What Are Some Ways To Keep My Dog Tick Free

If you never let your dog out of the house, that is obviously the best way to protect your dog from getting ticks, but that is probably not the ideal solution. Dogs do have to go outside once in a while, and anytime they are outdoors they are susceptible to getting a tick or two.

There are over-the-counter spot medications that can be purchased at pet stores, from your vet or online that are very effective in the control of ticks. You should be careful as to the kind of medicine you give to your dog, and seek your veterinarian's advice. These are the types of spot applications that you put directly onto the dogs fur, usually on the top of the neck.

There are also pills that can be given to your dog on a once per month basis that are also quite effective in killing ticks. They are very easily given to your dog and you won't have to worry about children getting into them or other pets coming into contact with them. It is a simple matter to give the pill to your dog in a ball of hamburger or just place it far down his throat and let go, and he will swallow it.

There are also shampoos that are medicated that will kill ticks upon their contact with the shampoo. This is a very inexpensive way to treat your dog for ticks, although it can be a little work to give your dog a bath with the shampoo. You will usually shampoo your dog with this shampoo during tick season, which is in the spring, summer, and fall, and you should use it every couple of weeks.

When you hear people say that they used a "dip" for their dog for ticks, that means that they used a strong chemical that is applied to the fur of the dog with a sponge, or poured onto the dog's back. Do not rinse the dip off of the dog after it is applied, but just let it dry. The ingredients are very strong, so the dip should not be used on younger animals.

Tick repelling collars are also effective in preventing ticks, as they hit the collar and drop off of the dog. The collar should be tight enough to touch the fur and skin of the dog.

Periodically examine your dog for ticks and if you find one, use tweezers and slowly remove it grasping the head. Keep your dog tick free for your dogs safety.

Wayne Booth is owner of Canine Behavior Specialists, http://www.CanineBehaviorSpecialists.com in Nashville, TN where he helps people train their dogs and solve behavior problems. Wayne has been teaching people how to become Professional Dog Trainers since 1990 and he is the Training Director of the Canine Behavior Specialists Network, http://www.K9-University.com.

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Have you recently gotten a dog?

Have you recently gotten a dog? Now that you are a pet owner, it is important for you to pay attention to any signs that your dog may be having a seizure. Seizures could be a sign of a serious medical condition, which is why it is best for you to be able to identify them if they happen and then seek treatment for your pet from a veterinarian.

Dogs that have seizures often act slightly unusual beforehand. Even if the dog is new to your home, it will not take too long before you are able to tell when something is a bit off. If your dog suddenly does not act normal and is shaking or fidgeting, a seizure may occur shortly after.

Some dogs will become suddenly be unable to see right before they end up having a seizure. Because everything around them becomes dark, your pet may suddenly start to look lost. You may notice that he or she is unable to jump on the furniture or run around like usual, which could be a result of the temporary blindness. In a matter of minutes, your dog may suddenly start seizing.

If your dog is exhibiting some of this behavior and is whining, he or she may be getting ready to have the seizure. In most cases, the animal will lay down on the ground with its legs out as it starts shaking back and forth.

Although you may feel worried and want to immediately grab your pup to help it, you should never pick the animal up during a seizure.

Instead, contact the veterinarian while the seizure is happening to explain what you are witnessing at that moment. Keep track of how long the seizure lasts too. The veterinarian will likely tell you to bring your dog directly into the animal clinic for a checkup to determine what it is that could even be causing such a problem to occur.

Sometimes seizures are caused by serious medical problems, such as tumors. However, some dogs have unexplained seizures and end up getting diagnosed with epilepsy.

Now that you know what the common signs of seizures are, you can pay attention to the way that your dog behaves to make sure that he or she is not about to experience one. And, if one does happen, you know exactly what to do to help your precious pet.

Wayne Booth is owner of Canine Behavior Specialists, http://www.CanineBehaviorSpecialists.com in Nashville, TN where he helps people train their dogs and solve behavior problems. Wayne has been teaching people how to become Professional Dog Trainers since 1990 and he is the Training Director of the Canine Behavior Specialists Network, http://www.K9-University.com.

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