Happy New Year! New Year’s is the perfect time to make sure your pets stay pest-free! (We know, it’s also a great time to make sure they get lots of toys and playtime, but that’s another topic.) There are several things you can do to ensure your animal friend doesn’t fall victim to creepy crawlies like fleas, ticks, and parasitic worms! Read on to learn more.
Use Preventative Medications
Keep up with Fido and Fluffy’s parasite control products! These simple measures should protect your animal companion from all of the common pests that are waiting outdoors, like fleas and ticks. If your pet isn’t already set up with these preventatives, get in touch with your vet right away. Your vet can also offer recommendations on specific products, such as collars, sprays, and topical drops.
Groom Your Pet Regularly
Taking the time to groom your four-legged friend on a regular basis is a great way to check the coat and skin for fleas and ticks. Even if your cute pet has a short coat of fur and doesn’t require any specific grooming measures, you can still run a flea comb through the coat to check for tiny brown or black specks, which would be flea waste. If you do find anything, call your vet’s office to find out how to proceed.
Seal the Gaps
Use a sealant foam to block off any small holes or cracks in your home’s siding or foundation. Pests can easily get in through these openings and latch on to unsuspecting pets–or people–inside.
Tend to the Landscaping
Many pests are attracted to dense brush and tall, unkempt grasses because these areas give them places to lurk. Check around your house! Trim back thick shrubbery and lengthy grass so you don’t inadvertently give pests a home. This is especially important if this vegetation is touching your home itself, or is near a window. You might be giving outdoor pests an open invitation into your living room!
Keep Things Clean
Just keeping things clean, both indoors and outside, will also help. Vacuum, dust, and disinfect inside your home regularly and wash your pet’s bedding regularly. Outdoors, get rid of any garbage or leftover food that could attract pests. Remove any sources of standing water—empty flower pots, birdfeeders, old tires—that mosquitoes could use to breed. It’s also important to pick up fallen produce.
Does your pet need pest-control medications? Want to learn more about keeping your four-legged friend safe and sound? Call your local vet’s office to speak with the professionals.
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