Fleas Bite and Ticks Suck #PetBasics #BlogPaws

Fleas bite. Ticks suck. But they both feed on the same thing: your pet’s blood. The soft, warm fur of your pet provides the perfect environment for these pesky critters.  It is why you need a great flea and tick preventive, like Seresto®, to keep your pet pest-free and healthy.

This post is sponsored by Seresto® and the BlogPaws™ Pet Influencer Network™. I was sponsored to the BlogPaws 2016 conference to help spread the word about Bayer Animal Health, but Oz the Terrier only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Bayer Animal Health and Seresto are not responsible for the content of this article.

Summer can be a great time for pets and their families to spend more time outside and spending more time outside, can mean increased exposure to fleas and ticks. For us, this summer has been brutally hot so Oz has been spending more time indoors away from the heat and humidity. Our inability to tolerate the excessive heat has been a blessing in disguise, as we recently found fleas in our backyard.

Oh, those fleas! They love the warm temperature and the higher relative humidity of Florida. Our State is the perfect breeding ground for these pests and because we have not had a lot of rain, the fleas have moved into our neighborhood.

Even though we use a flea and tick preventative, we are being vigilant and checking Oz after each early morning and evening walk. A pet owner can never be too careful as fleas and ticks can cause serious illness in our pets.

Conditions Caused by Fleas

Anemia – signs include pale gums and lack of energy

Flea Allery Dermatitis – signs include itching, fur loss and scabbing

Conditions Caused by Ticks

Ehrlichiosis – signs include flu-like symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, weight loss and change in mental status

Lyme Disease – signs include fever, lameness, swelling of joints, lethargy and loss of appetite

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever – signs include loss of appetite, loss of coordination, swelling and blood in the urine

While it is easy to feel or see a tick on your pet, fleas may be a little trickier and harder to find. But there are warning signs to look for like: flea droppings (dark specks) in the fur, flea eggs (white specks) in the fur, excessive itching or licking and scabs or hot spots.

The best way to keep your pet flea and tick free is to use a preventative. The Seresto collar is great as it provides up to 8 months protection for your pet. Seresto kills and repels fleas and ticks while providing odorless, non-greasy, waterproof and easy-to-use protection. The best part is that there are no monthly treatments to remember!

Yes, fleas bite and ticks suck but they won’t do either to your pet if you use the Seresto collar.

Have you seen any fleas or ticks in your yard or on your pet this summer?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of BlogPaws Pet Influencer Network. The opinions and text are all mine.