FLEAS

Fleas can make pets' lives miserable, and humans begin to itch just at the thought of them.  Fleas are small flightless insects that form the order Siphonaptera. As external parasites of mammals and birds, they live by consuming the blood of their hosts. 

Let's look into some flea facts:

• Fleas can survive in lows as cold as 28°F and highs up to 95°F.
• Female fleas lay eggs within 48 hours of mating, producing 40 to 50 eggs per day.
• Many species of fleas also feed on humans. Your pet isn't the only one at risk.
• Fleas can transmit tapeworms.
• Fleas can jump 50 to 100 times their body length.
• Stray cats, dogs, rabbits, and squirrels can carry flea eggs into your yard. Having a fence doesn't necessarily keep it safe.​
• Flea eggs can fall off an infested pet as it travels through your home, thereby infesting the house.

Fleas have four life stages: egg, larvae, pupae, and adult. All can live on your pet and in your house.

Flea dirt is one of the primary indicators that your pet has fleas and that you need to take action. These small black specks are flea feces and materially are composed of old blood. You’ll mostly spot them on the skin of your pet, although they’re also known to show up in pet beds and other places your pet spends time too. They’re very small in size – less than a millimeter long – and have the appearance of flecks of black pepper.

PREVENTION IS KEY!
Looking to get rid of fleas in the home? Homeowners should clean and vacuum frequently to help remove flea populations and prevent the laying of eggs. It's also necessary to keep the lawn groomed to avoid rodent habitation. Pet owners should practice active flea management by keeping dogs on a leash when outside, bathing and grooming pets regularly, visiting a veterinarian annually, and using flea treatments according to direction. If you suspect a flea infestation, there are products available to use in home, such as Siphotrol Premise spray, or you may hire a professional to treat the house. 

TICKS

Ticks belong to the Arachnida class. There are about 850 species of ticks, some of which are capable of transmitting diseases such as Lyme, Ehrlichia, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. 

Let's take a look at these tick facts:

• The brown dog tick and the American dog tick are the most common carriers of disease among dogs.
• Ticks feed on the blood of their host, humans, birds, reptiles, as well as wild and domestic mammals.
• Tick infestations are more common in dogs than cats.
• Ticks don't fly, jump, or drop from trees onto your head and back. If you find one attached there, it most likely latched onto your foot or leg and crawled up your body. Ticks are 'programmed" to try to attach around your head or ears. 
• Ticks can be active even in winter. Adult stage deer ticks become active every year after the first frost. They are not killed by freezing temperatures. Deer ticks will be active any winter day that the ground is not snow-covered or frozen.

Photo Credit ​Mainely Ticks

PREVENTION

Environmental Tick Control.
Tick control in the environment generally involves treating the yard and kennel areas. If you decide to treat your yard instead of hiring a professional, you may need to spray every 7 to 14 days during peak tick months. Remember that cold, frosty fall weather does not kill ticks (in fact, that is when deer tick numbers are usually at their peak), so treat your yard well into the fall and early winter. Regardless of the product used, remember not to spray where runoff could go into lakes or rivers. Removing leaves and clearing brush and tall grass from around the house and kennel areas can also help reduce the number of ticks.

Tick Control on Your Pet
There are many tick control products for pets, including once-a-month topical products, sprays, powders, dips, shampoos, and collars. Some popular products include Frontline Gold, Nexgard, Seresto collars, and Bravecto, among others. Make sure you use tick treatments according to labeled directions. As always, if you have any questions involving ticks, don't hesitate to give your veterinarian a call.

Tick Removal

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible.
2. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don't twist or jerk the tick; this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. Don't worry if the mouth part of the tick stays in your pets skin, it can happen sometimes when they are well embedded. It's a bit like having a splinter and it will fall out in a few days.
3. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with mild soap and water.
4. Dispose of a live tick by submersing it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag/container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet. Never crush a tick with your fingers.

Avoid folklore remedies such as "painting" the tick with nail polish or petroleum jelly, or using heat to make the tick detach from the skin. Your goal is to remove the tick as quickly as possible–not waiting for it to detach.


Please see Mainelyticks.com for more information and helpful links!