Veterinarians find ticks on dogs similarly to how pet parents do. They move the dog's hair coat aside, feel along the hair coat, and check for any lumps or bumps. However, finding smaller ticks, such as nymphs, can be more challenging since they are about the size of a poppy seed and often go unrecognized. Ticks are parasites that jump on, get a blood meal, and then fall off, making them difficult to find at times.

Yes, fleas can easily spread to other pets in the household. When one pet has fleas, the fleas lay eggs in the environment, which then develop into larvae, cocoons, and eventually new baby fleas. The life cycle takes about three weeks, and the baby fleas will jump onto other pet family members, causing an infestation in the home and on other pets. To prevent this, it's recommended that all dogs and cats in the household be on some type of flea prevention.

Yes, it's possible for a dog to have fleas even if there are no visible signs. Vets may find fleas on a pet that the owner believed was flea-free by using a flea comb or looking for flea dirt. If a dog is not on any type of prevention and comes in with itchiness, the first thing vets will consider is flea allergies.

Flea bites may not always be visible, but when they are, they appear as small red dots, typically in the belly or thigh area where the hair is thinner. These red dots are caused by inflammation related to the flea saliva injected into the skin. When dogs have an intense inflammatory reaction to the flea saliva, they may chew, scratch, or lick the area, which can lead to further inflammation and infection called flea bite allergies.

Vets can easily find fleas on dogs if there's a large population, as they are visible to the naked eye. However, if there's a small population of fleas, it might be more difficult to spot the live adult fleas. In this case, vets look for flea dirt, which appears similar to regular dirt but dissolves into a rust or red stain when water is added. This is because flea dirt is made of digested blood and serves as evidence of fleas just like finding a live flea would.

While there are many products on the market claiming to be holistic or natural flea and tick preventions, they have not been proven effective and may even cause harm, and the same goes for products that have been on the market for a long time. We still see the spread of diseases and the problems associated with those parasites in pets using these preventatives. Some examples include brewers yeast and diatomaceous earth. It is recommended to consult with your veterinarian for effective prevention methods.

Fleas and ticks will not resolve on their own. Fleas will increase in volume and infest your pet and home, while ticks will take a blood meal and fall off. If your pet is not on prevention, you may not even know they have ticks.

Yes, there is a vaccine available for a tick-borne disease called Lyme disease.

Controlling fleas and ticks in your environment can be done by using prevention on your pet. If fleas get into your house, vacuuming and laundering your pet's bedding and blankets are recommended. Avoid using fogging or insecticides in your home, as these can be harmful to both you and your pet. So we want to discuss preventing and treating fleas and ticks on your pet and managing your environment safely.

In areas with year-round flea and tick exposure, such as Tennessee, it is recommended that all dogs stay on year-round flea and tick prevention.