If you have a pet, you know how important it is to protect your furry friend from fleas and ticks. Aside from being bad for your pets, these pests are also a nuisance for you—and they can sometimes spread disease as well. But even the most careful of pet owners can sometimes run into problems with fleas and ticks. So what can you do to help prevent these problems for your pet?

In this article, we’ll give you some simple tips you can use to help prevent fleas and ticks on your pet. Use this information to come up with some ideas, but don’t be afraid to talk to your veterinarian for more information as well. Call Blue Cross Pet Hospital in North Hollywood at (818) 980-1313.

Maintain Your Yard

Keeping a clean and tidy yard is the first step toward preventing or reducing the risk of fleas and ticks for your pet and your whole household. Ticks are more likely to be found in yards that are overgrown or have many areas of messy brush, sticks, or leaves that aren’t taken care of in a timely fashion.

Fleas are also more likely in yards that aren’t frequently maintained. If your pet goes out into the yard and picks up fleas there, the cycle may quickly become an endless one—bringing fleas inside, treating for them, taking them out into the yard, and repeating.

Clean Pet Bedding

If you spot fleas on your pet, be sure to clean their bedding right away. The sooner you do this, the less likely it will be for fleas to start reproducing in the bedding. You can also prevent fleas more easily by keeping up with regular cleaning of your pet’s bedding, too.

Although cleaning your pet’s bedding may not help much with ticks, it can sometimes make a difference. For example, if your pet tracks in a tick from outside and the tick makes its way to your pet’s bedding, you can get rid of it by washing the bedding.

Vacuum Often

If you have carpets or rugs in your home, vacuuming often can make a big difference when it comes to dealing with fleas. If you already have a flea problem, you will need to vacuum every day for a while, until the problem clears up. If you don’t already have fleas, however, vacuuming frequently can significantly reduce the risk.

If possible, keep your pet in a room with a tile or wood floor while treating for fleas. This isn’t always a possibility in every home, but if it is for you, be sure to give it a try.

Check Your Pet Often

You will need to check your pet’s skin and fur often for signs of fleas and ticks, especially during times of the year when these problems are more common. If you spend time outdoors with your pet, this is also a good time to check thoroughly for ticks or fleas before they have a chance to become worse.

Be sure to carefully check your pet for ticks, paying close attention to the area around the genitals as well as the feet and between the toes. Ticks are prone to burying up in these out-of-the-way places on your pet’s body.

Groom Your Pet

Grooming regularly can help you reduce or prevent infestations of fleas in your pet. Frequent brushing is a great way to remove any fleas from your pet’s fur before they have a chance to reproduce and cause a problem, and baths can do the same.

Additionally, when you groom your pet, you can keep a close eye on their skin and coat health. This makes it easier for you to notice ticks before they bury up under your pet’s skin as well. If you remove ticks before they bite, they cannot spread disease.

Consider Medication or Vaccinations

Flea and tick medication isn’t right for every pet, but it does work well for many. Medicated collars may also be an option, and some pets respond well to all-natural methods of treatment instead. All of these options can be discussed with your vet to find the right solution for your pet.

There is a vaccination against Lyme disease which is strongly recommended in areas where Lyme disease is prevalent. It does not stop ticks from biting, but it prevents your dog from contracting this serious illness.

Now that you’ve found out this information about flea and tick prevention, you can better prepare for the times of the year when these pests become a more serious problem. As a pet owner, you should make sure you have a plan in place to help reduce or prevent the risk of these parasites from harming your pet.

Ask your vet for more information if you’re considering any type of flea or tick medication or preventative. They can give you information and help you choose which method is right for your pet. Call us today at (818) 980-1313.