Pet owners know that summer doesn't only bring warmth, sunshine and late sunsets. It's also the time of ticks, who know how to torment our four-legged friends. Unfortunately, it's very difficult, or even almost impossible, to prevent our pet from being bitten by ticks. The number of bites can be eliminated to some extent and there are several ways to do it.
Everyone can choose what suits them the best
There are several ways to fight ticks and other parasites that make life uncomfortable for us as well as for our animals. Each one has its pros and cons, each one can be used in specific situations and it also depends on what each animal prefers. It is important to know that there are two options for fighting parasites. They can be either repelled or killed. Some products, however, can do both.
Collars
This is a very popular option, mainly because it is so simple to use. All it takes is to put it around the animal's neck and, providing you have purchased a good-quality product, a certain level of protection is guaranteed for several months. The other advantage is its very fast effect, as the collar starts working as early as 48 hours after the application. It is important to make sure that the collar is firmly attached, allowing the active ingredients to be better absorbed into the body. On the other hand, it is these substances that can cause allergic reactions not only in animals but also in humans. You need to be careful, especially if you have sensitive skin, and avoid developing a rash or other discomfort.
Pipettes
This way of applying an anti-tick substance is one of the simplest. The other advantage is their affordability and a lower risk of causing an allergic reaction. On the other hand, the animal is protected for a shorter period of time and during the tick season, it needs to be reapplied more often. The pipettes also become less effective after bathing, when compared to the above-mentioned collar.
Sprays
An absolute classic in the fight against ticks, used by us humans as well. Its main advantage is a simple application: you simply spray it on the animal and that's it. However, it is effective for a relatively short time, especially when compared to the above-mentioned methods. After spraying, the protection lasts for about a week and is shortened even more by bathing. You should also make sure that your pet doesn't have sensitive skin and doesn't suffer from allergies.
Tablets
Another option are tablets with their simple application thanks to being flavoured because dogs see them as treats. You should consult their use with your vet, in order to ensure their correct dosage.
Prevention
Unfortunately, non of the mentioned methods can guarantee your pet complete protection from ticks and other parasites. Remember this especially when taking your dog for a walk in the woods or to a meadow with long grass and therefore a higher concentration of ticks. Check your pet immediately after returning from your walk and remove any uninvited guests with tweezers, a special tick hook or a comb. Disinfect the wound and wash your hands thoroughly.
Christmas is coming and it’s the time we are thinking of how we can please our loved ones. Besides family and friends, we should also not forget about our loyal companions that have stood by our side through our highs and lows during the whole year....
In this article, we’ll introduce you to another discipline of Disc Dog – our focus will be on Parallel Time Trial. The most important thing in it is the time within which a dog catches a flying disc. What does this discipline look like, in what...
Coronavirus pandemic has had an impact on the lives of most people. Our travelling has been limited, we started spending most of our time at home – with our furry friends in many cases. However, it has also been a change for them. They suddenly had...
Most of us dream about having a long and happy life, and ways to ensure it have been sought for centuries. Recent scientific studies, however, suggest that the answer has been right before us all along: Our cats, in addition to being nice companions,...
Defence Training is a process in which we try to encourage and develop the predatory instinct. We differentiate between practical and sports defence. In the case of sports defence, the dog is controllable and it isn’t headless stimulation of...
This animal is a wild predator that also likes to just relax on the couch. We are, of course, talking about the American shorthair cat, which can be considered similar to its European counterpart, just on the American continent. What makes this breed...
Wolves belong to the Carnivora order, and the thought of meeting them in the wild scares many of us. It is therefore quite surprising that wolves are very shy and wary animals that will try to avoid human contact at all costs. All the more if the...
Like humans, our pets may experience adverse reactions to some food or ingredients. Whether we give them dry food or raw meat, there is always a risk that the food will not suit our pets, perhaps simply because they cannot digest it. How to recognize...
On our blog, we have already written about dogfrisbee, a sport where dogs catch flying discs. Its advantage is that both the dog and the owner play sports together. Dogfrisbee is also a great sport for its diversity – it includes various disciplines...
Sport cynology is sometimes also called the royal discipline. It is mainly because of its difficulty – very versatile skills are needed for it both from the dog handler as well as the dog. What aspects are the most difficult and what is its...
The Vizsla comes from Hungary where it arrived with nomadic tribes. The written references about this breed can be traced back to 14th century, but it started to be more significant in 18th and 19th centuries, mainly in association with races just...
As well as people, dogs are unique living beings which differ in their nature and in what they like and don’t like. A significant part of it depends on upbringing of course, but owners need to accept some characteristic features of a dog and learn...