CHENNAI: Summer can be a hard time for you and your furry friend. Ticks and fleas breed faster and can be an absolute nuisance in this heat. There are few home-remedies to rid your pets of these pests and to even prevent an infestation.
“The best way to ensure that the fleas and ticks stay away is daily grooming,”says Dr Mayur from CUPA Animal Care Hospital. “Just before your pet enters your home, comb them or air blow them so that the ticks and fleas don’t have a chance to even enter your house.”
An adult female tick lays 3,000 eggs at once of which only 30 per cent stay on the body of your pet, most of them find their way into your home. “They can climb up walls and will stay in small crevices in the walls and floor. It is important to clean the house with Dettol or Phenyl, which will immediately kill the ticks,” says Dr Mayur. Lighting camphor around the house is another natural way of preventing ticks and flees from breeding.
Tip
Natural tea tree oil can cause irritation when applied directly
“Home remedies are effective only in the early stages of tick or flea infestation,” warns Dr Adarsh from CUPA Animal Care Hospital. “A bad flea or tick infestation is dangerous and can even cause death when not treated correctly. It can be equated to a human having dengue,” Dr Mayur adds. It is advisable to visit your veterinarian when there is a flea/tick infestation. “Ivermectin can be administered orally or through an injection for preventing and getting rid of ticks,” says
Dr Adarsh, “But, it is not to be used for puppies below six weeks of age, collies or pregnant pets and the vet will suggest a correct dosage for your pet.”