Tag Archives: fleas

You’re giving your pup a well-deserved back scratch and find a bump. You spread his fur to find a tick embedded in his skin. There’s nothing fun about this experience. Keeping your pet tick-free is imperative to their well-being as ticks are transmitters of Lyme disease and other illnesses. Knowing how to remove a tick from a dog can keep your pet happy and healthy.

Let the experts at Mosquito Joe offer some insight on how to remove that tick and keep your furry friend tick-free!

How to Check Dog for Ticks 

Depending on the thickness and length of your dog’s hair, ticks can be easier to spot than smaller parasites such as fleas. Ticks are relatively stationary as they bury their head into the skin to feed on the host, so you should be able to spot them as you search.

If you come across a small bump (about the size of a pea), stop and investigate to see if it’s a tick. It’s good practice to check your dog for ticks every day, especially after they have been outside.

Places to Check for Ticks on Dogs             

Comb through the fur with your fingers or a flea comb to search for ticks. Work from the head-down, running your fingers or comb over the dog’s body all the way to the tail, legs and paws. Ticks gravitate toward dark, moist, and hidden areas, so pay special attention to under the front legs, groin, and in the ears, as well as under the collar, armpits, and under the tail. Take a minute to also check between your dog’s toes for ticks.

How to Remove a Tick From a Dog            

If you do find a tick, resist the urge to pluck it out by hand. Get a pair of tweezers (thin surgical tweezers work best) or a tick-removal tool, such as a tick key. Grip the tick by the head as close to the skin as possible. Pull the tick straight out with constant, slow pressure, being careful to avoid twisting the tweezers while pulling.

Place the removed tick in rubbing alcohol to kill it and rub a disinfectant or antibiotic ointment on the site where the tick was removed. Ticks embedded in your dog’s skin can be hazardous to their health. Regular inspection and the use of preventative medicine can help keep your dog happy and tick-free. Ticks can spread disease upon latching to a host in as little as 36-48 hours, so regular tick inspection is imperative for a healthy pet.

Keep Your Yard Tick-Free

Eliminating ticks from the yard is a great way to decrease the number of ticks your pets get. If you are ready to take more proactive steps toward a tick-free yard, call 1-855-275-2563 or contact Mosquito Joe today!

National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day is observed each year on April 30.  This day was created as a way to raise awareness for thousands of pets that are waiting for adoption from the shelters. According to the ASPCA, approximately 6.5 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year. The Mosquito Joe family feels pretty strongly about our rescues (Check out this article about Mosquito Joe of Wayne and their partnership with local shelters) so we decided to highlight some of the corporate staff members who rescued their furbabies.

In September 2016, a good friend of mine knew a woman that had just found a litter of kittens near her house and was working with Poquoson Animal Welfare Sanctuary (PAWS) to find them homes.  We met up with her and the litter of kittens and immediately fell in love with one of the boys and his only sister who we named Murphy and Grace, named after a couple of  important names in Naval history.  At just 11 weeks old, they came to live with us in early November 2016.  Murphy is a feisty one (he demands an ice cube to chase every time we’re near the freezer) while Grace is more quiet and reserved, but both are incredibly sweet, cuddly, and perfect companions! ~ Nick Sell, Franchise Business Coach

Both Morgan and Kingston are rescued. Morgan (my German Shepherd mix) was about to go to a shelter and I just couldn’t help but love her excitement, enthusiasm and love for people. Kingston was the last of a litter in the shelter, a little sickly and infected with parasites. I was looking for a companion for Morgan because she loves playing with little dogs and when I saw him,I knew he was meant to join our family. Today, he’s happy and healthy and a big dog in a little dog’s body. ~ Jayme Sabo, Director of Marketing

When a family moves away and can’t bring their cats with them, you get the best two fur brothers on this planet. Oliver (Brown stripped) and Tucker (Gray) were adopted from the Virginia Beach SPCA. After doing the math, I believe their Halloween kitties, which also explains their orange eyes. ~ Kyle Jones, Graphic Designer

We decided on a rescue because there are so many great animals out there that end up in shelters or rescues to no fault of their own (i.e. someone’s pet had an unintentional litter, someone moved and their new landlord didn’t allow the pet). We worked with an incredible organization (shout out to the Southeast German Shepherd Rescue) to find our buddy Chevy. They work hard to pair dogs with “fur-ever” homes by matching up owner needs/personalities with the dogs. Chevy was a perfect fit for us. I’ve never had such a loyal dog with such a personality. ~ Angela Paules, VP of Marketing 

8 years ago my then fiance and I decided to get a dog and knew we wanted to rescue because of all the great animals who needed homes. I was at work on a Friday afternoon scrolling through pictures at the shelter when I saw this girl’s face. The next morning I had him driving us downtown to pick her up.  I had no other explanation other than she was meant to be mine. She has been my best girl ever since and is now her human brother’s best companion (most of the time). Our Lilly has the quirkiest personality and we love her so much. ~ Julie Green, Marketing Manager

If you have a rescue baby you want to keep protected this year, don’t forget our services take care of fleas and ticks too. Always follow your veterinarian’s recommendations for flea and tick preventative medicines, but we can be an added layer of defense in your own backyard. Thanks for reading about our fur kiddos, we’d love to hear about yours! Buzz in and share our pictures on our Facebook page! And of course, if you’re thinking of adding to your family with a feline or dog companion, always consider adopting!

The first day of August is here! I can’t believe this summer is flying by as quickly as it is. Last week I took my dog in for her annual checkup at the vet, and I noticed a big poster on the wall about the dangers of leaving your pet in the car during the months that are hot. As we make our way into one of the hottest months of the year, it got me thinking about other things in the summer that can be harmful (and irritating) to our pets.

When the temperature goes up, the insects come out. That’s not new news, but the amount of fleas and ticks that summer brings could be. The ideal temperature for these pet problems are between 70-90 degrees. That’s generally a typical summer day for most parts of the country. Fleas and ticks also require high humidity level around 70% which increases the chance for large amounts of the insects in areas like the Southeast of the US.

Ticks find their hosts by detecting animals´ breath and body odors, or by sensing body heat and moisture, all of which are upped during the summer months and fleas, well…they’ll jump to find you. You get the picture. Hot = fleas and ticks. To make sure your pet is safe this summer here are some tips to keep them cool, hydrated, and and itch free this summer.

• If dogs or cats must be outside, make sure they have an adequate supply of water.
• If they are tied to a unmovable object, make sure shade is in their reach.
• Never leave your dog alone in the car (even with the windows down) during the summer months. 
• Make sure you have your cats and dogs on a flea and tick prevention program year round.
• Mosquito Joe barrier treatments help protect against fleas and ticks and set up a perimeter around your yard, keeping them out.

We love seeing pictures of our customers (two legged or four legged) so if you have plans that involve getting out in your yard with your pet this weekend, we’d love to see pictures. Send them to marketing@mosquitojoe.com and you may be featured on our Facebook page or in a future blog post! We hope you enjoy your weekend!

Spring is the beginning of warmer days, longer nights, flowers blooming, and neighborhood barbeques. But you might not be thinking about the other season that creeps up as temperatures rise. Mosquito Joe season! (Also known as mosquito, flea and tick season.)  If you read our blog post highlighting ticks, you know tiny bugs can pack big punches when it comes to your health, your pets, and your home. The next target in our educational series (another of our targets in your yard) is no different. It’s time for a lesson on….fleas.

Why We Hate Fleas
Most people know the common annoyances of fleas for cats, dogs, and sometimes even humans. Their bites are itchy, their saliva can be an allergen causing rashes, and they can cause skin problems when your cat or dog scratches incessantly. What many people don’t know is that fleas actually carry diseases just like mosquitoes and ticks. Fleas find “hosts” and those hosts are warm blooded animals. Naturally they are usually dogs and cats, but they can also be opossums, rats, and other rodents. According to the ASPCA, since fleas can consume 15 times their own body weight in blood, they can cause anemia and a significant amount of blood loss over time. They can even cause tapeworm!

Did You Know?
We won’t call these “fun facts” since there is nothing fun about a flea infestation.

• The flea was actually the cause of the bubonic plague in the middle ages!  It is still the carrier of the plague today, but thank goodness for antibiotics.
• When searching for a host fleas can jump over 10,000 times in a row…the length of three football fields!
• Fleas can bite up to 400 times a day!
• A female flea can lay 2,000 eggs.
• On average, a flea lives 2-3 months.

Flea Prevention and Treatment
With something this determined you want to make sure you are doing everything you can to keep fleas out of your home. If you have pets, veterinarians recommend a monthly flea and tick preventative given once a month during ALL seasons. Only giving your dog or cat flea treatments during spring and summer is not effective. What your vet might fail to mention is the first step in flea prevention is treating your yard. Our mosquito control services also kill and prevent fleas and ticks, so let Mosquito Joe be your first line of defense against these disease carrying pests. Contact us today for a free quote. We have no contracts and no obligations, just mosquito treatment solutions.

Once you have a flea free yard and pet, check out this fun craft project from Modern Dog Magazine for you and your four-legged friend(s)!

Sources: www.healthypet.com, photo credit