Flea & tick prevention 101: how to protect your pet

Just thinking about fleas and ticks can be enough to make you feel itchy, but if you’ve got a dog or cat at home it’s crucial to have a preventive treatment plan to protect your pet (and yourself!) from those pesky parasites and the diseases they carry. Like annual exams and dental cleanings, flea and tick prevention is an important part of your pet’s routine care. (You can even save money on preventive medications when you add Fetch Wellness to your pet insurance plan.) To get all the details on what you need to know about flea and tick prevention for your pet, we spoke with Fetch Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Aliya McCullough.  But first, here are a few facts about flea and tick prevention that may surprise you (and come in handy!).

Why are fleas and ticks so dangerous to pets?

Let’s start with the basics: besides making our skin crawl, fleas and ticks also present a serious threat to our pets’ health because of the diseases they can transmit. According to Dr. McCullough, fleas can carry tapeworms and bacteria, and tick bites can transmit bacteria that causes Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis (to name a few). Pets can also have allergic reactions to flea bites due to their saliva. 

In addition to being dangerous to dogs and cats, you don’t want to deal with a flea infestation in your home. Fleas are notoriously prolific and females produce 40-50 eggs per day and these eggs hatch within 2-12 days. (No, thank you!) 

‍What medication do pets need for flea and tick prevention? 

There’s power in prevention. The first step in protecting your pet from fleas and ticks is to take a proactive approach with  preventive medication. Usually prescribed by your vet, flea and tick preventives come in the form of an easy-to-administer chewable pill or topical product which provides protection from these parasites and the diseases they carry. 

Dr. McCullough recommends getting your pet started on preventive medication as soon as it’s safe for your dog or cat, which is typically around 8 weeks old and when your pet is at least 4 pounds. Your vet can provide more specific guidance on when your dog or cat should start medication and which preventive is right for them. Preventive flea-tick medications are typically taken once a month. 

While warm weather may pose a higher risk of flea and tick bites, Dr. McCullough says it’s key that your pet takes preventive medication all year round. In most parts of the U.S., it doesn’t get cold enough for long enough to completely stop flea and tick activity.

‍Signs that your pet has been bitten by a flea or tick

Fleas and ticks aren’t always easy to spot (more on that later), but there are a few ways to tell if your dog or cat has been bitten by one of these parasites. 

• Fleas: According to Dr. McCullough, fleas will typically make your pet severely itchy, which you’ll notice if your dog or cat is excessively scratching, biting, licking and chewing at themselves. As a result, they also may have hair loss, skin redness or scabs. In the case of a heavy flea infestation, your pet may be weak, lethargic or have pale gums from blood loss. 
• Ticks: Most pets won’t have a reaction to actually being bitten by a tick because they won’t feel it, but their skin may become red and swollen afterward around the bite area. In very rare situations, pets can experience tick paralysis, which can cause weakness and difficulty walking or moving. 

If you notice any of these signs, you should call your vet immediately to have your pet checked out.