The Best Ways to Keep Pets Safe from Fleas and Ticks

One of the benefits of living on an island at the Jersey Shore has been a lack of ticks—we simply do not have any deer on our spit of land. However, once I cross the bridge and take my dogs to the dog beach in the next town over, we're sure to come home with tons of unwelcome pests.

For that reason, I've continued to apply their monthly application of K9 Advantix II. For the times that they are off island, I don't want to risk their health with a tick bite.

According to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, illnesses from fleas, ticks and mosquitoes have tripled in the United States over the past 13 years. And warm weather is when we pet parents need to be the most vigilant about keeping our pets safe from these pests.

"As we head into the summer months, and with insect-borne illnesses on the rise, it’s important to protect our pets," says Nick Saint-Erne, DVM, PetSmart's resident veterinarian and pet care expert. "Parasites like fleas, ticks and mosquitoes are problematic for dogs and cats as they spread diseases between animals, including heartworm. The best way to keep pets safe is to prevent infestation and mosquito bites from occurring in the first place."

In addition to applying flea and tick medicine monthly, I also give my pups Heartguard on a monthly basis. It's a heartworm-prevention medicine I get at the vet. Here are some tips on how you can keep your pets safe from fleas, ticks and mosquitoes.

Start with prevention

Taking preventative steps against fleas, ticks and mosquitoes with regular medication is a must if your dog spends time outdoors, or, like mine, at a place (the dog beach) where ticks are plentiful. If that time spent outdoors includes swimming, Saint-Erne suggests looking for topical anti-pest medicines that use a waterproof application.

Of course, avoiding pests is a good first step. So, for example, if you're concerned about mosquitoes, keep in mind that they are their most active at dawn or dusk. If you can, avoid walking your dog during these hours to reduce the likelihood they will be bitten.

If you decide to walk during dawn or dusk and decide to spray yourself with insect repellant, do not use it on your pet. DEET, the active ingredient in many common bug sprays, can cause seizures, vomiting and irritation in dogs and cats.

Likewise, if you are treating a cat for flea or tick prevention, ensure that the repellant is specifically formulated for felines. In other words don't use canine pest repellant on felines. Also, make sure the item is age appropriate.

"Do not use products on pets younger than the ages specified on the product instructions, nor on pets that are not specifically listed on the label," Saint-Erne says.

Look for signs of infestation

Even with these preventative tips, it is possible for your pet to pick up pests. So along with the monthly medicine applications, do a once-over of your dog or cat for clues that fleas or ticks have found their way onto your pet.

For example, "flea dirt," small, curly black droppings, can be found in the fur even when the fleas are not seen. To confirm if debris in a dog’s fur are flea droppings, Saint-Erne recommends placing it on a white paper towel and adding a drop of water to it. If it turns red, your pet may have fleas.

My vet always uses a fine-tooth comb to go over my pets' fur in her search for flea dirt. You can try this method at home as well. Tip: If your children have ever had lice and you bought a nit comb, it works great on dog fur for finding flea dirt.

Ticks attach to the skin for feeding, but can be found crawling on the fur when they first settle onto pets. Conduct a quick spot-check on pets following walks or time spent outdoors. Part your pet's fur with your hands to check the skin or use a comb to brush through the fur.

Make your home inhospitable to pests

While medicine on your pet—and on yourself—can help prevent bites, there are also things you can do around your home so pests don't take up residence.

A great first step to prevent mosquitoes is to remove stagnant water. Mosquitoes need water to live and prefer to lay their eggs in stagnant water. Look under bushes and behind structures, like tool sheds and air conditioners, or in old tires or flower pots. Even overturned garbage can tops can collect water and create a new home for mosquitoes.

You may also want to use an on-premise insecticide, listed as safe for use around pets, for the house and the yard to prevent another infestation. You can probably find a local company that can apply this around your yard if you don't want to do it.

How to treat the pests so they go away

If you find fleas or ticks on your pet, there are several ways to get rid of an infestation:

• Bathe your dog using a specially formulated flea and tick shampoo that is designed to kill parasites. The shampoo begins to work after your dog is out of the bath.
• Take your pet to the groomer and let them administer the treatment for you.
• Clean the house. Thoroughly vacuum your home and launder your dog’s bedding, blankets and soft toys in hot water. Again, if your children ever had lice, you know the drill.
• Use a powder or fogger. A carpet powder or fogger can also effectively treat the home. Of course, get everyone out before you release the fogger.

Sure, it can be a hassle to have to apply medicine monthly or be vigilant about spilling out water you find in empty flowerpots. But the hassle of preventing pests from infecting your pets will be worth it in the long run. Trust me—my first dog picked up Lyme disease from a tick, and he was never the same again.