Spring has sprung and with it, flea and tick season has too. As much as we love our pets, sometimes they bring in unwelcome critters from outside that we’d rather live without.
Both can transmit infectious diseases including typhus, flea-born spotted fever, cat scratch disease, tapeworms, lyme disease, and many others.
As any responsible cat or dog owner knows, flea and tick prevention is vitally important to your pets’ overall health. Before making a decision about how best to treat your furbaby, always make sure to consult your veterinarian. For a dog they may recommend a topical option, an oral preventative, or even a prevention collar to wear. Cats can prevent fleas and ticks with a shampoo bath, spray, topical or oral medication. Be careful not to use products made for dogs on cats, or vice versa. The results could be deadly!
Reviews are mixed concerning using a more natural form of flea/tick control. If you’re wary of using chemicals on your dog or cat, you may be tempted to try a natural-sounding remedy, such as a spritz of apple cider vinegar or a product with essential oils. Some veterinarians warn that the chemicals in “traditional” forms of prevention are ineffective or hazardous to a pet’s health while other vets have the same complaint regarding natural forms of prevention. It is true that most “natural” remedies are not regulated by the FDA or EPA. So how do you decide? This is not a one-size-fits-all decision. It’s important to do your research and weigh the pros/cons of each with your veterinarian. References below can give you a good start to making an informed decision for your personal situation.
These can be used in combination with regular treatments.
Should You Use Natural Tick Prevention for Your Dog or Cat?
CONSUMER REPORTS
Nontoxic Ways to Protect Your Pet
NRDC
Natural Flea and Tick Prevention
AKC Pet Insurance