Fleas, Ticks and Pointers – A Bad Combination

ByKim

If you have a dog, there’s a good chance you’ve run into fleas, ticks or both. Fleas bite people in addition to “bugging” dogs, and flea bites can be itchy and irritating for both of you. What’s more, the little critters can get into your carpeting, bed linens and upholstered furniture.

And ticks are even worse. They’re just nasty little pieces of work. They attach themselves to your Pointer’s skin and suck out as much of his blood as possible, swelling up to many times their normal size in the process.

So, both types of bugs, fleas and ticks, can be problems. But they can be much more than just irritating and disgusting. In fact, fleas and ticks can create some significant health problems for your Pointer.

Fleas carry tapeworm larvae, and when they bite your Pointer he’s liable to bite back as well as nag at the area. Inevitably, he’ll swallow at least a few fleas – and voila, in a few days he’ll have tapeworms. These intestinal parasites can suck the energy out of even the healthiest dog if they go untreated. But that’s not the only issue if your Pointer has fleas.

Flea bites can be very itchy, causing your dog to lick and even bite at his skin to try to get some relief. If your Pointer continues to do this, he might end up with hot spots, a skin condition which can spread and become somewhat dangerous if not treated promptly. And ticks can transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, a life-threatening disease which you or your Pointer can contract if you’re bitten by an infected tick.

Fortunately, it’s both easy and inexpensive to prevent fleas and ticks on your Pointer. Just put a monthly topical flea and tick preventative onto your dog’s skin and your problems will be over before they begin. You can find these products at any pet shop, superstore or vet’s office.

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