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While monsoons bring in a respite from the hot summers, they also bring a whole bunch of problems for our furry friends. Pesky little fleas and ticks love to latch on to your pets in the humid weather. Once infested with them, your pet experiences extreme discomfort in the form of relentless itching. Your canines and felines need special care during these months so that these fleas do not transmit deadly diseases to them. Here are a few ways you can be a responsible pet parent and help your pets be flea-free this monsoon.
Try to Keep Them Dry At All Times
The number one cause of itchy skin in your pet is a damp coat. The longer your pet stays wet after being in the rain or after a bath, the higher the chance of a skin infection. It is difficult to gauge when it might rain in the monsoon season. Since you know the probability of it is high, it is only wise to always stay prepared for it. Buy your pet a sturdy and waterproof pet raincoat. Make sure to put it on your pet whenever you take them out for a walk.
Take Good Care of Their Paws
If your pet is patient enough, buy them a pair of rain boots. It will keep their feet dry and prevent them from stepping into the icky garbage on the road. Because of this, their paws and coat will stay germ-free. It also prevents them from licking their paws, thus avoiding the ingestion of germs. In case your pet is too fidgety to wear boots, check between their toes for ticks or fleas and make sure to clean their paws thoroughly.
Keep Their Fur Short
The longer the hair, the more difficult it gets to keep it dry. To easily manage and keep your pet's coat healthy and shiny, use a small pair of scissors or a trimmer to trim their fur short. You do not have to shave them completely. In fact, it is not advisable to do so either. If you do not know what would be an appropriate length, take your pet to a pet grooming service and let them take care of it for you.
Give Them a Dry Place to Sleep In
If you haven't already, provide a clean and dry place for your pet to rest and sleep. If you cannot find a place on your lawn or backyard, find them a dry place inside the house. It is essential for them to be in a dry place, and sleeping outside during monsoons can be difficult for your adorable pet. Monsoons don’t have to mean gloom for your pets. They can enjoy the most out of it if you are a proactive pet parent and take good care of your pets when they need you the most.
Protect Your Pet From Fleas to Protect Yourself
Fleas are terrible pests. In addition to causing your furry friend serious discomfort, they can also carry life-threatening diseases. But did you know that our pets aren’t the only ones affected when fleas enter the picture? Our bodies and homes are at risk, too. Here are four reasons to protect your pet from fleas so you can protect yourself, too. Use preventive measures like a flea collar for cats and a flea collar for dogs to keep fleas at bay.
Fleas Can Bite Us
While it’s true that fleas prefer animal blood, they will bite a human if the opportunity presents itself. And if your pet has fleas, the opportunity often does. Flea bites usually occur around the feet and ankles but can also show up around the waist, armpits, groin, breasts, or in the folds of the knees or elbows. The bites appear as small, red bumps and for most people, are extremely itchy. Some people are less sensitive to flea bites and may have only mild irritation or no irritation at all, but for those who experience itching, the sensation can be unbearable.
Flea Bites Can Cause Secondary Problems
Fleas can easily pass on diseases to pets, but for humans, the risk of contracting a disease from a flea is relatively low. Still, flea bites can cause other problems, such as scarring and infection if you scratch to the point of breaking the skin.
Fleas Can Take Over The House
Imagine sitting down on the couch to enjoy your favorite TV show when suddenly, eek! A flea jumps onto your arm. Or perhaps worse, you have guests over, and you notice a flea creeping along your friend’s shoulder. These are not extreme scenarios; when fleas infest your home, they really take over. Fleas lay eggs on your pet (as many as 50 in one day!), and as your pet moves around the house, those eggs disperse. Once this process is in action, it can be incredibly difficult to get rid of fleas. However, you can use flea spray to control the process to a large extent.
Use Preventative Medications
A flea preventative medication is the best way to protect your pet. There are several options, including oral medications you can give your pet and topical treatments that can be applied directly to the skin or fur. Flea preventatives are available over-the-counter or through a veterinarian. Some of the best medications for flea and tick prevention for dogs are Revolution, Frontline, Capstar, Bravecto chewables for dogs, Nexgard, and more.
Depending on your situation, treating your yard with a product designed for this purpose might make sense. If you have an indoor cat who doesn't go outside much and doesn't get into other areas of the house (such as under beds), then treating those places would probably be sufficient.
In addition to applying the medication directly to your pet, it's also essential to use a topical treatment for bedding and carpets to kill any fleas that may be living there so they don't spread back onto pets after hatching from eggs left behind by
adult fleas walking through these areas during walks/playing outdoors.
Wash Your Pet's Bedding Regularly
Washing your dog beds every two to three weeks would be best. You should also dry their bedding in the sun and clean it regularly.
If possible, you should wash your dog's or cat's bedding in hot water and use a washing machine. If you cannot use a washing machine, you must clean your pet's bedding on the highest setting available for this type of laundry.
As an alternative method, you can put all the items in a large plastic bag and place them outside, so they can be exposed directly to sunlight (which will kill fleas). You may need to repeat this process multiple times until all the fleas have been eliminated from all areas around your home where they might hide out during monsoon season - especially if any outdoor pets have access.
Keep Your Pet Inside As Much As Possible
If your pet is outside, keep them inside as much as possible. In the rain, fleas are more active and prefer to live in dry, warm places. They are also more active at night and can jump up to 8 inches! It means that you must ensure that fleas don't enter your home if your pet isn't kept inside all the time. If you notice any sign of an infestation (animals scratching themselves), contact a vet immediately so they can prescribe medication for the problem before it gets worse.
Keep Your Yard Clean
Keeping your yard clean is one of the best ways to prevent fleas in the summer. The first thing you should do is remove any debris from your yard, mainly wood chips and piles of leaves. Wood chips can provide an excellent place for fleas to lay eggs and stay protected, while leaves are prone to collecting water, creating an environment that attracts more pesky insects.
Depending on how big an area needs protecting (and whether or not there are children nearby), you can also choose between using powders or sprays depending on how big an area needs protecting. Powders tend not to be as effective at keeping away ticks. Still, they do offer better coverage than sprays do since they're more likely to stick onto animals' fur than drip off onto clothes when applied correctly - although if it does happen, then there still shouldn't be too much concern since ticks aren't known for being very harmful anyway.
Take Your Pet to The Vet
A trip to the vet is always a good idea, as they can help you determine what's best for your pet. There are many medications available to prevent fleas, but it's essential to consult with your vet about which one is right for them. Some of these medications can be expensive, and others could be potentially dangerous for your pet. If you decide that medication isn't the best option for you, other options such as collars or shampoos will kill fleas on contact.
In addition to flea prevention medication or products that kill existing fleas on contact, some veterinarians may recommend using natural repellents like cedar oil or citronella oil to keep ticks away from your home so they don't spread diseases like Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Conclusion
We hope this article has given you some good tips for keeping your pet safe from fleas. Remember that prevention is always better than a cure, and it's never too early to start protecting your pets from fleas. It's also important to remember that the season for fleas doesn't end just because monsoon does! Make sure you continue treatment after the monsoon so there are no surprises next time around.
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