Dog ticks, these creepy blood suckers get under everyone’s skin, sucking up anyone they can while causing irritation and illness in their victim. Ticks spend most of their lives with their mouths buried inside a mammal’s flesh, feeding on their blood. Although ticks are very small, they expand to about 50 times their normal size after they have finished feeding. Dog ticks are also responsible for spreading Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease.

Fortunately, there are several ways to keep ticks from feeding on your pet. Below are seven helpful suggestions to keep ticks at bay:

1. Before they get into their victims, ticks like to stay several feet off the ground on top of vegetation along roadsides and paths. They patiently remain there waiting for your dog to come along. In order to give the ticks fewer chances to hop and attach themselves to your dog, always keep your grass and weeds trimmed to below ankle height.

2. Generally, mature ticks look for large victims, such as your dog. On the other hand, younger ticks usually feed on mice and other rodents until they are old enough to go after bigger prey. To help eliminate both old ticks as well as young ticks, make sure your yard is uninviting to rodents. Secure your trash cans with strong lids and take out any rock piles and brushy cover.

3. When hiking with your pet, stay on the trails and make sure that your pet remains with you. Avoid wooded areas and long grasses where ticks are waiting.

4. Before going to an area where ticks are standing by, protect your pet’s coat by spraying it with insecticides that can kill ticks on contact. Consult with your vet before you administer the insecticide.

5. If you happen to see ticks, lightly spray your dog with a tick insecticide and then comb his coat using a fine-toothed comb. There are some pet stores that sell combs which are used specifically for ticks. They are also great for catching fleas.

6. Sometimes you can actually see the tick while it’s feeding on your dog. In this case, quickly remove the tick. The longer for the tick to feed on your dog, the more likely it will transmit Lyme disease and other types of illness.

7. When removing the tick, never use a match or anything that can burn your dog. Making the tick back out using fire does not work and could only cause harm on you and your pet. The most effective way of removing a tick is by using a pair of tweezers and aiming for the tick’s head, while gently pulling it out. This way, the tick comes out in one piece and leaves no mess on your pet. For additional protection after removing the tick, rub the infected area with an antibiotic ointment or topical antiseptic.

What is dog lice? Are they the same type of lice that affect humans? What is the most effective way of getting rid of dog lice?

Sometimes even a clean, well-groomed dog can play a host to different types of unwanted guests. One of these unwanted visitors is called dog lice. Dog lice infestation is not common among dogs in this country, especially those that live in a clean environment and get proper care and attention.

However, you should still be aware of their symptoms and know how to deal with the problem should it occur. Dog lice causes severe irritation and illness to your dog. In addition, dog lice carries disease and complications such as anemia.

Dog lice are flat, gray, wingless parasites that are about a twelfth of an inch long. Dog lice are very slow movers. In fact, they hardly move at all. Dog lice only affect the dogs in your home and are not capable of surviving off of cats and humans.

There are two types of dog lice that exist: The first type of dog lice concentrates on biting the skin and feeding on skin flakes; the other type of dog lice feed on your dog’s blood. Blood sucking lice causes severe irritation because they penetrate the skin of your dog in order to feed.

Signs that your dog is infected with dog lice are heavy, intense scratching, and irritation that often results in bald patches. Dog lice are usually found on the area around the ears, neck, shoulders, and anus. Although dog lice are relatively large, you are more likely to spot their eggs in your dog’s hair. Lice eggs (nits) are easier to see because they are attached to the dog’s hair and look like white tiny flakes of dust.

Treating dog lice is relatively simple and easy due to the fact that they have not built up a resistance to insecticides. Your vet will more likely recommend an insecticide spray or bath to kill them. He may require you to cut off matted hair and wash your dog about once every week with the insecticide.

This procedure is then repeated until the itching is gone and there are no more visible lice eggs. If you have a puppy that is infected with lice, consult your vet first before starting on any kind of pesticide treatment or other type of medication.

To prevent further lice infestation and make sure that all the lice eggs have been completely eliminated, it is a wise idea to throw away all bedding that your dog has lain on during lice infestation and to disinfect the area where he sleeps.

Before you begin with dog flea treatment on your dog, you have to first treat your house. Begin by thoroughly scouring the areas where your dog sleeps and where he usually goes to relax.

Wash all the bedding and then place it in a hot dryer. The next step in dog flea treatment is to vacuum every surface possible. This includes all furniture, rugs, carpets, and drapes. Another important part of the dog flea treatment is to wax the floor. This step of the dog flea treatment increases the chance of killing stray fleas as well as their eggs.

You may also hire an exterminator to take are of the dog flea treatment that you will need. They offer a welcome relief if your own efforts of treatment are ineffective or if you just do not have the time to do it. Dog flea treatment usually takes two sessions to completely eradicate the fleas.

The first dog flea treatment is usually done in the spring while the second dog flea treatment will usually be done in the mid summer. Also, it is ideal to have a dog flea treatment done about once a month if you live in a warm and humid climate.

After you have finished with the dog flea treatment around your house, the next step is to treat your dog. The most successful way to treat your dog is to use an insecticide dip.

Administer the dog flea treatment about twice per month until you are sure that your dog is free of these blood sucking parasites. For further treatment, use a spray if you have a short haired dog and apply powder to long haired dogs in between dips.

Another method of dog flea treatment is to use a dog flea collar. However, using a dog flea collar is not always effective and only provides local protection. Also, using a flea collar as your dog flea treatment may actually cause significant discomfort to your dog’s eyes and skin.

Dogs who wear flea collars must have their necks checked regularly for inflammation. Checking the neck is important to make sure that your dog is not allergic or sensitive to the chemicals in the dog flea treatment collar.

Also, when using a flea collar for your dog flea treatment, make sure that the collar is not too tight; this can obstruct your dog’s intake of air. Always check your dog to make sure that he is not chewing the dog flea treatment collar and that the collar does not get wet.