Flea and Tick Prevention for Your New Puppy
After you have welcomed a new puppy into your home, it is essential to use all available resources to set your puppy up for a long and happy life. That includes getting all required and vaccinations for your puppy, continuing the socialization process, and initiating a regimen of preventive care, including heartworm preventatives and flea and tick treatments and medication.
Flea and Tick Protection for Puppies
Most flea and tick products are not safe to use on puppies until they have reached at least seven or eight weeks of age. At Plymouth Veterinary Hospital, we can recommend a flea and tick preventative to use that it is safe to begin administering to your puppy.
Why Flea and Tick Prevention Is Important
In addition to being uncomfortable for your dog, fleas are also the leading cause of tapeworm, a parasite whose larvae are carried by fleas. Ticks can transmit Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, and other conditions.
At Plymouth Veterinary Hospital, we recommend regularly running a flea comb throughout your dog's coat to check for fleas. Also, be on the watch for "flea dirt," little black specks usually found on a dog's belly or around the tail. After visiting wooded areas or spending a lot of time outdoors, give your dog a tick check, looking him over for any embedded parasites. If you spot a tick on your pet, carefully remove the tick from your dog and contact us if further treatment is necessary.
How to Prevent Flea and Tick Infestations
Once your puppy is old enough, it is essential to start using a monthly flea and tick preventive medication to ensure that your dog will not be affected by fleas or ticks. Many of the treatments available and are useful for preventing both fleas and ticks. At Plymouth Veterinary Hospital, we recommend the medication for your puppy based on your pet's age and weight.