In previous blog posts, we’ve covered how to identify the most common ticks, the diseases transmitted by ticks, and what to do if your pet has been bit by a tick. Now, it’s time to move on to preventative measures for your pet.
Remember that ticks are more common in dogs due to their limited personal grooming techniques, although both cats and dogs are susceptible to these pests. In this article, we’re going to cover how to prevent your dog from getting a tick-borne disease.
Preventing Your Dog From Getting a Tick-Borne Disease
While ticks are common in most regions, pet owners can do plenty of things to help prevent their dogs from getting a tick-borne disease. Follow these simple steps for guidance.
Step 1: Understanding Ticks in Your Area
Identifying the most common ticks in your area is the first step in prevention. Understanding the prominence of ticks in your area will help inform you on what prevention practices to follow for the best results.
Step 2: Creating Dog-Friendly Outdoor Spaces
You should also take steps to create a dog-friendly outdoor space for your furry friend that will help deter ticks in the first place. Some of the best methods include:
Treating your yard routinely with anti-pest sprays
Utilizing cedar mulch
Trimming shrubs and tree limbs
Keeping lawns short
Step 3: Conducting Full-Body Checks
Once your dog has come in from the outdoors, it’s crucial to conduct full-body tick checks. Make sure to check all of the hard-to-reach places, like between the toes and under the limbs.
Step 4: Administering Tick Prevention
Check with your veterinarian for the best tick prevention options in your area. There are a wide variety of both over-the-counter and prescription preventatives, but your veterinarian will be able to provide you with the most comprehensive approach.
Some of the medications you can find may include:
NexGard
Simparica
Bravecto
Frontline Plus
Step 5: Keeping Your Dog Regularly Vaccinated
Lastly, one of the best ways to help prevent tick-borne illness in your dog is by keeping their vaccines up to date with your veterinarian. Vaccines are available that can reduce the severity of conditions and even prevent the transmission of bacteria common in Lyme disease.
Learn More About Pet Safety with Aloha Veterinary Acupuncture
While here at Aloha Veterinary Acupuncture, we specialize in acupuncture, our main priority is treating your pets with the aloha they deserve. That’s why we’re committed to helping you keep your pets safe through any means possible.
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Of course, if you’re interested in what we do, you can learn more about the benefits of veterinary acupuncture, and feel free to contact us with any additional questions you might have. You can also schedule a video consultation with Dr. Kho, who can discuss your pet and address any questions or concerns you may have about veterinary acupuncture.