 An
ounce of prevention is worth a pound
of cure - especially when it comes to
flea and tick control. Once these pesky
critters have set up housekeeping on
a pet or in a home, your unwelcome guests
can be a challenge to eliminate. Keep
in mind that for every pest that is found,
many more are lying in wait to hatch
and latch on to an unsuspecting pet -
or human!
Several
simple steps can be taken to minimize
the likelihood that you'll have these
unwanted guests on your pet and in
your home:
- Wash
pet's bedding regularly with a detergent,
then dry on high heat.
- Clean,
mop and vacuum your home to get rid
of immature fleas and their food
sources.
- Vacuum
frequently and change the bag right
away, discarding the old bag in a
closed plastic bag.
- Check
pets regularly for fleas and "flea
dirt," the feces of adult fleas,
with a flea comb. Flea dirt looks
like tiny dark specks and will turn
red if you get them wet and rub them
a little. If detected, treat the
animal and the environment (bedding,
carpet, furniture, etc.) with appropriate
flea and tick products to kill fleas
and prevent eggs and larvae from
developing. Always read labels carefully.
- Check
pets (and yourself) for ticks, especially
after spending time outdoors in wooded
or grassy areas. If a tick is found,
remove the entire tick with fine-point
tweezers, then wash hands thoroughly.
- Mow
lawns frequently and remove brush,
tall grasses, leaves and debris to
make your yard less inviting for
ticks. Ticks lie in wait for hosts
in such areas with front legs extended,
then latch undetected on to passing
animals or people.
- To
reduce the risk of heartworm, reduce
your pet's exposure to mosquitoes
by removing standing water from buckets,
old tires and other areas in the
yard where mosquitoes may breed.
- Use
flea, tick and mosquito repellents
on pets, in the home, and in other
areas as needed to keep pests at
bay. Read labels carefully and use
only as directed. Information on
specific types of flea and tick products
and their uses is available on the
Internet at www.farnampet.com.
Even
with the most diligent efforts, pets
and homes can still find themselves
falling victim to these creepy critters.
When that does happen, it is essential
to prevent the flea eggs from developing
into biting, breeding adults. |
