This post is brought to you through the financial support of Merial, the maker of NexGard® (afoxolaner), the flea and tick killer that comes in a beef-flavored chew. The views expressed herein are the views of the author and not Merial. NexGard for dogs kills adult fleas before they lay eggs and kills ticks, too! Ask your vet about the flea and tick protection of NexGard. Click here to download a coupon!
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:
NexGard is for use in dogs only. The most frequently reported adverse reactions include vomiting, dry/flaky skin, diarrhea, lethargy, and lack of appetite. The safe use of NexGard in pregnant, breeding or lactating dogs has not been evaluated. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures. READ PRESCRIBING INFORMATION.
For most people, August is a pawesome time to play outdoors with your pup. It’s the perfect opportunity to soak up those last few weeks of summer sun. There’s so much to do: dog parks, hiking, swimming, rolling around in the dirt, etc…
But, it’s often one of the hottest and most humid months of the year. These sultry conditions are incredibly appealing to fleas and ticks.
Flea eggs hatch and develop into adults more quickly in humid climates. Not to weird you out or anything, but a lady flea can lay up to 40 eggs per day.
Gross.
It only takes a few weeks for baby fleas to grow up and search out their next meal – aka your dog.
Fleas usually don’t jump from one dog to another. They take an indirect route to their next meal. Dogs tend to pick up fleas from places where a flea-ridden animal has left behind some flea eggs.
Dog parks and hiking trails could be full of these nasties.
Your pup could pick up fleas weeks or months after a contaminated dog has been in the area.
Ticks take a little bit longer to get into the game. A female tick can take 2 or 3 years to start making her babies. It’s good that it takes longer, right?
NOPE.
A female tick can lay thousands of eggs at a time. Once those little bundles of “joy” hatch, they immediately start looking for some noms.
(In a way, who can blame them? That pup up there ^^^ is so adorable you do kinda want to munch on him.)
Fleas and ticks don’t travel on their own. The summer is when we see a lot of deer, as well as wild turkeys, raccoons, opossum, coyotes, and mice. (At least in my yard we do!) As beautiful as these animals are, they can be tick magnets and an effective vehicle of transportation for fleas.
I know what you’re thinking right now “Is no place safe!!!??? I’m never letting my dog outside again!! No more fun things!!!!”
I know it sounds bad, but it’s not – as long as you take proper precautions to limit your pup’s chances of hosting fleas and/or ticks for their next free meal.
(And no, house arrest is not on the list of proper pupcautions.)
Here’s what you can do to help control flea infestations and protect your dog from future infestations without sacrificing super fun outdoor playtime:
– Vacuum and clean upholstery and carpet regularly to control flea infestations.
– Wash bedding, especially your dog’s bedding, frequently to kill any lurking fleas.
– Take precautions around sheds and crawl spaces. Flea and tick-ridden animals like to hang out in these areas.
– Mow your lawn.
– Trim shrubs and other flora in your yard.
– Keep the lids on your garbage cans firmly closed. Trash often attracts animals that may be carriers.
The most proactive thing to help prevent flea infestations and kill ticks is to use a flea and tick control product like NexGard.
NexGard is a beef-flavored chew that kills fleas and ticks by over-stimulating their nervous systems, putting a stop to their shenanigans fast.
You can use topical treatments, but I personally prefer giving my dog chewable flea/tick control. My Shiba can be a drama king and he’d wiggle all over the place when I tried to administer topical treatment.
To make matters more difficult, he’s a double-coated dog. It wasn’t a fun task for either of us.
He gobbles the beef-flavored NexGard chew without me having to chase him around the house – though I guess all of that running around gave me a good workout.
Veterinary technician Bryanne Campbell, who’s worked at Weare Animal Hospital in New Hampshire for over 15 years, likes NexGard for the same reason. Her dog is a wiggle-butt when it comes to flea and tick treatments.
Her little Lola isn’t so little – she’s a Boxer. I had enough trouble wrangling my 25 pound Shiba! Can’t imagine trying to carefully apply a topical treatment to a wiggly Boxer!
Another bonus to a chewable flea and tick product is that it is convenient even for those of us who live an active lifestyle.
Bryanne told us:
“With us, we never know what we will be doing from day to day. We could be hiking up a mountain and getting muddy, or stopping by the conservation after work for a little cool down in the river. We never know when Lola will need a bath or be going for a swim. She is protected no matter what activity we do.”
This is a super important advantage to have in the summer when a lot of us are taking our dogs hiking or swimming.
Finally, always regularly check your dog for fleas and ticks. Give them extra ear scratches, pets and belly rubs to be certain!
Fleas and ticks can be scary, but they shouldn’t limit your dog’s activities. Remember the above advice and go out and have tons of summer lovin’ fun with your fuzzbutt!
This post is brought to you through the financial support of Merial, the maker of NexGard® (afoxolaner), the flea and tick killer that comes in a beef-flavored chew. The views expressed herein are the views of the author and not Merial. NexGard for dogs kills adult fleas before they lay eggs and kills ticks, too! Ask your vet about the flea and tick protection of NexGard. Click here to download a coupon!
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:
NexGard is for use in dogs only. The most frequently reported adverse reactions include vomiting, dry/flaky skin, diarrhea, lethargy, and lack of appetite. The safe use of NexGard in pregnant, breeding or lactating dogs has not been evaluated. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures. READ PRESCRIBING INFORMATION.
®NexGard is a registered trademark of Merial. NXG15BKB-2R (8/15)
