By: Dr. Colleen McCafferty, Chief of Staff
Awards season is in full swing with the Academy Awards right around the corner. A night to kick back on your couch, make some popcorn and see who takes the top spots. But did you know that there is an even bigger season happening in your home? It’s the start of flea and tick season and these pesky parasites are competing for a top spot on your pet. So, as you watch the stars strut across the red carpet here is what to watch out for as fleas strut across your carpet and your pets.
Best Parasite in a Leading Role
Fleas and ticks get excited and energized with the warmer temperatures upon us. As we start to spend more time outside, fleas and ticks start to jump on dogs and outdoor cats. They like to hide in wooded areas, tall grass and trees. Usual tick hangouts include areas close to the head, neck, ears and feet. However, sometimes, you can find a few stragglers on the rest of the body so make sure to be thorough! Fleas can also lay eggs in your pet’s fur, which can fall out in the house or fall onto a new host such as an indoor pet or human!
Osc-grrrrr Winning Speech
If we ever won an Oscar, we would probably use our speech time to educate the audience on symptoms to watch out for during flea and tick season. Since our acting skills are lacking, we’ll list them here:
- Excessive biting, licking or scratching the skin
- Hair loss
- Loss of appetite
- Tiredness
- Stiffness
Best Prevention Team in A Supporting Role
The best treatment for fleas and ticks is prevention. This includes your thorough inspections at home and grooming your pet regularly. Lyme disease has been linked to complications that affect the heart, kidneys, and nervous system so it is also important to stay current with your monthly preventative medication and to see your veterinarian for regular checkups.
Enjoy the Oscars and let’s win flea and tick season together. If you have any questions, please contact us or click here to schedule an appointment online.
