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Letting your dog play outside allows them to get fresh air, exercise, and sun. Unfortunately, all this time outdoors also exposes your pup to dangerous parasites, such as fleas and ticks. Fleas make their home on your pet’s fur, laying eggs and feeding on their blood. Ticks also make their home on animals and can spread Lyme disease, a potentially fatal illness. To keep your dog healthy and parasite free, you need to give them tick and flea control medications.

Below, the veterinarians from Pet Health Clinic, an animal hospital in Daleville, VA, explain when you should give your pet flea and tick medications.

3 Times You Should Give Your Dog Tick & Flea Control Medications

1. As the Weather Warms Up

Fleas thrive in the spring and summer when the weather is between 65 and 85 degrees. Because fleas can lay as many as 50 eggs within 24 hours of their first meal, it is important to focus on prevention. Begin giving your dog their flea control medication in the early spring, before the weather gets too hot, to help keep these parasites away. As an additional preventative measure, give your pet a flea bath every few weeks during the spring and summer, particularly if your pup spends a lot of time outdoors.

2. When the Humidity Is High

In addition to hot weather, fleas also do well in high humidity. If the humidity in your region ranges between 70% and 85% during the warm weather seasons, you should routinely give your dog flea prevention medications. This will help create an environment on your pet’s body that is inhospitable to fleas and other parasites.

3. Anytime You Spot a Flea or Tick on Your Pet

flea controlTicks can feed on pets year round, and fleas are capable of surviving in cold weather so long as they stay indoors. Make a habit of checking your pup’s fur for these critters a few times a week, all year long. If you do find a tick or fleas, give your dog a bath to remove the parasites and begin a course of medication. If you notice your pet behaving strangely after spotting a tick on their fur, contact your veterinarian right away to screen for Lyme disease.

For more information on flea control and protecting your dog against parasites, call (540) 992-4550 to schedule an appointment at Pet Health Clinic. To learn more about their other services, visit them online.

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