Diana Myers
As soon as it gets warmer again, ticks and fleas get ready. We have tips for you on how to protect your dog from these annoying parasites and get rid of them.
Fleas are always in season
There is no longer a real season for fleas – fleas can multiply in heated apartments all year round. Dogs can get fleas almost anywhere. Regularly groom their fur by combing and brushing. In this way, you will notice in good time whether your dog has fleas or ticks. You can prevent flea infestations with collars and spot-on preparations from the vet. By the way, with some of these drugs, you kill two birds with one stone because they are not only effective against fleas but also against ticks. Home remedies such as garlic, vitamin B, or essential oils hardly help against fleas – garlic in large quantities is even more harmful to the dog than the fleas.
If the dog already has fleas
If the dog already has fleas, the animal’s environment must also be treated. Because the numerous offspring of fleas (up to 2,000 offspring per flea female) do not live on the dog, but in its environment. How to get rid of fleas:
- Vacuum thoroughly and frequently (including the car seats) and then dispose of the vacuum cleaner bags.
- Wash textiles and dry them in the dryer. Fleas and flea offspring are reliably killed at a humidity of less than 50%.
Caution: Since the chemical club in the form of sprays and nebulizers can harm not only the fleas but also the other residents of the apartment, they should only be used sparingly and purposefully if the other measures fail.
Anti Tick Tips
The ticks often only transmit Lyme disease pathogens after 12 to 24 hours. You should therefore always check your dog for ticks in the evening. Ticks on the dog, which are usually already large, should be removed immediately with tick tweezers, which are available in pharmacies, for example. Place the pliers close to the bite and carefully pull the tick out by twisting it. Electronic tick tweezers are useless. So that the tick does not emit secretions, which also contain pathogens, you should not experiment with it.
Caution: Do not smear oil, alcohol, glue, or nail polish on the tick! Never crush the tick on the dog or human.
Once you have removed the tick, kill the tick in a jar filled with alcohol and then discard it.