Fleas and ticks may appear on your dog faster than you can imagine. They are undesirable and can cause many diseases. They mostly occur on dogs more than cats. With regular care and prevention, you can easily evade these nasty creatures. Here are a few methods through which you can keep your dog free from fleas and ticks and their associated infections:

1. Check for fleas and ticks regularly
One of the best tips to protect dogs from fleas and ticks is to keep screening for them year-round. Their appearance is more frequent during the summer but that doesn’t mean they are not present during the winter. Therefore, it is best to regularly check if your dog is affected by them. Many products can be used to help prevent fleas and treat your dog. Consult a vet to get the right product. Moreover, if you and your pet have been to a place that might have ticks, check your dog immediately.

If you’ve detected a tick on your dog, consult your vet immediately. Not all ticks transmit diseases but some ticks such as deer ticks transmit Lyme disease after 24 hours of the bite.

2. Do not use old products
As the product you use on your dog nears its expiry date, it loses its effectiveness. Discard old products and replace them with fresh, new products. You should also keep updating your shelf with the new products in the market as they might have better efficiency.

3. Use products only as intended
If a product is meant for a certain animal, do not use it for all other animals. Do not use products meant for dogs on cats and vice versa, as it may cause severe poisoning and alarming reactions. Make sure to read the label carefully to determine which species the product is limited to. This is one of the safest tips to protect dogs from fleas and ticks. If you’ve accidentally administered a wrong product, take them to a vet immediately.

4. Clean your house and yard
Grooming your dog regularly and keeping a healthy and clean home environment is a must to protect dogs from fleas and ticks. Mow your lawn frequently as ticks dwell in tall grasses. Removing fallen leaves and maintaining your yard will leave little to no space for fleas to breed and hide.

5. Be wary of the products you use
According to NRDC, many over-the-counter products against fleas and ticks, even when used as per instructions, can cause serious health issues to both the pets and their owners. The insect-control ingredients in these products are found to have toxic effects. High levels of the residue of pesticides may linger on your pet even after removing them, which could be dangerous to kids, adults, and pets. Always check with your vet before purchasing a new product.