Flea and Tick Education

Fleas and ticks are out for blood! These pesky parasites live on an animal’s skin and can cause a wide range of skin diseases. They may even cause systemic (whole-body) illnesses by transmitting worms, protozoa, and bacteria to your pet’s vital organs, leading to chronic to acute disease that can kill your beloved furry family member.

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. 

Adult fleas are not picky about their hosts; they can easily jump from one dog to another. Dog parks, boarding kennels, and anywhere else dogs congregate can be a place for fleas to play “musical hosts.” Dogs can also catch fleas from other animals, such as outdoor/feral cats, or any wildlife passing through your yard or recreation areas. 

Your dog is scratching… shaking his head… biting himself… then scratching some more. If you notice this behavior, your dog may have fleas. Here’s the proper way to check your pet.

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.

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. Experts later determined that Lyme disease is specifically caused by the spirochete bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, carried by the deer tick, and can be transmitted not only to humans but to pets as well. Lyme disease can be found in cats, but it is much more common in dogs.

Getting rid of fleas is a three-step process — you need to treat your dog, home, and yard.

Any pet owner knows the dangers of fleas and ticks, but there’s another pest threatening our pets’ lives that is talked about much less — mosquitoes. Before a backyard barbeque or a weekend camping trip in the mountains, we humans arm ourselves with sprays, candles, and incense to repel mosquitoes, but we often forget to take the same precautions for our four-legged companions. 

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. These are causes of concern for pet owners, since ticks aren’t just a nuisance to pets—they can be downright dangerous to their health.

Recognizing when your pet is most at risk is important – such as knowing the symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs and cats --because knowledge is power—and the more you know, the more prepared you and your furry friend will be.

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. These are causes of concern for pet owners, since ticks aren’t just a nuisance to pets—they can be downright dangerous to their health.