The Pesky Flea And Tick
The flea and the tick. A pet’s worst nightmare. But with proper information and care, you can easily win the battle.
If you want to keep your Golden Retriever happy, or any dog for that matter, you need to be serious about controlling these pests.
These little buggers can make your pets life miserable, and if left uncontrolled, can become a big problem in your home.
As your Golden goes about his daily activities outside in the yard, or walking in the woods, he will naturally pick up fleas. The way they attack their victims is by jumping on them. They can easily jump a couple of feet to get on a nice warm body.
Did you know the female flea can produce up to 600 offspring a month. If your Golden had 25 or 30 female fleas, and the problem went untreated for a month, you can see what a huge problem this could become.
Ticks on the other hand are an even bigger problem. They pose a greater risk of making you or your pet very sick. Thousands of people annually get illnesses such a Lyme disease.
Once a tick is attached to your Golden it can remain there for up to a week. Lyme disease is usually caused by the Deer tick.
If your Golden is more of a house dog, and gets walked on a leash on sidewalks, you probably won’t have much of a tick problem.
If you have a yard that your Golden spends a lot of time in, but you keep the lawn manicured, and put down a treatment once a year to kill brown dog ticks (available at most home and garden centers) you probably still will not have much of a tick problem.
If you take your dog out in the woods for walks, or he is used for hunting, it is pretty certain you will have a tick problem. When you bring your dog home, examine him for ticks.
A lot of times you will find ticks that are still walking around on your dog, looking for a place to burrow in.
If you find one that has already burrowed into your dog, grab the tick using your fingers protected with either a paper towel or surgical gloves, or grab it with tweezers, and pull gently but steady until it comes out.
Don’t pull too hard or fast because the head might come off and remain in your pet.
To dispose of the tick you can stick it to a piece of tape and fold the tape around it, or put it in a jar with some oil and seal it. You should never break the tick with your fingers because it can be infectious to humans.
If lyme disease is common in your area, it may be a good idea to save the tick in a glass jar with a grass clippings for moisture, and ask your vet where the tick can be tested to see if it carries the disease. The key to preventing lyme disease is early detection.
Medications to Treat Fleas and Ticks
There are a number of products to help control your dog’s flea and tick problem. Your veterinarian can usually let you know which one is right for your pet.
All of the products listed below have advantages and disadvantages. They also differ in what they will and will not control. Over the counter powders, sprays, and collars are moderately effective, however the best products are obtained only with a prescription.
(1) Fipronil (FRONTLINE liquid or spray and TOP SPOT liquid)
Your dog must be 8 weeks old. Easy to apply (simply apply between your Golden’s shoulder blades); kills adult fleas AND ticks.
Requires a prescription from your vet, does not kill eggs or larvae.
(2) Imidacloprid (ADVANTAGE a liquid)
Dog must be 4 months old
Easy to apply (simply apply between your Golden’s shoulder blades; kills adult fleas.
Does not kill ticks, if your Golden jumps in a pond or gets wet reapplication may be necessary.
(3) Lufenuron (PROGRAM a liquid or monthly pill, SENTINEL a flavored tablet)
Drug is dose at 5mg per pound, only use Sentinel in puppies 4 weeks or older
Blocks flea larvae from reaching adulthood, only have to take one pill per month, Sentinel prevents heartworm as well No tick protection
(4) Methoprene (FRONTLINE PLUS a liquid, ADVANCED CARE FLEA and TICK DROPS PLUS contains phenothrin as well, ONCE A MONTH FLEA and TICK DROPS)
Dog must be 8 weeks old
Applied once per month (may be effective up to 3 months), kill all types of fleas and 4 major species of ticks.
Must be stored in a cool, dark, dry environment – light inactivates product.
(5) Nitenpryam (CAPSTAR a tablet)
Your Golden must be 4 weeks old to use, dose is body weight based
Safe for pregnant or nursing dogs
Flea killer only – fast acting (can rid a dog of its fleas in a couple of hours)
May cause your Golden to itch due to fleas dying – not a side effect of the drug
(6) Pyriproxyfen and Permethrin (BIOSPOT a liquid, DEFEND EX SPOT a liquid that does not contain pyriproxyphen)
Safe for dogs 4 weeks or older as well as pregnant or nursing dog. Kills adult fleas, eggs and larvae
Repels ticks and mosquitoes
Can be purchased without a prescription
(7) Selamectin (REVOLUTION a liquid)
Applied topically once a month between shoulder blades
Effective against adult fleas and flea eggs
May control ear mites, sarcoptic mange(scabies), hookworm, roundworm and ear mites
Your Golden must be 6 weeks old to use and it is safe for pregnant or nursing dogs.
