From fancy all-natural products to insect deterring diets, there’s an extensive online market for flea, tick, and mosquito preventives. However, some of these sites can be erroneous or misleading. That’s why it’s important to know other practical measures you can take to protect your pet and your home.

10 Essential Parasite Prevention Tips

  1. Keep your pet on a year-round preventive. The first and most necessary step to parasite prevention is to get your pet on a prescription-based monthly chewable. Talk to your veterinarian about the best product to keep harmful pests out of your house and away from your pet.

  2. Shampoo your pet and keep him or her well-groomed. Getting your pet groomed once every few months and providing baths every other week can help keep the bugs at bay.
  3. Keep the yard free from weeds and tall grasses. Ticks and other pests often seek out weedy and overgrown areas to lay eggs and multiply. Deter them by keeping the lawn tidy.
  4. Repair window and door screens. You’d be surprised how stealthy mosquitoes can be when it comes to getting in the house. Screens that don’t fit well or have tears make the perfect entryway.
  5. Avoid dusk. Dusk is prime time for the bloodsuckers to emerge in droves. To avoid this, take your pet for an early afternoon walk or spend time outside in the morning when it’s too chilly for the bugs.
  6. Vacuum more frequently. Weekly vacuuming is a good way to stop eggs, larvae, and insects from finding refuge in your carpet, rugs, and upholstery.
  7. Wash pet beds and blankets weekly. Your pet’s bed is often ground zero for anything and everything. By washing these items in hot water, you lower the chances of hosting unwanted pests.
  8. Keep wildlife out of the yard. Skunks, coyotes, raccoons, and other wild species are harbingers of numerous illnesses that can be transmitted via parasites. Prevent wildlife from camping out in your yard, shed, or garage by keeping weeds to a minimum and sealing any holes in siding, chimneys, decks, and porches.
  9. Plant some natural pest deterrents. With spring right around the corner, many of us turn our attention to our garden beds. Did you know basil repels mosquitoes, and spearmint deters fleas? That’s right! Consider planting some of these natural parasite preventives to keep the pests away (and enhance your cooking!).
  10. Inspect your pet’s skin and fur each week. Set aside 10 minutes each week to thoroughly inspect your pet’s skin and coat, looking for signs of inflammation, ticks, or fleas (including black specks or droppings).

Parasite prevention includes doing your best to make your home and yard parasite-free zones. Don’t forget that a monthly preventive is the first line of defense for your four-legged friend.

To schedule an appointment or to refill your pet’s prescription, please contact us.