Getting Rid of Those Pesky Pests on Your Dog

It's a 'doggone' world. Well, this is not meant to be a negative statement here. In fact, what this writer means about that is that the world has gone to the dogs. OK, that sounded like another negative statement. It means people worldwide love dogs so much that they consider them part of their family, which explains the huge number of pooch ownership all over the globe.

Sure, we love our dogs. However, do we properly take care of them? If they're not properly groomed, every so often, we see them incessantly scratching their body, sometimes to a point where they want to literally get their teeth on whatever's causing that mighty itch. The culprits? Well, it's the ever-annoying fleas and ticks.

These pests can come in full force during the hotter times of the year. So the minute the temperatures start soaring, expect a surge of these pesky little creatures. And if you panic every time you see your dog scratching like a mad dog, keep calm. Follow these tips to keep your dog (including your house) pest-free:

Maintain a clean house - And cleaning your house is not only limited to the house alone. You also have to maintain clean surroundings. Dirty nooks and crannies are the favorite breeding grounds of bacteria and many kinds of pests. Keeping your home clean is the very first step in making sure your pet pooch will be free from annoying pests.

Brush your dog - The frequency of brushing or combing your dog's hair would depend on his hair length. However, if he has flea issues, brush his coat at least once a day. Make your dog sit or stand on a white surface (paper or cloth) to see what's coming off your pet's hair as you comb him.

Bathe him regularly - Just by bathing your canine companion, you can already kill dozens of fleas. Fleas get drowned in water, so the more you soak your dog, the more fleas you are likely to get rid of. Besides, bathing him regularly will also help heal skin irritation and make him feel more comfortable. The itchiness he feels can go away right after bathing.

Do nose-to-tail body checks - As a responsible pet owner, part of your duties is to inspect his body and check for parasites and pests. If you see ticks, pluck them out. If you're grossed out by the idea, you can use gloves while removing them. It's your dog, so whether you like it or not, you'll be doing him a huge favor by pulling out those troublesome ticks yourself. Don't try squeezing or killing the ticks while they're still embedded in your dog's skin. Pull them out first before administering the coup de grace.

Finally, use pest eliminators. There's a wide range of pet products out there that are designed to reduce, if not totally eliminate, pest infestation on your pet. Be sure to ask your vet for his recommendations on which products are safe and ideal for your canine buddy (you can check Aussie Vet Products for anti-fleas products like Advocate for dogs).