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Start the Year Off Right With Pest Control Measures

Happy New Year! It’s a new year, which makes this the perfect time to make sure your pets stay pest-free. This may not be the cutest pet resolution out there, but it’s very important! Creepy crawlies like fleas, ticks, and parasitic worms can sideline your pet’s health in no time at all! Read on to learn more from a local veterinarian. 

Use Preventative Medications

Veterinarians recommend keeping your furry BFF on a year-round heartworm preventative and a flea-and-tick preventative. These simple measures should protect your animal companion from most of the common pests that are waiting outdoors, such as fleas and ticks. If your pet isn’t already on a parasite control regime, get in touch with your vet right away. 

Groom Your Pet Regularly

Taking the time to groom your four-legged friend on a regular basis is a great way to check the coat and skin for fleas and ticks. Even if Fluffy or Fido has a short coat of fur and doesn’t require any specific grooming measures, you can quickly run a flea comb through the coat to check for tiny brown or black specks—that’s flea poop. If you do find anything, call your vet’s office to find out how to proceed. 

Seal the Gaps

Pests can easily slip in through small openings and latch on to unsuspecting pets inside. Use sealant foam to block off any small holes or cracks in your home’s siding or foundation. 

Tend to the Landscaping

Pests are typically attracted to dense brush and tall, unkempt grasses because these areas give them places to hide. Check around your house, and trim back thick shrubbery and lengthy grass so you don’t inadvertently give pests a home. This is especially important if any vegetation is touching your home itself, and/or near a window. You might be giving outdoor pests an open invitation into your living room. 

Keep Things Clean

There’s no substitute for keeping things nice and clean, both indoors and outside. Vacuum and disinfect inside your home regularly and be sure to wash your pet’s bedding every now and then. Outdoors is important too! Get rid of any brush piles, garbage, or leftover foods that could attract pests. Remove any sources of standing water—empty flower pots, birdfeeders, old tires—that mosquitoes could use to breed.

Does your pet need pest-control medications? Want to learn more about keeping your four-legged friend safe and sound? Call your local vet’s office to speak with the professionals.

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