How do you know if your dog got fleas in your bed? Here's how to check and what to do if you find them.
Wondering how to remove a tick from your dog? It might be easier than you think! Here's how to take a tick off a dog and prevent tick trouble in the future.
How many fleas on your dog is an infestation? Learn how to spot fleas, how many is too many, and how to deal with them.
Can mosquitoes bite dogs? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Here's what you can do to stop them.
How do dogs get heartworms? If you're worried about heartworm disease, focus your attention on mosquitoes.
Sometimes giving a cat liquid medicine can be a struggle. Here's how to successfully give medication to your feisty cat.
Fleas can make your dog miserable, so it's important to identify them early. Here are the signs that your dog has fleas, and what you can do to treat it.
The holidays are fast approaching, and you’re likely thinking about your resolutions for the new year. But what about your furry friend? Here are 7 manageable resolutions that you can make to keep you and your dog happy and healthy throughout the year.
There is an endless variety of costumes available for your pooch, from hot dog costumes for Dachshunds to princess dresses for Chihuahuas to superhero costumes for Border Collies—this is the chance for your pup to play dress-up! You can even make a doggie costume yourself with a little imagination.
Half the fun of having dogs in our lives is sharing various activities with them, including play dates at the dog park, camping, and hiking. Most dogs have lots of physical and mental energy—even saying the word “outside” can send them into a tail-wagging tizzy—so you’ll want to channel that energy into safe, fun activities you can both enjoy.
There are several parasites that affect cats, but the most common are fleas and ticks. You should examine your cat for these parasites every time you groom him, or at least once a week. Indoor cats have a very small chance of acquiring these creatures, but they should be regularly checked anyway, just in case.
There are several parasites that affect cats, but the most common are fleas and ticks. You should examine your cat for these parasites every time you groom him, or at least once a week. Indoor cats have a very small chance of acquiring these creatures, but they should be regularly checked anyway, just in case.
Doesn’t it feel like flea and tick season never ends? That’s because in a sense, it doesn’t. Outbreaks—triggered by factors including temperature and humidity levels—affect most parts of the United States throughout the year. Here’s a quick primer so you’re prepared.
If only it were easy to treat pesky flea problems and prevent future infestations at home! Fortunately, now it is. Adams™ is proud to introduce the Infest Stop™* ingredient, which treats fleas by disrupting their growth cycle.
Summer is officially here, and with it— fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. For many of us, the summer months are extremely busy with travel and new adventures making easy to use pest products, like a dog flea and tick collar, extremely valuable. Sound like you? Read on to learn more.
Eliminating fleas can take patience—sometimes involving weeks of established treatment routines. But knowing where they hide can make the process easier.
Lyme
disease is one of the most commonly transmitted tick-borne diseases. It
was first reported in the United States back in 1975 in Lyme and Old
Lyme, Connecticut, where an uncommon number of children experienced
symptoms similar to rheumatoid arthritis. These children had all been
bitten by ticks.
Tick
populations have been steadily increasing, and experts are predicting
even higher than normal numbers in most areas of the country. Migratory
birds and white-tailed deer acting as carriers have expanded the range
of many tick species, while conservation efforts such as decreased
reliance on insecticides and the preservation of open space have helped
them thrive.
Tick
populations have been steadily increasing, and experts are predicting
even higher than normal numbers in most areas of the country. Migratory
birds and white-tailed deer acting as carriers have expanded the range
of many tick species, while conservation efforts such as decreased
reliance on insecticides and the preservation of open space have helped
them thrive.
Take a moment to consider these “top 10” ways to support the dog who plays such an important role in your life.
Read Adam's comprehensive list of the top 10 dog health issues, including allergies, obesity, and fleas, and learn some ways to address them.
Keeping your dog safe from injury is one of the priorities of dog ownership. Despite all your precautions, sometimes the inevitable happens and your dog sustains an injury. Are you prepared to give him the best emergency assistance that you can?
Your dog is your family—so you’ve likely already noticed if he has gained weight over a relatively short period. But it may be a bit more difficult to recognize the extra bulk if he’s been slowly packing on the pounds over a longer period. Here are two ways to determine if your pup is at the correct weight.
Owning a dog or cat is a big responsibility, but it can also be a big expense. Knowing when you should rush your pet to the emergency clinic, schedule an appointment with your regular vet, or solve a problem at home can make all the difference in being able to pay the vet bill when a visit is indeed necessary.
West Nile virus resides inside the carrier mosquito’s salivary glands. The mosquito transfers the virus when it feeds on the blood of your dog, cat, or horse—or even you. Mosquitoes are by far the most common transmitters of WNV to humans or their companion animals.
Ants
invade homes, usually in search of food and water. These close
relatives of bees and wasps are social insects that divide duties among
different types of adults. Queens lay the colony’s eggs and sometimes
participate in feeding and grooming larvae. Most of the colony is
comprised of sterile female workers that gather food, build tunnels, and
defend the colony.
Bedbugs invade even the cleanest homes, hitching a ride on luggage, clothing, bedding, or furniture. These pesky parasites then spread throughout your home when you move bug-infested furniture or clothing, or as your pets wander.
Cockroaches are some of the world’s oldest insects, and their success relates to their ability to adapt to changing environments. Because they are scavengers, these insects eat whatever is available, although they prefer starch, grease, sweets, meats, and meat byproducts. They will even live on decaying organic matter, book bindings, and glue!
The nighttime chirping sounds of crickets herald spring and summer in many areas of the United States. What you don’t necessarily hear is the chomping of these insects on plants, paper products, and fabrics such as linen, silk, wool, and cotton.
Earwigs
are one of the least attractive insects that live around, and sometimes
inside, homes. The most common species is about 3/4 inch long, appears
reddish-brown in color, and has prominent pincers, called cerci, which
protrude from the abdomen. They also have long antennae on their head.
Fleas are wingless insects with mouthparts adapted for piercing skin and sucking the blood of their hosts. Why should I worry about fleas? Many dogs and cats are allergic to their saliva, and a single flea bite can cause severe itching or even hives. Fleas also carry the Diplylidium caninum tapeworm and other diseases, including the plague virus.
The merciless mosquito thrives in warm, humid conditions and lives and breeds in standing water. Any pool of water that has been stagnant for three days is a prime habitat for this dangerous parasite. Female mosquitoes can lay up to 300 eggs at one time, and their offspring usually stay within 300 feet of where they hatched. This means that most mosquitoes you see in your yard were actually born in your neighborhood!
Silverfish, while not harmful to people or their pets, can create havoc in pantries and on bookshelves. They hide in crevices between surfaces by day, and by night they scuttle to nearby food sources to dine. Attracted by carbohydrates (starches) and protein, silverfish are most famous for munching on book paper and glue, wallpaper, and carpets.
Ticks generally drop off your pet when they’re full of blood, but it can take several days for this to happen. During this time, they can transmit several diseases to pets (and their humans!), including Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and babesiosis.
The wasp measures up to an inch long, and depending on the species, is reddish-brown to dark brown in color. Some species have yellow markings on the head. They possess a narrow waist between the thorax and abdomen, and their dark wings fold along the body at rest.
You’re getting ready for work. Grabbing the keys, drinking some coffee, heading for the door. When you get halfway there, your keys jingle and your dog appears, doing everything he can to make a ruckus. Barking is only the beginning. He’s circling your legs, pawing at your briefcase. When he starts howling, you consider staying home, but there’s a lot to do today. And besides, this happens every morning.
One of the best ways to protect dogs from fleas and ticks—and the menacing illnesses they can cause—is to stay on top of grooming. Performing simple tasks like brushing and bathing regularly will help you identify these tiny yet dangerous pests that can lurk in your dog’s coat.
Many training methods can be used to teach your dog basic obedience, but positive reinforcement—using verbal praise, treats, toys, or petting—is most effective. For the best results, always have fun while using any training method. Vary your training sessions and treats, and add little challenges along the way so that your dog looks forward to training with you.
As smart pet owners, we are always on the lookout for things that can endanger our beloved animals. Before heading out the door for a walk, we grab our dogs’ leashes. When taking our cats for well visits with their veterinarian, we use pet carriers. Simple steps like these help to keep our pets safe. But what about the dangers that threaten our pets’ well-being when they are at home?