With Rise of Insect-Borne Disease, PetSmart Veterinarians Offer Tips
on How to Keep Pets Safe and Healthy
PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--According to new
data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, illnesses
from fleas, ticks and mosquitos have tripled in the United States over
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the past 13 years. Veterinarians at PetSmart, Inc., the leading pet
specialty retailer in North America, are providing tips to pet parents
on how to help keep pests off pets and keep them safe from these harmful
illnesses.
“As we head into the summer months, and with insect-borne illnesses on
the rise, it’s important to protect our pets,” said Nick Saint-Erne,
DVM, PetSmart’s resident veterinarian and pet care expert. “Parasites
like fleas, ticks and mosquitos are problematic for dogs and cats as
they spread diseases between animals, including heartworm. The best way
to keep pets safe is to prevent infestation and mosquito bites from
occurring in the first place.”
Take preventative steps. Flea, tick and mosquito control is an
important part of keeping pets healthy and happy. Year-round treatment
is ideal, and there are a variety of products that offer protection.
Select a product that treats all infestation issues and prevents them
from reoccurring. If your pet spends time outdoors or goes swimming, be
sure to use a waterproof application. Mosquitos are most active at dawn
or dusk, so if you can avoid walking your dog during these hours, you
can reduce the likelihood they will be bitten. While a preventative
treatment is an optimal way to keep pests at bay, it can also kill any
fleas that may have found their way onto your pet and repel new ones.
Use pet-formulated insect repellants. Never use human insect
repellent on your pets. DEET, the active ingredient in many common bug
sprays, can cause seizures, vomiting and irritation in dogs and cats.
Likewise, if you are treating a cat for flea or tick prevention, ensure
the repellant is specifically formulated for felines. “Do not use
products on pets younger than the ages specified on the product
instructions, nor on pets that are not specifically listed on the
label,” Saint-Erne said.
Look for clues that fleas or ticks have found their way onto your pet.
“Flea dirt,” small, curly black droppings, can be found in the fur even
when the fleas are not seen. To confirm if debris in a dog’s fur is flea
droppings, Saint-Erne recommends placing it on a white paper towel and
adding a drop of water to it. If it turns red, your pet may have fleas.
Ticks attach to the skin for feeding, but can be found crawling on the
fur when they first settle onto pets. Conduct a quick spot check on pets
following walks or time spent outdoors by parting the fur with your
hands to check the skin or by using a comb to brush through the fur.
Remove stagnant water around your home. Mosquitos need water to
live and prefer to lay their eggs in stagnant water. Eliminate their
breeding grounds by ensuring the area surrounding your home is free from
standing water under bushes and behind structures like tool sheds and
air conditioners, or in old tires or flower pots.
Treat the issue promptly. If you find fleas or ticks on your pet,
there are several ways to get rid of an infestation:
Bathe your dog using a specially formulated flea and tick shampoo that
is designed to kill parasites. The shampoo begins to work after your
dog is out of the bath.
Take your pet to the groomer and let them administer the treatment for
you.
Clean the house. Thoroughly vacuum your home and launder your dog’s
bedding, blankets and soft toys in hot water. A carpet powder or
fogger can also effectively treat the home.
Use an on-premise insecticide listed as safe for use around pets for
the house and the yard to prevent reinfestation.
For additional tips and resources on how to keep pests off your pets,
including a full assortment of product solutions, visit PetSmart’s Learning
Center or speak with an in-store PetSmart associate.
About PetSmart®
PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and
solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and
we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection,
PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their
pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision
impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our
associates and how we give back to our communities. PetSmart employs
approximately 55,000 associates and operates more than 1,600 pet stores
in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200
in-store PetSmart PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. The
retailer provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and
products, as well as services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet
boarding, PetSmart Doggie Day Camp™ and pet adoption. PetSmart, PetSmart
Charities® and PetSmart Charities® of Canada work with more than 3,500
animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they
have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this
in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has
facilitated more than 8 million adoptions, more than any other
brick-and-mortar organization. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com,
a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which
operates as an independent subsidiary.
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Contacts
Golin for PetSmart
Sarah Huether, 469-680-2521
or
PetSmart
24-Hour Media Line:
623-587-2177