Fleas and Ticks and Bugs. OH MY!

Flea and Tick season is here. I pulled a tick off my dog this week. Keeping your pets clear from external parasites is important for them as well as for you. Checking them daily for these annoying parasites will make everyone happier. It's best to start your flea and tick prevention before you start seeing these little critters.

There are many natural alternatives that deter external parasites, like fleas and ticks, and are safe for your pet. We have an array of options at our clinic, including:

• ​Flee Free
• Amber collars
• Bug Zone tick and flea tags
• Vetri Repel Sprays and Wipes​
• Cedarcide Spray
• Herbal Internal Powder

​It’s important to routinely check your pets for ticks 
Ticks can carry Lyme and other tick borne diseases. They are not always easy to spot, so during the peak of tick season it’s important to check your pets at least twice a day. Peak season is beginning now and lasts until late fall. 

Suggested steps for removing ticks from your pet

• Using forceps or tweezers, grasp the tick quickly as close to the skin as you can. The quicker you grab it, the less time for it to bury it's head deeper under the skin. For dogs only, you can apply Vaseline or Tea Tree oil. This will cause the tick to become weak.
• If the head is left in the skin, it may cause inflammation but usually will scab over and peel off within a few days. Clean the area off with some hydrogen peroxide and then you can apply some Calendula gel.
• We recommend giving Ledum 30C weekly during tick season to reduce the chance of infection from any ticks. ​​
• TIP: If your pet has short fur, you can use a sticky lint brush to roll over your pets coat. This may help grab the ticks on the surface that haven't attached yet.

Symptoms that your pet may have Lyme

• Lethargy
• Loss of appetite
• Fever
• Joint swelling, stiffness, discomfort, or pain

If your pet shows signs of 1 or more of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian. The sooner diagnosis and treatment can begin, the sooner your furry friend will feel better. 

​What can you do if your pet has Lyme Disease?
Here at MASH, we have had great success treating Lyme using alternative therapies. We leverage a combination of  Ultraviolet Blood Therapy (UVBI), Ozone therapy, and Chinese Herbs to help your pet fight back and get healthy. The UV light kills most viruses and bacterias and stimulates healthy cells while ozone creates an oxygen rich environment that helps to reduce the inflammation associated with the disease.