Top 10 Flea and Tick Prevention Tips for Your Pets

As a pet owner, keeping your furry friend free from fleas and ticks is essential for their health and comfort. Fleas and ticks can cause a range of health issues, from minor skin irritations to serious diseases. To help you protect your pets, we've compiled the top 10 flea and tick prevention tips.

1. Choosing the Right Prevention Products

Selecting the appropriate flea and tick prevention products is crucial.  The over-the-counter products you can get from pet stores unfortunately are very old formulas that often have a lot of resistance issues.  These products were grandfathered in after the laws for approval changed.  When they were invented flea/tick products were approved through the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) as lawn treatments that were shown safe to use on your animals.  The newer products that have effective kill times are now approved through the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) as prescription drugs given to the animal to prevent flea and tick borne diseases.  With the increased regulations to get approval, the new flea and tick products are not only safer for your animal but also more effective.  As prescriptions, these products must be purchased through a veterinarian which further protects your pet to make sure the correct product is chosen for your individual animal.

2. Regular Grooming 

Regular grooming is important to make sure your pet’s skin and coat are healthy and not suffering from any ailments/infestations.  No flea/tick product is infallible and it is important to make sure that your chosen method of prevention is working effectively at all times.  The prescription flea/tick products do come with a guarantee for efficacy that your veterinarian can help you with but only if you know there is a problem. 

3. Cleaning and Vacuuming Pet Living Areas

Fleas and ticks can thrive in your home environment.  All flea/tick products do require your pet to bite the animal in order to die so the occasional flea/tick can enter your house and simply wander off to find a different host.  Regularly clean and vacuum areas where your pet spends most of their time, such as bedding, carpets, and furniture. Wash your pet’s bedding in hot water weekly and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to effectively remove any pests that may have been brought in with your pet and not killed.

4. Inspecting Pets After Outdoor Activities

After outdoor activities, check your pets for fleas and ticks. Pay close attention to common hiding spots like around the ears, under the collar, between the toes, and around the tail. If you are using an effective preventative, any live fleas/ticks you find will not have bitten the animal yet and as such will not be attached and easy to remove.  It is a good idea to remove any ticks that caught a ride into your house to prevent them from biting you.

5. Using Flea and Tick Collars

Flea and tick collars can be effective, but are often not used correctly.  A flea/tick collar must be placed tight enough to penetrate the fur and touch the skin at all times.  This means the collar must be tight enough for you to only get 1, maybe 2 fingers under the collar at any time.  Again, use caution as the active ingredients in all collars are very old as they were still approved way back when products were approved by the EPA. Many of them do not work at all and when they do work, they never last as long as the label claims.

6. Spot-On Treatments and Oral Medications

Spot-on treatments are primarily over-the-counter have not been effective for many years.  Spot-on treatments are again left over from when products were approved through the EPA as pet safe lawn treatments.  They may still have some efficacy when first applied but after two weeks (the length of time of the products half-life) I have not found a single one in the last 8 years that has worked.  If you prefer to use OTC spot-on treatments I recommend trying placing them every 14 days to keep them at their peak efficacy.  The oral medications and prescription topicals are all newer, prescription products that have a much more consistent efficacy. All products in the Isoxazoline class are still effective, but each prescription medication has a different active ingredient.  Some are better suited for certain pets.  For more questions on which is the best for your pet we recommend talking with your veterinarian.

7. Maintaining a Flea-Free Home Environment

The best way to maintain a flea-free home environment is to place all of the animals in your home on a newer, effective flea preventative.  Environmental treatments are not effective.  They can kill on direct contact but do not have any lasting effects and after you are done spraying the minute something walks through your yard, parasites are back.  We do not recommend environmental sprays.

8. Seasonal Considerations

Fleas and ticks are more active during certain seasons.  We see the most flea infestations in the spring and fall.  In the spring they all start actively breeding after pausing during the colder months and in the fall they are looking to find warmer, safer spaces to spend the winter months.  One thing to remember as well is that our winters are not as cold or consistent as they used to be.  Any time the temperature outside gets over 35 degrees fahrenheit fleas and ticks come out of their hiding and will  start feeding/breeding again.  We therefore recommend year- round effective flea/tick prevention now as Ohio winters are not consistent enough to stop prevention at any time.

9. Consulting Your Veterinarian

Your veterinarian is your best resource for flea and tick prevention. Schedule regular check-ups and discuss the most effective prevention methods for your pet.  Our understanding and innovation with new products is constantly changing to keep up with parasites' ability to adapt and become resistant to preventatives.  Your vet can also help you identify signs of infestation early and recommend treatments for your individual animals/lifestyle.

10. Additional Tips and Resources

Stay informed about flea and tick prevention by reading up on the latest products and methods.. Implement a comprehensive prevention plan to ensure your pet remains flea and tick-free year-round.

Conclusion

Protecting your pet from fleas and ticks is essential for their well-being. Start implementing these tips today and share your experiences in the comments below. For personalized advice and top-notch care, schedule an appointment with Carrollton Animal Hospital. Our team is here to help you keep your pets healthy and happy.