As the weather warms up, flea and tick populations in backyards, parks, and public spaces increase. As a consequence, dog and cat owners should make flea and tick prevention part of their regular pet care routine. Many products available to protect your pet from these parasites do more than relieve an itch. Here’s what you need to know about protecting your pet from ticks and fleas.

Why Pets Need Flea & Tick Protection

1. Comfort

When a bug bites your pet, they'll get itchy, but the problem doesn't stop there. When they scratch the itch, they may cause welts and abrasions. Broken skin can get infected and swollen and also irritate existing skin conditions and allergies. Your pet may become painfully uncomfortable and lose fur. Stopping these pet care problems before they start keeps pets content, energetic, and attractive.

2. Fewer Diseases & Parasites

In addition to living on your pet, bloodsucking fleas may carry tapeworms and transmit them when your pet licks or bites fleas. Tapeworms, which grow in the intestines, rob your pet of nutrients and cause their health to deteriorate.

Ticks may also transmit a wide range of diseases, including debilitating Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and tick paralysis. The fewer bites your pet receives, the lower the risk they'll get sick.

3. Cleaner Home

When your dog or cat roams outside without flea and tick protection, they pick up parasites. When they return to your house, fleas and ticks will fall and jump off your pet on their own or during grooming sessions. They can land on carpet and upholstery, biting animals and people alike. It's challenging to rid an infested home of ticks and fleas and usually requires intervention from a pest control service. Prevention, however,  saves time, money, and headaches.

If you need pet care advice or supplies, including flea and tick treatments, talk to the veterinary medical staff at Animal Hospital of New Albany. From wellness exams to advanced laser therapy and emergency care, they provide a full range of services to Ohio families in Franklin and Licking counties to keep their furry friends healthy. See what they have to offer on their website, or call (614) 855-9643 to make an appointment.