Having a dog can be expensive. One of the most annoying costs that you have to deal with is fleas and ticks on dogs. With all of the over-the-counter remedies, prescription meds, and natural remedies, it’s hard to know what actually works. I’ve tried flea collars, sprays, and monthly bills in an attempt to control this issue. After hearing a news report about preventing fleas on dogs naturally and without store-bought chemicals I was encouraged to look for some alternative dog treatment for ticks and fleas–and I’m so glad I did! Did you know that studies estimate that 80% of dogs will get fleas and ticks at some point? These pesky parasites are a burden to both the dog and the owner. Can you imagine having to lather a dog in chemicals every month and wrapping them in plastic? What if I told you that you could spend less time worrying about fleas and ticks and more time enjoying your dog?      The process starts by learning how to prevent fleas and ticks on dogs naturally, before moving on to more advanced remedies. In this article, we’ll look at preventative measures to stop your dog from getting fleas and ticks. Generally speaking, there are a few key things you need to keep in mind to accomplish this goal. Dog flea and tick control can be tough. Fleas and ticks are unpleasant little creatures that live off the blood of your dog. But the good news is: it is possible to keep them at bay.

How To Prevent Dog Ticks And Fleas

Introduction

Ticks and fleas are a serious problem for many pets. They not only cause your pet discomfort, but they can also lead to disease. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to prevent ticks and fleas from becoming a problem.

The best flea and tick preventives for dogs

Flea and tick preventatives can be applied topically or orally. If your dog has a sensitive abdomen, you may want to opt for a topical treatment that won’t irritate her skin. Oral medications are easy to administer; just add it to the water bowl or mix it into the dog’s food. The downside of oral treatments is that they’re only effective for one month; if you want longer protection, you’ll have to keep giving them every month.

There are lots of options available: some are prescription medications, some can be purchased over-the-counter at pet stores and vets’ offices, depending on where you live. Some work only on ticks (like Revolution), while others have broader coverage against fleas and ticks (like Nexgard).

Some products are only intended for dogs (Frontline Plus), while others also prevent fleas from biting cats as well (Advantage Multi).

Use a year-round treatment.

It’s important to use year-round treatment, since ticks and fleas can be active all year long. If you are using a product that kills ticks and fleas but only during the warm months (i.e., April to October), you will not be able to prevent your pet from getting bitten by these pests when they are active outside in the winter months.

Use a combination product.

Combination products are the best way to go. Products that combine flea and tick treatment with a heartworm preventative are the most effective and convenient way to protect your dog against these pests.

For example, FRONTLINE Plus® for Dogs is a combination product that repels and kills ticks, fleas and mosquitoes on dogs for up to three months. It’s easy for you to administer—just apply topically between the shoulder blades as directed by your veterinarian or follow package directions—so you don’t have to worry about mixing it with food or giving it in tablet form as some other treatments require. And because it kills fleas at all stages of development, you’ll see results sooner than if you were using a product designed specifically for adult fleas only (which can take up to six weeks).

Use a fast-acting treatment.

Fast-acting treatments work within 24 hours of application. They kill the fleas and ticks on your dog within 24 hours, and are effective for up to a month.

One final flea tip

Once you’ve made the decision to use a flea and tick preventative, it’s important to choose the right product for your pet. As a general rule, you should use a product that is labeled for dogs of your dog’s weight and age. If you’re unsure how much your dog weighs or how old he or she is, be sure to consult with your veterinarian. You can find flea and tick preventatives at most pet stores and veterinary offices.

Remember that prevention is the best way to deal with fleas.

Remember that prevention is the best way to deal with fleas.

Keep your pet’s skin healthy and clean. This can be done using a flea and tick shampoo, which kills adult fleas on contact. It also prevents eggs from hatching for up to one month. You may also want to treat your pet with a regular dose of a topical medication that prevents flea infestations in their blood stream, thereby preventing them from transmitting the parasite onto you or another animal.

It’s time to talk about ticks — specifically, how to get rid of them if your pet already has them on his skin.

• It’s time to talk about ticks — specifically, how to get rid of them if your pet already has them on his skin.
• Ticks are small arachnids that feed on blood and can infect dogs, cats and people with serious diseases. Ticks are parasites that attach themselves to their hosts by means of their mouth parts. The body of the tick is covered in a waterproof hard shell called an exoskeleton, which protects its organs and allows it to breathe and move about freely once attached to its host.
• In order for a tick ― or any other parasitic insect ― to survive in nature, it must remain undetected until feeding is complete so as not to be removed from its host prematurely before it’s had its fill of blood; therefore these pests have evolved some sneaky tactics when it comes to staying attached!

Don’t touch the tick with your bare hands.

• Use tweezers to remove the tick.
• Don’t squash, burn or otherwise mangle it.
• Don’t touch the tick with your bare hands. This is extremely important for several reasons:
• You may get infected if you don’t wear gloves (see below).
• The mouthparts of ticks, which can be covered in bacteria, are left behind when you remove them from your dog’s skin and can cause an infection at the site of removal.

Use tweezers to grip it as close to the skin as possible, and pull straight away from the dog’s body.

Before you begin, make sure you have a clear view of the tick on your dog’s skin. To remove a tick, use tweezers to grip it as close to the skin as possible, and pull straight away from the dog’s body. If there is any debate about where exactly this is, put on a pair of magnifying goggles or glasses and look closely at where you think it might be.

If you don’t have tweezers available (or if they’re not up to your standards), try using two fingers held together at an angle in order to create something resembling an upside down V shape that will allow for easy gripping of the tick by its head once it has been located with your eyesight. Once your hands are properly positioned and all set up for removal, set down whatever it was that was previously holding those tiny legs in place so they don’t fall off during removal! Then proceed with pulling straight out from under his fur until he lets go.* In some cases this may require multiple attempts before success; however rest assured knowing that every time he tries seems just as painful as any other time he tried before–so keep trying!*

After removing ticks from dogs’ bodies, always sanitize them before putting them back into use or disposing of them entirely using rubbing alcohol (70%) or another similar cleaning solution.*

Once you’ve pulled out the tick, wash your hands thoroughly, then sanitize both the tweezers and the skin area where you removed the tick.

Once you’ve pulled out the tick, wash your hands thoroughly, then sanitize both the tweezers and the skin area where you removed the tick. You can use any of these methods:

• Soap and water. Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to make sure that any germs are killed.
• Disinfectant wipe or gel. Use an alcohol-based disinfectant wipe or gel to cleanse your hands after removing a tick from yourself or someone else’s body, including children’s bodies (but not babies’ bottoms). It’s important to use enough of this product so that it makes direct contact with all parts of your skin; if there is any residue left over on your fingers after rubbing them together in a circular motion, repeat the process until everything feels dry again.
• Sanitizing spray/solution/soap/shampoo

Don’t squash or throw away a live tick on you or your dog; instead, put it in a tightly closed container before flushing it down the toilet or sealing it in a baggie and killing it in your freezer.

If you or your dog has been bitten by a live tick, don’t squash or throw away the tick. Instead, put it in a tightly closed container before flushing it down the toilet or sealing it in a baggie and killing it in your freezer.

Start using flea and tick preventatives now so that you don’t have to worry about these pests during the warmest months of the year.

The warmer months of the year are usually when fleas and ticks are most active. This is because their eggs develop faster during warm weather and hatch more quickly, so you can expect to see an increase in both fleas and ticks around your home.

The good news is that there are some easy ways to prevent these pests from bothering your dog this summer! If you start using a flea and tick preventative now, it will be less likely for them to make an appearance on your furry friend this summer.

Conclusion

This dog-care guide was written by William H. Wing, who has been a veterinarian for over 30 years and is an avid dog lover. He is passionate about helping animals live long lives through proper care of their owners. Dr. Wing currently lives with his wife in New York City, where he works as a consultant for small animal practices throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn.