Flea and Tick Prevention
Flea and Tick Prevention for Your Puppy
May
We all love to share the wonderful outside world with our dogs. New puppy owners will be especially keen to get outdoors and give their puppies that exposure to the smorgasbord of aromas and intrigue that only a puppy could discern. But beware, there are hazards that can be brought in to your home unobserved. Fleas and ticks can be transferred onto your puppy very easily from rolling on the ground or brushing up against bushes and trees.
You may have experienced an occasional itch from a flea in the past, or maybe even have had some exposure to a tick yourself. Neither is a pleasant experience. So, we do our best to make sure that our puppies do not suffer this unpleasant experience, or to spread any flea infestation to our homes.
The Risk of Fleas and Ticks
It is commonly known that heavy infestation of fleas and ticks contribute to death and disease. It is also known that more deaths and sicknesses are caused by fleas and ticks than are caused by flea killing devices. The sad part of it is that no deaths or severe illnesses should ever be attributed to flea collars.
Most unnecessary deaths of dogs that occur due to flea collar poisoning are the result of an allergic reaction to the active ingredient. Even if your dog is perfectly well at the time the device placed around his neck, observe your dog closely for the first few days.
Read The Instructions on the Pack
Most packages containing flea collars or other similar-type pest-fighting devices usually carry printed cautions on the front: “Do not allow children to play with this collar” and “Animals should not be allowed to chew on this collar” .
The purchaser is then invited to read the additional precautions printed on the reverse side of the package. Over 50% of the dog owners polled about their knowledge of flea collars admitted that they either did not read the directions or if they did, simply did not pay much attention to them.
Flea collars and the newer flea control medications are designed to prevent sickness. They must be used as they were designed to be used. Dog owners have the responsibility to make themselves aware of the instructions and precautions of flea collar use. A simple read through when considering a flea collar product may save a lot of pain and discomfort for both you and your loving pet.
Do We Know How a Flea Collar Works ?
In a recent poll which questioned a large section of dog owners across the United States, more than 90% believe that their dog’s flea collar merely emitted some kind of protective vapor that was repugnant to fleas and ticks, resulting in the pests dying off, due to the lethal vapor, yet without any repercussions on the dog’s health.
How a Flea Collar Really Works
The fact is, the pesticide in any flea collar device doesn’t just seep through the animal’s fur as a “protective vapor”. Rather, it is absorbed into the bloodstream and metabolized by the liver. This has a strong effect on the animal’s entire system. The active ingredient in such devices is usually dimethyl phosphate. Used according to directions, and in proper quantities, this ingredient is fatal to fleas and ticks.
Serious problems can occur when a dog owner simply places such flea killing devices around their dog’s neck without taking the time to read the accompanying directions. Many times, though the directions are read, they simply are not taken seriously, nor are they followed.
What to Do If Your Dog Becomes Ill While Wearing a Flea Collar
If your dog should become ill while wearing a flea collar device, remove it until the reason for the illness can be determined. This is especially true for a puppy that has been fitted with his first flea collar, or if you have changed brands. Leave the device off until the dog is completely recovered.
8 Precautions For Flea Collar Use
By observing the following eight precautions, you can use the flea collar to your dog’s best advantage:
- Buckle the collar securely, but not tightly around his neck. These collars, as well as any collar for that matter, should never be worn too tight. If you can slide two fingers between the collar and your dog’s neck and the collar feels tight, you have it about right.
- When bathing your dog, remove the collar until the dog is completely dry. Never let your dog get wet while wearing a flea-killing device.
- Animals should never be allowed to chew on flea collars or other flea-killing devices. Keep in mind, if you have more than one dog, they may be tempted to chew at these collars worn by the other dogs.
- Observe the neck area every few days for signs of irritation and loss of hair. Should these signs occur, remove the collar and allow the area to heal. If it seems to take your dog to the vet along with the flea collar and any instruction that came packaged with it.
- Do not use such devices on sick or convalescing dogs. If your dog becomes ill while wearing a flea-killing device, remove it at once.
- Do not use any other pesticide on your dog while a flea collar is being worn.
- Worming medicines should not be administered to a dog while the dog is wearing a flea-killing device.
- If you take your dog to a veterinarian for any reason, be sure to advise him that your dog is, or has been, wearing a flea-killing device.
Benefit of Flea Collars
Flea collars, and similar type of pest-killing devices, can serve as an effective aid in preventing the accumulation of fleas and ticks on the family pet. The absence of fleas and ticks can make the warm summer months much happier and healthier for your dog, but, as with any form of medication, simple precautions as outlined by the various manufacturers must be adhered to for maximum effectiveness and complete safety.
Precautions to Consider
Additional precautions on most packages point out that each collar is intended as an insecticide generator and is not to be taken internally by man or animals. One might ask who in his right mind would want to eat a flea collar for breakfast. No “man” in his right mind would, but a dog (especially puppies) might consider such a collar an intriguing chew toy!
Keep a Super Watchful Eye on Puppies with Flea Collars
If your puppy’s flea collar is attached securely and properly, it should not be a temptation for him to chew on, unless he of course wriggles out of it. For a couple of days after you have fitted this flea collar onto your puppy, keep an eye out for signs of distress or agitation from the puppy. Excessive scratching at the collar or rubbing hard against sharper objects may be a sign that he is working hard to remove that collar.
Puppies Will Chew on Almost Anythng
Likewise, if there is more than one dog in your household, make regular inspections of the flea collars on all dogs, as the younger puppies may well take to chewing at the collar of any of the other dogs, especially if they are also puppies. Playful puppies enjoy chewing and gnawing on anything, including each other! It is for this reason that manufacturers include the following precaution on each package containing a flea killing device: “Animals should not be allowed to chew on this collar”
Observe Closely with First Time Use
Because the active ingredient used in flea collars is absorbed into the animals’ bloodstream, some animals may show allergic symptoms. Some dogs, like humans, are allergic to certain medications, while others can accept the medications with relative impunity. It is for this reason that each animal wearing such a flea device for the first time be observed closely for any signs of adverse reaction.
Observed Any Change in Behavior After Fitting a Flea Collar ?
If an animal appears lethargic or refuses to eat, you should remove the collar at once. Dogs who have an allergy to these pesticides have been known to die. Such deaths need not occur if the owner takes a few moments to read the directions and properly observe his pet, should any side effects develop.
Beware of Anesthetics
In the rare event that your puppy is involved in a serious incident that may require any surgery, be aware that a dog wearing a flea collar will be more reactive to anesthetics, and a number of anesthetic deaths have been attributed to the use of these devices. This information will be available in the precautions information that would have been included in the original flea collar packaging. Keep this handy, as it may just come in useful at a later time.