Spring is finally under way much to the delight of many people and their pets. Unfortunately, for pets, spring also means the beginning of another season of fleas and ticks. The pain and incessant itching that result from the biting and feeding of these pests on animals can make your pets sick and miserable. Hitchhiking fleas and ticks can fall off of your pets’ fur and onto your furniture, bedding, and carpets before beginning to attack your family.

A single female flea lays more than 500 eggs in her lifetime. Flea larvae mature to adulthood within a couple of weeks and are ready to lay even more eggs on your pet, in your home, and outside in the yard, becoming potentially harmful to your loved ones. Many veterinarians recommend getting a jumpstart on protecting your pets and family from emerging flea and tick populations. Preventative and treatment measures may be necessary all year in locations that always have mild temperatures.

Fleas and ticks are difficult to eradicate once their populations are well established. The most effective means for ridding them for months at a time is to take a three-pronged approach of treating your pets, home, and yard with flea and tick solutions. Many solutions can kill fleas and ticks at every life stage. It is not enough to treat just your dog or cat, prevention is also necessary. A flea or tick can hitch a ride on a treated pet without biting them, and make their way into your home to feed on your family. You also want to kill the eggs so that they cannot mature into adults and continue multiplying. Treating your yard to kill fleas and ticks, including their eggs, and to repel neighboring ones from moving in, sets up a strong barrier of defense against pests. Treating your pets and home offers further protection from disease-carrying fleas and ticks that can affect everyone.

You have several treatment options for controlling pests that hibernate on your pets including flea and tick collars, shampoos, sprays, topical solutions applied directly to pet’s skin, and even medications in pill form. Be sure to read a products label carefully before using it on your pet, and consult with your pet’s veterinarian about a product first. Certain flea and tick products are made specifically for use on dogs and can be harmful when used on cats. There are a few products that are safe for use on dogs and cats, and come in handy if you have both animals in your home. If you have a puppy or kitten, it is important to check with your veterinarian to make sure that the medication you have chosen will not be harmful to them due to their age. Many medications are recommended for pets ages 3 months or older. Refer to the product’s usage label to make sure it is safe for your pet.

Below are some preventative medications and tactics for your dogs against those annoying pests.

• The Preventic® Tick Collar for Dogs: Works to kill ticks on your dog and repels new ones from attaching and feeding on them for up to five months.

• The PowerBand™ Flea and Tick Collar: Works to kill flea eggs, young and adult fleas, and ticks for up to five months of protection for dogs.

• EctoKyl® CA Shampoo: Works fast killing fleas and ticks on dogs, while also conditioning their coat.

•Adams™ Flea Shampoo: Goes to work immediately killing fleas, ticks, and even lice on your dog.

•Ecto-Soothe® 3X Shampoo: Kills fleas fast while also soothing skin irritated by fleabites.

•FRONTLINE® Spray Treatment for Dogs & Cats: A spray that acts quickly to kill fleas and ticks on dogs and cats that are 2 months or older.

•Virbac® Long-Acting Knockout: Kills fleas and ticks on your dog and works to protect them from pests for up to three months.

•Advantage® for Puppies and Dogs: A topical solution applied directly to dogs’ skin once monthly for month-long protection from fleas and ticks.

•Revolution® for Dogs: A topical that kills adult fleas and prevents flea eggs from maturing.

•Vet-Kem® Siphotrol® X-Tend™: Patio and Yard Fogger that helps you control fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes in your outdoor areas.

Below are some preventative medications against those annoying pests for cats and your home.

•Capstar® Tablets: Tablets that can be given to both dogs and cats that kills fleas fast. These flavored tablets are often easier to give your cat using the shampoo or sprays on them.

•Advantage Multi for Cats RX: A topical solution for treating fleas and ticks on cats.

• Adams™ Flea Shampoo: Kills fleas, ticks, and lice, while cleaning and deodorizing the coat on cats whose temperaments are agreeable to baths.

•Mycodex® Environmental™ Aerosol Household Spray: Kills adult fleas, eggs and larvae inside the home, for unbeatable long-lasting protection from these pests.

•Virbac® Yard Spray Concentrate: Kills fleas and ticks in your yard and repels future infestations for several months.

Although there are a few brands of cat flea and tick collars available, collars typically are not recommended for most cats due to the high risk of choking and hanging. Opt for using another method to take care of your lively cat.