The most familiar issues concerning pet health are related to the presence of fleas and ticks on their bodies. These pests transmit diseases to the animals, and from them to humans too. While it is most ideal to prevent the onset of infestation completely by following certain preventive measures, if an infection has already begun, then there are quite a few common flea and tick prevention methods available. Ticks and fleas, like most bugs, go through a life cycle from being eggs to fully mature adults.

Every stage of their life cycle poses health issues to your pets. Hence, flea and tick prevention methods have to focus on all of them independently, and periodically, throughout the year. Before using any method, it is essential to seek the advice of the veterinarian regarding the efficacy, dosage, and safety of the treatment on your pet:

1. Brush your pet
The first thing you could do is to give your pet a thorough brushing; preferably, outside your house, away from even your lawn or garden, with a good bristled brush that goes through their hair and reaches their skin. First use brushing strokes against the hair growth, then along the direction of their hair growth. This would dislodge some of the fleas and ticks that are not tightly attached to your pet’s body. And, as you would notice, your pets would thoroughly enjoy this sweep down.

2. Check for ticks every day
Personally checking your dog or cat for ticks every day is a given. It must be done preferably right after brushing them. Looking for fleas and ticks in their paws, between their toes, in the flaps of their ears, and in areas where they have thick fur is important.

3. Medicated shampoo bath
The next thing to do would be to give them an elaborate bath with a medicated shampoo specially designed for flea and tick prevention. This would be effective for only a couple of days, so it must be repeated at least once every week.

4. Spot-on medications
Applied between the shoulder blades on the skin of the pet, spot-on medicines are very effective for a more extended period than brushing or bathing your cat or dog. They last for a whole month usually if the animal does not spend much time in the water. Very effective to kill adult fleas and ticks, some of these medicines also work on restricting larvae and eggs from growing and multiplying.

5. Oral pills
Oral medicines for flea and tick prevention are quick acting and very effective. Easy to pop into your furry friend’s mouth, oral pills are available over the counter and are reasonably safe to relive symptoms of flea and tick infestations.

6. Flea and tick collars
Most effective to prevent fleas and ticks from the face and neck regions of your domesticated cat or dog, these collars can be used as an additional treatment option along with one or more of the abovementioned flea and tick prevention methods.