Fleas and ticks can pose a danger to pets, but you may wonder is flea and tick medicine safe for dogs and are there benefits to natural flea and tick treatments?

All dogs should enjoy time in the great outdoors. But fleas and ticks can present a real problem. Infestations may cause skin infections and irritation to your pet as well as diseases such as Tularemia and babesiosis. That's where flea and tick treatments come into play to keep them at bay. However, you may wonder if flea and tick medicine safe for dogs or should you choose natural flea and tick treatments instead?

What are Fleas & Ticks?

Flea and tick medicine includes several treatments used to control tick and/or flea infestations on your pet and avoid infestations within your house. Fleas are tiny parasitic insects that feed on the blood of animals and/or humans. Ticks are parasitic arachnids related to spiders, scorpions, and mites. How can my pet become infested with fleas and ticks? Fleas and ticks are found all over the world. Fleas may live in various climates but prefer damp and dark environments, such as under a leaf. They can also be transmitted by multiple wild animal hosts, including foxes, raccoons, skunks, birds, and rodents. It is easy for them to leap on you or your pet as you go by because of their remarkable jumping skills.

Ticks may appear in various temperature zones, although they prefer damp and shaded conditions, particularly in places with woodlands, bushes, tall grasses and weeds. Ticks can be transmitted by a wide range of wild animal hosts, including deer, rodents and horses. Ticks, unlike fleas, cannot leap but will grasp you or your pet as you walk by through a behaviour known as questing.

Is flea and tick medicine safe for dogs?

According to Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) research, many pest control chemicals can have substantial health repercussions for canines and people even when used as directed. These items mostly include organophosphate (OP) chemicals, which are hazardous to pet health if exposed for an extended period. Fortunately, you can use natural flea and tick treatments for dogs to keep them safe.

Benefits of natural flea and tick treatments

Below are just some of the benefits of using natural flea and tick treatments on your pet:

1. Reduce the risk of skin allergies, infections and hot spots Many pets are sensitive to flea saliva, which causes itching, scratching, and allergic reactions in some situations. Scratching regularly can cause hot spots and other skin problems. Administering a flea preventive can dramatically minimise your pet's risk of skin diseases.

2. Avoid tick-borne infections Using a tick-killing preventive, you can help minimise your pet's risk of Tularemia, Tick Paralysis, Lyme disease, Canine Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Babesiosis.

3. Tapeworm prevention Using a flea preventive can lower your pet's risk of tapeworms, frequently carried and spread by fleas.

4. Prevent fleas from infesting your home.

The truth is that no one wants fleas in their house. Living with fleas is unhealthy, irritating and costly. It requires regular vacuuming, cleaning and fogging, often using toxic chemicals, to get rid of them. Using a flea preventive can help lower the possibility of fleas in your house and on your pet.

Regardless of how well you care for your pet, it is inevitable for them to come into contact with a tick or flea while out for a walk or playing in the grass. Fleas and ticks cause discomfort to pets and their owners so the best approach to protect your pets and house from these dangerous insects is to use natural flea and tick treatments. Check out the Bubble Pawz® shop to buy natural flea and tick treatments in Australia and keep your furry friends healthy and happy.