How to Travel with Your Pet during Tick and Flea Season

There are currently 11 different species of ticks in Alberta alone. This means that your pets, especially dogs, are at a high risk of contracting tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and more. Do you know how to protect your pet from ticks and fleas in South Calgary? In this article, we discuss how to prepare for tick and flea season while you travel. Read on to help your dog stay healthy and free from parasites.

Prepare for Tick and Flea Season

To protect your pet from ticks and fleas in South Calgary, you have to take the time to prepare before your travels. This is especially important for traveling during tick and flea season, which typically occurs in the warmer months.

Using Preventives for Fleas and Ticks

It's much easier to prevent fleas and ticks than it is to get rid of them. There is a wide variety of products available depending on you and your dog's preferences. These include oral medications, topical treatments, and collars. Oral medications and topical treatments work the best and quickest. Tick and flea collars aren't the best stand-alone choice but can offer a small boost in deterrence when combined with other methods to prevent ticks and fleas.

Consider the Environment

Another way to prevent your pet from ticks and fleas in South Calgary is to consider the environments you take them to. Fleas tend to hide in heavily wooded areas, damp areas, and tall grass. Avoid these if possible.

Indoor Dangers

Keep in mind that your dog isn't only at risk of attracting ticks and fleas during the peak tick and flea season. While colder temperatures tend to ward off these parasites, they can find ways to survive the winter months.

Thorough Tick and Flea Inspections

Regardless of whether you're trying to prevent ticks and fleas, it's a good idea to visually inspect your dog from time to time. This is especially important if your dog spent time in a high-risk environment. After every outing, check your dog from nose to tail. Using a brush to part the fur is important as well, especially for dogs with longer fur.

Know Where to Look

Another part of protecting your pet from ticks and fleas in South Calgary is knowing where to look for them. Ticks can hide anywhere on your dog, but there are a few areas you should pay extra attention to. Some of these areas include beneath their collar, tail, legs, elbows, and between their toes. However, check everywhere including the inner ears, around the eyes, and even in their mouths.

Learn the Signs

The most attentive pet parent can miss a tick and flea problem because they start so small and there are so few of them. Their rapid growth can lead to certain symptoms of illness including those listed below:

• Excessive itchiness
• Flea dirt (flea droppings)
• Hair loss
• Lethargy
• Loss of appetite

Parasites like fleas and ticks can lead to serious health problems. Getting them removed and your home treated should be a priority.

Protecting Your Pet from Ticks and Fleas in SW Calgary

Protecting your pet from ticks and fleas in South Calgary can be challenging since there are so many places they can hide. Working on tick and flea prevention such as investing in preventives is the best option. Book an appointment if you think your dog may have fleas or ticks or discuss prevention.