How to keep your pets free from fleas, ticks and worms?

We are a nation of pet lovers and spend a lot of time and money ensuring they are well cared for, healthy and showered with love. But whilst the garden is flowering beautifully in the summertime, it is the time of year when fleas, ticks and other pet pests are at their highest numbers.

 

Prevention

• Worms, ticks and fleas are both irritating to pets and even fatal in some circumstances. There are products on the market which are safe for pets and ensure those nasty pests stay away. Spot on applicators just need to be applied to the skin and kept up to date on a regular basis.
• If you are out on walks with your pet, try to discourage them from entering bushy areas or tall grasses. This may be easier said than done, but its these places where most pests can be found so distracting with a ball is a good option.
• Do you have a pet that likes to roll around on the lawn? Fleas and their larvae can be found in lawns but there are lawn treatments called nematodes that can be applied using a watering can and will kill a large percentage of these pests, leaving your pet to safely play in the garden.
• Frequently groom your pet because this means you will find any lumps, bumps or ticks! Ticks are small pests that burrow their heads into the skin. They can cause havoc but combing your pet and stroking frequently means you are more likely to spot one if it’s found its way in.

 

Treatment

• There are many flea combs on the market which help to scrape them away from the fur which will then need to be put in a glass of soapy water. You will need to do this daily to get on top of the infestation. There are chemical shampoos but a thick soapy wash will do just the same job and can be a very effective way to keep things in control.
• Use lovely smelling natural treatments like Lavender and Lemon. If you allow them to sit in boiling water over night and then strain in the morning, you can use this to spray over your pet (avoid eyes and ears) and make sure you spray the neck and base of the tail. Not only will your pet smell nice but this can also deter pests.  
• If you find your pet has a tick use a tick remover which is a way to ensure that your remove the whole tick from your pet. As ticks bury their head under the skin, if you simply pull it you will leave the head which will become a problem. The tick removers use a twist action to ensure the whole tick is removed.
• Always make sure you worm your pet on a regular basis but if you do find worms, take your pet to the vets straight away.

 

Visit the garden centre to see our pest treatments available in our pet store.