{"id":3001,"date":"2019-05-09T10:00:59","date_gmt":"2019-05-09T15:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com\/?p=3001"},"modified":"2022-09-29T23:50:47","modified_gmt":"2022-09-30T04:50:47","slug":"flea-tick-tips-for-pet-owners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com\/grooming-care\/flea-tick-tips-for-pet-owners\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Flea & Tick Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
If you\u2019re happy to get outside after a long winter, you can bet fleas and ticks are, too. As we head into peak flea and tick season, here are some tips to keep in mind for your pets:<\/p>\n
DO take the health risks of fleas and ticks seriously<\/strong>. In addition to transmitting tapeworms and bacteria, fleas can cause intense itching. Even worse, some pets are allergic to flea saliva, so the bite of a single flea can lead to severe itching, inflammation and hair loss. Ticks aren\u2019t innocent either; they can transmit the organisms that cause dangerous diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.<\/p>\n DON\u2019T assume fleas and ticks only impact your pets<\/strong>. Although you can\u2019t catch a tick-borne disease directly from your dog, pets can carry ticks into your house. Those ticks, in turn, can bite members of your family, potentially causing disease. Flea feces can carry the bacteria Bartonella henselae<\/em>, and if transmitted to a wound through a cat bite or scratch, these bacteria can cause cat scratch fever<\/a> in people.<\/p>\n DO recognize that indoor pets can be at risk, too.<\/strong> \u00a0<\/strong>Mice can carry fleas into your house, and feral cats, raccoons and opossums can drop flea eggs in your yard. Ticks can hitchhike on urban wildlife such as deer and coyotes and drop off along the paths you may walk with your dog. Even when your pet spends most of its time indoors, it\u2019s pretty easy for fleas and ticks to hitch a ride.<\/p>\n DON\u2019T use your dog\u2019s topical flea and tick medication on your cat.<\/strong> Many spot-on canine flea and tick medications contain permethrins or pyrethroids, which are synthetic compounds derived from pyrethrins, extracts from Chrysanthemum<\/em> plants. This class of drugs can be extremely toxic for cats, leading to drooling, seizures and, in some cases, death.<\/p>\n