Fleas and ticks are common and an infestation can have serious consequences for your pet’s health. This is why it can be important to take precautions. While you can treat these issues, preventing them in the first place can be a better method, especially if you have to provide puppy or kitten care to any younger pets in the house. At Oaks North Animal Hospital in San Antonio, TX, our veterinarian is here to help you take steps to prevent fleas and ticks. Here are some steps a pet owner could take for flea and tick prevention.
Inspect Your Pet Regularly
You should be checking for fleas and ticks on a regular basis if you or your pet have been in a situation where your pet could catch them. That way, you can help catch them before things get bad. However, there are certain times that it is even more important to check. If your pet has been in long grass or a wooded area, check their body for ticks as soon as you get home. If there’s been a flea infestation in your home or apartment building, check more often for signs of it on your own animal. As long as you keep up with these checks, you can have an easier time spotting a problem early.
Use Flea and Tick Prevention Medications
Talk to our veterinarian about preventative medicines during your pet’s annual exam with our veterinary team. She can help recommend products that may work well. Some of these may include topical treatments and chewables. Making these preventative medicines part of your usual puppy or kitten care can also help get your dog or cat used to them and help stop problems before they start.
Keep Your Yard Tidy
If you have a yard, you may want to keep it as clean as possible to keep ticks from hiding in it. Ticks love hiding places like long grass or standing water. So if you have these in your yard, they may be drawn to your property. This can make it harder for you to prevent infection in your own animals. Make an effort to keep a clean yard. Cut your grass, remove debris, and fill in any holes that might contain standing water after the rain. This will make it harder for ticks to find your pets in the first place.
Get Flea and Tick Prevention from Our Veterinarian on Our Veterinary Team
If you have pets, they may be vulnerable to fleas and ticks. It can be a good idea to take steps, both on your own and with our veterinarian, to protect them from these pests. Otherwise they could get sick or have to deal with painful bites. If you need help with flea and tick prevention in San Antonio, TX, we at Oaks North Animal Hospital are here for you. Call us at (210) 697-9585 to make an appointment.