump on his or her skin. Treatment varies depending on what is wrong.
- Fleas – To treat fleas, use a flea product recommended by our hospital. Be sure to check and see if the shampoo you have is appropriate to use with the flea product you have.
- Ticks – To remove a tick, use tweezers to pull the tick straight up out of your pet’s body. Do not allow the head to lodge in your pet’s skin.
If your pet is spending an unusual amount of time scratching or biting or has evidence of skin irritation and/ or infection, it’s time for an examination. Our veterinarians will assess your pet and help to formulate a treatment plan accordingly.
Flea & Ticks, Treatment & Lyme Disease FAQs
Where do fleas come from?
Fleas thrive in warm, humid weather and often gather in tall grass, around gardens, under shrubs, and in wooded areas. They can be passed on from one animal to another or travel on your clothes. Fleas can be a problem in areas with a temperate climate year-round, making it essential to be on the lookout for this problem for your pet.
What are the signs that my pet may have fleas?
Itchiness is one of the most common symptoms of fleas. You may notice your pet scratching or biting his fur more frequently than normal. You may even notice fleas scurrying through your pet’s fur as you brush or comb his hair. If your pet is allergic to flea bites, he may develop sores or red patches on his skin. As your pet scratches these sores, they can become infected.
What health problems can fleas cause?
In addition to skin infections, fleas can transmit cat scratch disease, tapeworms and other dangers to your pet. Flea infestations should be treated immediately to protect your pet’s health.
How can I treat a flea infestation on my pet?
If you suspect your pet may be suffering from fleas, contact our veterinarian in Overland Park to schedule a checkup. We’ll inspect your pet and verify that he does indeed have a problem with fleas. There are numerous over-the-counter products to treat fleas, some of which are more effective than others. Our veterinarian can help you choose the best product for your pet by taking into consideration his overall health, breed, and lifestyle. We can also prescribe parasite control and treatment products that best suit your pet’s needs.
What types of products are used to treat fleas and ticks?
Flea treatments range from oral medications to topical products and collars that are applied directly onto your pet’s skin. After determining your pet’s condition, we can recommend products that will be effective in treating your feline or canine companion. We’ll also put your pet on a flea prevention program to provide him with the year-round protection he needs.
When does ``flea and tick season`` normally occur?
Fleas and ticks like to become active and breed whenever temperatures are relatively warm. But it’s worth noting that indoor pets may cultivate fleas and ticks all year round in your climate-controlled home.
What diseases can fleas transfer to my pet?
Fleas can transfer cat scratch disease, bubonic plague and a blood disease called haemobartonellosis. Tapeworms can also be transferred through a flea bite, causing a parasitic infestation.
What diseases can ticks transfer to my pet?
Ticks are infamous for transferring such disease as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis and many other diseases.
Are flea and tick bites causing my pet's skin lesions?
Flea and tick bites can cause allergic dermatitis, an itchy inflammation of the skin, in sensitive animals. If your pet licks, bites or chews the itchy spot too insistently, he may create an open wound, adding the risk of bacterial infection.
Can animals really die from a flea infestation?
In some cases, an extreme flea infestation can overpower a baby animal, a senior pet or a pet already weak from illness. The blood loss can produce severe anemia or even death.
How should I deal with a flea or tick infestation?
Contact your Overland Park veterinarian for advice on what kind of flea treatment product to use on your pet, making sure that your pet shampoo can be safely used with it. Ticks can be removed with tweezers, taking care to remove the entire creature (including the head). If your pet is also suffering from skin lesions or other distress, bring him to our vet clinic for evaluation and treatment.
How can your vet clinic help prevent flea and tick problems for my pet?
Our vet clinic offers a variety of different preventative medications that can protect against fleas and ticks — and sometimes other invaders as well, such as mites and heartworm. These medications, which may take the form of chewable tablets, collars or topical ointments, need to be administered on a regular basis to provide contact protection.
Is one type of pest preventative better than another?
Different types of pest preventatives have their own advantages and disadvantages. If your pet has an allergic reaction to a flea collar, for instance, we may recommend oral drugs instead. If your busy lifestyle makes it harder for your to administer frequent dosages, we can point you toward the longer-lasting preventatives.
What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is a common disease among pets that is transmitted through ticks. It is caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi, which is a type of bacteria. There are a number of symptoms associated with this condition, including:
- Lack of appetite
- Depression
- Swollen joints
- Difficulty breathing
- Sensitivity to touch
- Stiff walk with an arched back
If your pet is experiencing any of these symptoms, getting them to the veterinarian as soon as possible is key. The longer your pet goes undiagnosed for Lyme disease, the greater the severity of the condition, and the longer the treatment.
Lyme disease treatment
If your animal has been found to have Lyme disease, we have a series of treatment options that can assist in curing the disease. Some treatment recommendations include the use of Doxycycline, which is a form of tetracycline. Amoxicillin is also used in special cases. Treatment length depends on the severity of the condition, and the condition of the animal. In some cases, a prescribed antibiotic treatment may not entirely eliminate the infection, so follow-up care is always recommended.
Making sure your animal is in their best state of health is one of the most effective prevention methods for Lyme disease. We have a number of recommendations to help prevent the onset of Lyme disease. Some of these methods include inspecting their skin on a daily basis or using topical products such as sprays and collars.
No one wants their pets in pain. Having an Overland, KS veterinarian close by to ensure your pets get the healthcare they need provides peace of mind. The team at Nall Hills Animal Hospital wants to make sure you have everything you and your pets need. From the time you enter our facility, to the time everything has been settled, customer satisfaction is our main priority. For excellent service, call our veterinarians in Overland Park, KS at 913-341-8836 to set up an appointment.
Lyme disease diagnosis
In order to successfully treat Lyme disease, it must be properly diagnosed. We go through your animal’s medical history to start the evaluation. Then, our veterinarians may recommend a combination of tests, X-rays, and other evaluation methods such as urinalysis fecal exams and a blood cell count to get to the bottom of the issue.
