How to Protect Your Poodle From Flea and Tick Infestation?

Preventing flea and tick infestation in your pet Poodle is important to keep your pet comfortable. Fleas are just 2mm but huge blood suckers. Fleas are commonly called cat fleas, although they can also infest dogs and humans too. Fleas are most commonly found under piles of dry leaves, cracks in the floor, or under furniture and cushions where it is dark. They thrive in warm damp climates such as temperatures from 60 to 80 Degree Fahrenheit, and in a humidity of approximately 75-85%.

Ticks are external parasites that attach to your pet Poodle when they are loitering outdoors amongst bushes, grass, undergrowth, and wooded areas. The ticks embed themselves on the poodle's body where the skin is thin. Examine your pet daily for ticks. These vary in size from tiny to very tiny, and are difficult to see with the naked eye.

Feel underneath the fur especially around the ears, hind, and groin. The ticks usually attach themselves here, as skin is thinner making it easier for them to suck blood. They attach themselves with their rostrums and secrete saliva which is injected into the body. An allergic reaction to this saliva causes your pet to itch. Use your finger and thumb to remove the tick carefully using a tweezing action. Remember not to twist the tick as it may break, leaving the rostrum embedded in the skin which can cause further infection.

Keep fleas and tick away by:
Balanced Diet- Feed a proper balanced diet to your pet. Parasites attack weak hosts. A proper balanced diet improves your pet's health and immune system, keeping flea and tick infestations at bay.

Regular Baths - Bathe your poodle regularly with a dog shampoo. Check your pet for knots from head to toe. The flea/ticks are very tiny, but they can easily be felt as globules on the skin under the fur.

Brushing - Brushing should be a regular part of your pet's grooming routine. Brush with a flea comb to get rid of the fleas and to keep the coat shiny as well. Be gentle when you brush the coat and keep an eye for any dusty powder that falls. You may collect this on a white sheet of paper and it can be sign of flea infestation.

Clean indoors - Keep your floor, drapes, carpets and other soft furnishing clean, by vacuuming regularly. Fleas tend to live in these places and attach themselves to your pet making his/her life miserable.

Outdoor environment - Taking your pet for walks or exercising them in a clean outdoor environment will prevent flea/tick infestation. Check for flea/ticks once you get back home from the outdoors

Removal of Fleas and ticks

• Safely remove the fleas with a flea comb
• Vacuum the soft furnishings regularly to clear them from flea eggs
• Sprinkle flea powder where vacuuming is not possible
• Ticks should be removed carefully using a pinching action without breaking the tick
• Do not burn the tick with the burnt end of the matchstick, as they may inject toxins into your poodle, causing infection
• Use flea/tick medication if prescribed by the vet

Prevent flea/tick infestation by removing the ticks and fleas immediately after an outdoor visit. Regular grooming with special attention to bathing and brushing will help to keep flea/ticks at bay and keep your pet healthy.