What Makes Them Tick – How To Protect Indoor Pets From Ticks
Regardless of the season, the tick problem can be a major hassle for pet owners. Pets become miserable with the constant scratching and itching, and then there are issues related to the various diseases that are carried by these pests, including Lyme disease. As the weather cools down, pet owners will have the opportunity to regroup and reset in preparation of the warmer weather much later in the year.
In the meantime, pet owners can get the jump on how to protect their family pets from ticks. Both residential and commercial pest control companies provide consumers a wealth of information related to ridding their pets and homes of pests indigenous to Australia. Pet owners will be pleasantly surprised to find that many of these remedies can be done right at home.
Continue reading to learn how you can keep your indoor pets protected from ticks.
Daily Check-Ups
The first way you can help your pet is by being aware of the problem. Checking your pets for fleas daily can be a way to assess the problems. When diagnosing your pet for a tick problem, there are certain areas where ticks gravitate. Most ticks can be found behind the ears, around the eyelids, under the collar (if they wear one), under the front legs, between the back legs, around the tail, and between the toes. If you do find ticks in any of these areas, it is very important to remove them because your pets can become susceptible not only to tick bites but also to a number of diseases.
Reduce Habitat
Check your pet’s house or hangout areas for ticks. Ticks come into the home through a variety of methods, and while removing ticks from your pet daily can help, keeping the area and home very clean can reduce the incidence of ticks. Also, consider spraying around the pet’s space and the home to prevent pests from taking root in the home. Wash all bed linen, and if your home is carpeted, make sure to vacuum regularly.
Use Treatments
There are a number of treatments, topical and oral, that pet owners can purchase. Tick repellents can be applied on the coat and absorbed in the skin. Flea and tick collars also act as repellents as well, and with dogs, the best ones come in direct contact with the skin. There are also shampoos and dips that can effectively reduce ticks, and while shampoos are good, dips last a little bit longer. With cats, you want to consult with your vet before applying anything to their coat. Finally, if the problem gets out-of-control, take your pet to the vet to get a prescription for oral treatments.
Avoid Tick Hot Spots
While it would be easy to prevent your pet from being plagued by ticks by keeping them indoors, the reality is that pets like to get out in the sunshine and play, especially cats who are known for wandering the neighbourhood on their own. When taking Fido out for a stroll, pay attention to heavily wooded areas or areas with a lot of brush because these are areas where ticks breed. A simple remedy is to keep dogs on a leash.
Be Aware Of Carriers
Rodents and other pets are possible carriers of ticks, and if trying to squash a tick problem, pet owners have to monitor both. Rats and mice are indigenous to Australia, so pet owners can again reduce the tick traffic simply by ridding themselves of these pests. If you own other pets, keeping them tick-free can reduce the problem as well.
Ticked-Off Solutions
Next summer you won’t have to find yourself and your pet plagued with tick problems. By identifying and avoiding tick hot spots and carriers, your pets will not become vulnerable to a pest that can potentially cause problems. Daily check-ups, treatments, and cleanliness can be a factor in completely eliminating ticks from your pet’s life once and for all.