Flea & Tick Control

Fleas

Fleas are most active during the spring and summer but are around all year.

Only a small part of the adult flea population actually lives on your dog. The fleas’ eggs and larvae live in the environment and can survive for up to a year, so it is important to not only treat your dog directly for fleas but to also decontaminate the environment as well. Wash your dogs’ bedding and coats using the hottest cycle on your washing machine, and regularly vacuum/clean carpets and ‘fur’niture. We do not recommend flea collars or flea shampoos as a stand-alone solution as they fail to address the environmental flea infestation and are not as effective as oral or topical treatments.

Fleas will tend to jump onto your dog only to feed and then jump off again. Dogs can have a reaction to flea saliva, resulting in a skin condition called Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD). Treatment of FAD can be complicated and veterinary consultation is recommended.

Some signs that your dog may have fleas include:

Scratching, biting and hair loss, especially at the base of the tail and rump
You may be able to see fleas (especially over the rump and in the groin region), but they are small and quick so they are easy to miss!
It can be difficult to find the actual fleas, but is relatively easy to check for flea ‘dirt’ (droppings). Simply moisten a cotton ball, part your dogs’ fur and gently rub the cotton ball on the skin over the rump. If the cotton ball shows black specks surrounded by a reddish area, this may be flea dirt and can indicate that your dog has fleas.

Warning: Some brands of flea & tick treatments for dogs (often non-veterinary) are potentially lethal when applied to cats. Always seek veterinary advice about the best flea treatments for your pet.

The Dog Clinic stocks a range of parasite prevention products. Please call us to discuss the best flea & tick prevention for your dog.

Ticks

The main tick of concern for dog owners is the Paralysis Tick (Ixodes holocyclus on the mainland, Ixodes cornuatus in Tasmania) as it can cause paralysis and death within 2-4 days of attachment. Southern Paralysis Ticks (Ixodes cornuatus) are found primarily in the bush and coastal areas of Tasmania, with an increase in population along the East Coast, but have also been found in the suburbs of Greater Hobart.

They may attach to your dog outdoors on walks, at the park, at the beach, contact from other animals including wildlife etc.

If you notice a tick on a dog that is not displaying signs of tick paralysis, remove the tick straight away. To do this, grasp the tick firmly where it attaches to your dogs’ skin and give a quick sideways pull. It is better not to try and kill the tick first as the dying tick may inject more of its’ potent toxin into the dog. If you are not confident removing the tick please call us immediately to make an appointment to have it removed.

You can take the tick to a veterinary clinic for identification. Often it will be sent to a laboratory that identifies and keeps track of the progression and migration of ticks in Australia.

The best method of prevention is keeping up to date with a routine treatment cycle which kills ticks and fleas within 24hrs of contact. If you need assistance, please speak to one of The Dog Clinic’s nurses and we can find the best option to suit your lifestyle.

Once the tick is removed, your dog should be kept cool and quiet whilst being closely monitored for 24 hours.

Signs of Tick Paralysis:

Weakness/lethargy/staggering gait or paralysis
Vomiting/dry retching/coughing
Breathing difficulty
Altered bark
Loss of appetite
If you notice any of the above signs of tick paralysis, please seek immediate veterinary attention as this is a genuine veterinary emergency. If your dog is showing any of the above signs, do not offer food or water as these may be accidentally inhaled in tick-affected dogs.

Treatment of tick paralysis includes searching for and removing all ticks. This may include clipping the dog completely and/or the use of medication to kill remaining ticks. Tick antiserum is administered to counteract the toxin and supportive care is provided during recovery. This can be costly in comparison to what it would cost to use tick prevention initially.

However, no tick prevention is 100% effective and should always be used in combination with daily searches of your dog. Searching your dog shouldn’t cease once you return from tick-affected regions but should continue for at least 7 days after returning home. Use your fingers to feel over the entire body, especially under the collar, on the face and around the front of your dog. Don’t forget to check carefully between the toes, under the lips and in the ears.

We are more than happy to show you how to do a thorough tick search, please call us to discuss.

Already on our Worming Program? Add the Bravecto Program to your yearly mailed preventatives!

Each year when your dog comes in for their annual vaccination, you can sign up to our Parasite Prevention Program to receive worming tablets and tick/flea chews in the mail every 3 months! Save yourself some trips to the clinic this year.