Being a country with a diverse culture, we all admit that with the tropical weather India hosts, flea and ticks thrive, especially during the warm months. It doesn’t matter if you are in the heart of the city or in the countryside, no one is safe from these members of the animal kingdom. We all know how irritating flea and tick attacks are and worse still, they are capable of spreading dangerous diseases known as tick-born fevers, Lyme Borrelosis among others, internal parasites that threaten the overall wellness of a pet.
Flea and tick control is something every pet parent in India needs to acknowledge because the geographical area of the country is quite conducive for their rapid growth. In many parts of the country where weather is warm throughout the year, these parasites would also flourish, thus being one step ahead with protection measures does significant good for our pets’ health.
- Understanding Fleas and Ticks Types: Common Pets Parasite in India
Fleas and ticks are also spread all over India and regardless of the fact whether your pet is an indoor or outdoor pet, there is a chance that they will get infested by these parasites. Fleas are small, wingless parasites that attach to the earlobes of pets and drink blood. The itching and inflammation as a result of net bites often leads to allergic reactions and diseases like tape worm or worst of all, extreme levels of gel.
Ticks, on the other hand, go to the skin of your pet and cling there, sucking for hours and even days. The most common diseases carried through tick bites include tick fever (also known as ehrlichiosis) and Lyme disease, which has been increasingly reported in various regions of India. In that notice, both fleas and ticks are only a risk if they can be found on your pet; clothing and even other pets can be new avenues to the danger.
- Types of Flea & Tick Prevention Methods
There are mainly a few ways in domestic and commercial practices to treat fleas and ticks in animals but the choice of which method to use is determined by the nature of the pet and its activities.
Topical Treatments
Topical treatment or spot on treatment is one of the most pet applied flea and tick preventives. These are very simple to administer – to the nape of the pet (between the shoulder blades). This works by dispersing in the oils of the skin through the surface of the pet. These are convenient for pets that go outdoors because they kill, as well as prevent fleas, tick and other parasites from the animal.
Most spot-on treatments are to be used at least once a month and one can find such brands as Frontline Plus or Advantix, which are easily available in India. These products are not just effective in killing adult fleas and ticks but also in breaking the lifecycle of the fleas or ticks by stopping the eggs or larvae from developing.
Medications Administered Orally
Oral flea and tick prevention medications are available in chewable tablet form, which could be more suitable for those pets who do not take readily to spot-on medicines. Such medications, including Bravecto and Simparica Trio, are systemic. It means that it works from the inside body; when the flea/tick bites your pet, the medication is ingested and that’s it, the flea/tick dies.
These oral treatments are very effective and will last as short as one month or as long as up-to three months depending on the type of product offered to the dog. These are long lasting and are available in flavors that the animal enjoys so administering them is less of herculean task.
Collars for Flea and Tick Control
Seresto refillable collars for fleas and ticks provide continuous protection for several months, during which time they are active. These collars are impregnated with active ingredients that eliminate and ward off fleas and ticks over time. They’re very convenient for pet owners who do not wish to fuss over monthly medication. For outdoor dogs, flea collars and tick collars are very useful as they are waterproof and remain effective even during the rainy season.
Shampoos and Sprays
These punt medicine baths and sprays are effective in temporary protection against fleas or ticks especially when your pet already has some bugs. Medicated shampoos e.g TropiClean Maximum Strength Flea & Tick Shampoo effectively Kill fleas and ticks on contact also targets inflammation or soring. – These include Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Spray amongst others, allows for quick effect in the absence of bath or other treatment of fleas and ticks. Such products usually contain neem oil and lemongrass, hence they are of more help to pets with allergies. Yet, these procedures do not usually work on a more permanent basis and should be used in conjunction with further preventatives in order to achieve optimal effectiveness.
4. Who needs and how to select the proper medicine and non medicinal preventive measures for your pet
In this case, what flea and tick prevention will be best for your pet depends on certain underlying factors. Here’s how to make the correct selection: Consider Age and Size It is very important to choose the right class of flea and tick preventative based on the age and size of your pet. Most often than not, every product, particularly oral or topical drugs is weight-based, and so be sure to give the right weight dose.
For example, PetArmor Plus Flea & Tick Spot Treatment comes in various versions according to the weight range of the dog which could either be 5 to 22 lbs or 45 to 88 lbs. If a patient uses a different dosage than what is indicated on the guide, likelihood of treating the pathology is minimal and side effects are likely to occur.
Safe and Strong
Different products are available for the treatment of fleas and ticks therefore some pets may be allergic to some of the products. This is the reason why, before any remedy is administered, the veterinarian should be consulted first. The veterinarian will suggest products that are compatible with your pet taking into account its health, breed, etc.
Among the extensive amount of available preparations you should choose those which in addition to the massive extermination of the adults’ fleas and ticks attack also effectively pre-adult stages, killing eggs and larvae and thus breaking the cycle of infestation.
Management Aspects
Eliminating fleas and ticks from your pet will depend on the environment they stay in. Suppose your dog is usually quite active and loves to go out on the hills and around the yard, then instead of topical applications, a long lasting collar or oral drugs will be more effective. When it comes to indoor cats, perhaps milder and less frequent medications would be adequate.
Likewise, in cases where you stay in an area where the probability of getting ticks is quite high such as in rural areas in the Indian subcontinent or forested areas, aggressive and frequent intervention will be required.
- Best Fleas and Ticks Prevention Products for Indian Pets
All kind of flea and tick prevention products are easily available in India, which also come within various ranges of budgets. Here are a few found better:
- Bravecto: Bravecto being an easy to use oral chewable has well earned a name for its long lasting prevention of fleas and the latter’s contraceptive ticks with a protection period of more than three months from administration.
- Frontline Plus: A very known topical solution that kills fleas, technicians and lice and interrupts the cycle of the flea.
- Simparica Trio: Not only does this medication work to prevent fleas and ticks, it also is effective to rectify heartworm disease and other intestinal parasites.
- Seresto Collar: This is a collar that lasts for 8 months, protects the pet from fleas and tick infestations constantly.
- Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Spray: A dog and cat safe, all natural flea and tick spray that kills fleas and ticks on contact.
All these products can be found online or in pet shops within india with variaety of different types and prices to cater for every pet.
- Methods for Preventing Fleas and Ticks in Your Home Setting
Flea and tick prevention doesn’t stop once your pet has been treated; even the house and the yard need to be free of parasites. A pestle is also necessary when cleaning the house. Instead of cleaning it with broad strokes, a number of things should be focused on to ensure that even the disappearance of fleas is also noted.
You should also wash your pet’s bedding in hot water at least once in seven days regularity. If your pet spends time outdoors you might want to use flea and tick sprays or powders on the yard to avoid re-infestation.
Also, if additional pest control options are available, such as household bug sprays, this will cut and stop any outbreaks that are in progress and eliminate new ones from developing. Lastly, it is critical that you follow a cleaning routine even during dry seasons especially when fleas and ticks season is at it’s peak in India.
- Ways on How to Make Your Pet Healthy All Year Round
Year round tick and flea prevention is an annoying chore like the other ones in India because of the climate of the country and their forays. With knowledge of the various ways of preventing fleas and ticks in pets and appropriate selection of products based on pet’s activity level, size and health, protection of furry friend is assured.
Regardless of whether you choose topical treatments, administer pills, put on a collar or bathe with medicated shampoo, a proactive approach is required to control pests. Remember, prevention is always better than dealing with an infestation. Hence, be careful and drug your pet and yourself as well to live stress free.