Train the Dog Blog

When you travel on a camping holiday or vacation to wooded areas, it should be a fun experience. Most times it is. However, Lyme disease which is caused by ticks that have been infected can ruin enjoyable holidays and vacations.

Travelers, campers, and vacationers alike can be at risk for getting Lyme disease, a serious, debilitating condition caused by being bitten by an infected tick.

What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?

Some symptoms of Lyme disease are the classic bull\’s-eye red rash, loss of energy and fatigue, feeling sleepy, a tingling and numbness, swollen and painful joints, memory loss, and a feeling like you are getting the flu. A less common symptom is paralysis of the face.

Getting Lyme disease can make your life miserable and cause you a lot of pain and suffering if it is not diagnosed and treated immediately. The longer you wait before seeing a health care professional allows this disease to progress quickly and it may not be possible to lessen it\’s effects.

How is Lyme disease usually spread?

Ticks bite and then feed on animals such as mice, other small rodents, and deer. If any of these animals are carrying Lyme disease bacteria, they can then pass it on to the ticks. When people get bitten by an infected tick they can contract Lyme disease.

What are the best ways to reduce the chance of contracting Lyme disease?

Some people do not have symptoms that show right away so prevention is always the best policy. If you are traveling in the spring and summer months to or through areas where deer, mice, other rodents and animals live, the following are some things you can do.

If you are camping on vacation or holidays, you can limit the number of ticks around your campsite by reducing the brush and leaves debris. Wear light colored clothing so you can more easily see these very tiny black insects and remove them before they attach to your skin. Be sure you wear long-sleeved shirts and tuck them into your pants. Also tuck your pant cuffs into your socks. It is also a good idea to wear rubber boots as ticks are usually found close to the ground. However, you can also get them in your hair if you brush against leaves on a low tree branch. Wearing a light-colored, wide-brimmed hat may help. Be sure to check your skin and scalp carefully as ticks can easily be overlooked, especially in your hair. Applying a DEET containing insect repellent to your clothes and exposed skin, as well as applying the insecticide permethrin to your clothes will also help.

How can ticks be safely removed?

Ticks that have burrowed and lodged themselves under your skin can be removed by using small-tipped tweezers. Make sure that you don\’t leave any part of the tick remaining underneath your skin. When the tick has been completely removed, disinfect the wound thoroughly with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Remember that you are not totally out of the woods yet as symptoms can take several days, even weeks before any show. Using tweezers is the only safe way to remove ticks that have attached or burrowed into your skin or scalp. Don\’t try to remove ticks using burnt matches, petroleum jelly, or alcohol as this will only make the ticks release more of the bacteria into your blood stream.

Please note that there is no vaccine available for Lyme disease at the present time.

According to the Center For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) this bacterial disease is under reported, perhaps by more than over 100,000 cases per year in the U.S. alone. You can visit cdc.gov for more information on Lyme disease.

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Let’s face it, your dog will eventually be infested with fleas. It might not happen today, it might not happen tomorrow, but it will always happen at some point. Here’s a few tips to keep in mind for when that day does come.

The easiest way to spot fleas will be at the base of their tails and also behind their ears. For some reason that ear location is pretty popular amongst fleas, so keep an eye out for it. You can also try to keep an eye out for their droppings, which look like strange bits of dust/dirt and will probably accumulate near your dogs stomach

Everyone tends to have their own ways of treating flea and tick infestations, but most experts will agree that its hardly a situation warranting the involvement of your vet. There have been numerous scares regarding prescription flea treatments in addition to the rising cost of performing them and you’re better off using the easy-to-use, inexpensive at-home products designed to safely get rid of any flea infestation.

Once your pet has had a bout with fleas or ticks, it’s imperative that you maintain proper cleaning routines for both your car as well as your entire house. Flea larvae can live for up to a year semi-hidden in any of these places so it’s important to try and get them while they’re dormant. Focus on area in or around any open-space heaters (i.e. radiators) and in-between doorways. Above all, don’t forget to also treat your pet’s sleeping/bedding area as well, otherwise you’ll run the risk of re-infestation.

Dog fleas are very indiscriminate and will infest a clean healthy dog just as much as the dirty neglected pet. Flea bites can cause extreme irritation to the dog. Some dogs can also become allergic to the flea saliva which is injected into the skin every time the flea bites. As well as the irritation of the flea bite they are are also the intermediate host of the tapeworm.

At one time flea infestations were confined to the summer months but nowadays with more and more homes being centrally heated this is no longer the case. Fleas like warmth and will lay their eggs in the gap between the skirting board and the carpet, between the floorboards, in the pile of fitted carpets and in the dogs bedding and basket.

Contrary to popular belief, fleas don’t actually live on your pet, they only use them as a source of food. They’ll primarily live in small places all around your home and car. This way they can lay in wait for their next victim, whether it’s your pet or even if it’s you. To a flea, you are just as tasty looking as your canine companion.

Only by paying close attention to flea control will you be able to ensure that your dog is kept clear of these prolific parasites. One of the best ways to prevent fleas from become a problem in your home is to regularly use the vacuum cleaner.

Looking to find the best deal on dog flea control, then visit www.youronlinepetsupply.com to find the best advice on pet care products for your four-legged friend.