Monthly Archives: July 2013

How to Prevent Ticks on Your Dog

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Ticks, those pesky little pests that are carriers for dreaded Lyme disease, are a dog owner’s worst nightmare. Every owner knows how much of a nuisance they can be and how susceptible our pets are to being bitten by them. Thankfully, there are many precautionary measures and preventative products available that can help you and your family in the battle against ticks.

Preventative Steps to Take

There are several things you can do to reduce the likelihood of your pet contracting a disease from these pests:

• Routinely check your pets for ticks, especially after they have been outdoors. In the instance you find a tick, remove it immediately.

• Use a tick prevention spray on your backyard to reduce the habitat in which ticks can live and thrive.

• Get a tick and flea collar or topical for your pet, which also helps to prevent flea infestation.

• Talk with your veterinarian to see which preventative medications are appropriate for your dog and cat.

Find a wide assortment of popular tick control and preventative medications available at the VetRxDirect Pharmacy.

Popular Tick Products on SALE Now at VetRxDirect!

Scalibor Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs

A long lasting, odorless and water resistant collar that kills fleas and ticks for up to 6 months.

FRONTLINE Plus for Dogs

Easy to use monthly application quickly kills all stages of fleas, plus ticks and chewing lice. Frontline Plus for Cats is also on sale.

Mycodex Plus Environmental Control

Aerosol household spray kills all stages of fleas, plus ticks. Controls flea reinfestations for up to 210 days.

How to Prepare your Dog for Fireworks

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Storm phobia in dogs is a common problem ranging in severity from very mild to severely debilitating. Even the most well-behaved dogs can react violently and destructively to thunder and lightning. Typically dogs that have storm anxiety react negatively to other loud noises as well, such as fireworks, lawn mowers, sirens, music and car alarms. Common signs of noise and storm anxiety include trembling, pacing, panting, whimpering and running away. Whether your dog is mildly affected by lightning and thunder anxiety or suffers extreme symptoms, there are resources and tools available to relieve their stress during a storm.

Recommended methods for treating or reducing noise and storm anxiety to try with your dog:

  • Creating a calm, safe space for your dog to retreat to when a storm or noisy event is taking place such as a room with no windows or in the basement.
  • Provide a familiar distraction, such as your dog’s favorite toy, to help your pet relax during storms or firework displays.
  • Try desensitizing your dog to the sound of thunder over time by playing thunder recordings at a low, non-frightening level and slowly increasing the volume over time.
  • Show affection and give reassurance by slowly and steadily petting your dog from head to toe while speaking in a calm voice during a noisy event.

For some dogs, the above recommendations won’t be enough to ease or rid them of their anxiety. If you find yourselves in that position, definitely consult with your pet’s veterinarian and get an assessment to find out if medication is warranted for your pet.

With July 4th and the summer storm season upon us, stock up on our most popular anxiety products on sale now at the VetRxDirect store!

Popular Natural Noise/Storm Anxiety Medications:

HomeoPet Anxiety TFLN Drops
Homeopathic liquid remedy may provide relief from fear and anxiety of thunderstorms, fireworks, wind, loud noises, gunshots, and the like.

Composure
Calming support formula recommended for pets exposed to increased environmental stressors or exhibiting anxiety, nervousness, or hyperactivity.

Anxitane (L-Theanine)
Over-the-counter nutraceutical clinically proven to reduce fear and anxiety in dogs and cats.

Let us know how these products work by leaving comments below.

Have a great holiday tomorrow,

Wes

How to Get Rid of a Flea Infestation – Preventatives are Not Enough

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Just the Facts about Fleas

Flea infestation. Makes your skin crawl doesn’t it? Despite advancements in flea prevention treatment, flea infestations are still a fairly common in homes with dogs or cats.  Part of the problem is misconceptions about flea prevention leave some pet owners vulnerable to these pesky, proliferous pests.

Here’s the truth about three common misconceptions:

“I’m treating my pet for fleas, so my home is protected.”

Many people think treating their pets with flea preventatives like Frontline Plus or Advantix will protect their homes from every flea — or even resolve an existing environmental infestation. They don’t. Topical flea preventatives and collars are designed to project just your pet and only kill the fleas on your pet. Of course, if your pet doesn’t bring home the bugs, preventatives help to reduce the chances of flea infestations in your home and yard.

“All flea preventatives are the same.”

Wrong. There are many different flea preventatives on the market, and knowing the difference makes a difference.  The flea has four stages in its life cycle: egg, larvae, pupae, and adult. Some preventative treatments only kill adult fleas. If you use these alone, the flea life cycle can continue on your pet. Other preventatives contain an insect growth regulator (IGR) that breaks the flea life cycle and stops eggs and larvae from developing. For broad-spectrum protection for your dog or cat, be sure to choose a preventative treatment that contains an IGR.  Ask your pet’s veterinarian about the best flea and tick preventative for your area, then check out VetRxDirect’s wide selection flea preventatives.

“I’ve treated my home so the fleas are all gone.”

If you have a flea infestation, you may want to consult the professionals about the best way to eliminate it completely. There are also plenty of effective “DIY” approaches that you can learn about online. Either way, stopping a flea infestation takes time and diligence; one treatment and thorough house cleaning may not be enough. Flea pupae that are in the cocoon stage are resistant to insecticides so you may continue to see fleas in your home for several weeks after treatment. Continue vacuuming and cleaning, especially in the areas where your pet spends the most time, to control any adult fleas that developed after the treatment. If fleas are still present after about a month, another treatment may be required.

As they say, “prevention is the best medicine.” To avoid flea problems, talk to your veterinarian about the best flea prevention treatment for your dog or cat and use it diligently to keep your pet  — and your home – happy and healthy.

Down with fleas!

Wes