Fleas, ticks, and mosquitos: Florida pet parents know too well how important it is to keep their dogs and cats healthy and safe. Unfortunately, here in The Sunshine State, certain pests can thrive more than others — and harm your beloved pets.
Luckily, once you’re aware of the most common types of pests in Florida’s Space Coast, it’s easy to protect your pup or cat!
Fleas
First, we must address one of the most prevalent pests in Brevard County: fleas. During the warmest periods of the year, fleas can run rampant and quickly become a nuisance to your pet.
Fleas are incredibly tiny insects that can attach to your dog or cat. Without knowing it, your pet can bring in a flea on their fur or skin after spending just a short time outside.
An infestation could occur once a flea attaches to your pet or enters your home. These pests can quickly make your pet uncomfortable and cause skin infections, which we don’t want.
Ticks
Next, we have ticks, yet another notorious pest found in Florida. Ticks can also become a real problem depending on the area where you live. For example, they thrive in wooded or grassy areas.
Unfortunately, these common pests can attach to your pet and infect them with tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme Disease. Because of this, it’s vital that you accurately remove a tick if you find that there is one on your dog or cat.
Mosquitoes
Finally, let’s discuss mosquitoes. Regular humans struggle with mosquito bites throughout the warm months of the year. Here in Florida, mosquitoes seem to stay much longer than in other parts of the United States!
Mosquito bites can lead to heartworm disease in pets, which could eventually lead to fatal health conditions. Therefore, being aware of this common Florida pest is essential.
How to Protect Your Pet from Florida’s Pests
Knowing about the most common pests in Florida is the first step to protecting your pets and keeping them healthy. Now that you know which pests to watch for, let’s explore how to protect your cat or dog.
- Use preventative medication. Love taking your dog on hikes in wooded areas? Or maybe just to the dog park, where you let your pup run around, feeling free? Well, it’s highly recommended that you use flea and tick prevention. These medicinal treatments — and there are many to choose from — go a long way in keeping your pet safe from fleas and ticks. This is the best way to protect your dog or cat from these notorious pests. Preventative options range from topical treatments to chewable ones, so you can find one that best works with your pet’s temperament!
- Regularly mow. Fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes don’t have to be in some faraway region. They could be thriving in your very own backyard. To keep these pests away, regularly mow your yard. Pests love tall grass — so eliminate these insect breeding grounds from around your home. Mosquitoes also congregate around standing water. Therefore, keeping your gutters clean can help prevent water from sticking around after rainy days. Be sure also to keep your yard free from poison and toxic plants!
- Bathe your pets. Regular bathing can also help protect your pets from flea or pest infestations. While your pets may absolutely hate taking a bath — we’re looking at you, cats of the world — if you have a particularly outdoorsy animal, these regular washings could go a long way in keeping pests out of their fur and skin. A routine of baths during the particularly hot summer months especially helps.
When to Get Expert Help with Fleas, Ticks, & Mosquitos
Unfortunately, even if you take these preventative measures to heart, you may still have a pet affected by these common Florida pests. When this happens, it’s essential to know when you can help your pet at home — and when you need expert help.
You’ve concluded that your pet has brought fleas into your home. While you may be able to bathe and get rid of your pet’s fleas by using topical medication, a home can also experience a flea infestation once the insects find their way into the house. Expert help may be needed to rid your home of these pests completely.
Furthermore, if your pet is showing severe allergic reactions to these fleas, it might be best to seek help from a veterinarian. Very young and very old animals may face more severe reactions to flea infestations, and expert assistance may also be needed in these cases.
If a mosquito bites your pet, it could have heartworm disease. Even indoor cats could be in this situation if mosquitoes enter your home.
If your dog is acting sick, coughing, not eating, or is lethargic, you may want to seek a vet’s opinion, as they could have heartworm disease. Similarly, heartworm disease in cats can result in felines vomiting, coughing, or not feeling active.
Keeping Your Pets Happy and Healthy in Florida
Knowing what common pests to look for in Florida can help protect your dog and cat. Every pet parent wants to keep their pets happy and healthy, and this knowledge can make that task a bit easier.
Space Coast Pet Services has various services designed to ensure your pet is living their happiest life.
To learn more about what we offer and how we can help you, contact us!
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