{"id":4301,"date":"2025-01-31T15:50:22","date_gmt":"2025-01-31T15:50:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fearfree.com\/?p=4301"},"modified":"2025-01-31T15:50:24","modified_gmt":"2025-01-31T15:50:24","slug":"preserving-the-human-canine-bond-through-superior-flea-and-tick-control","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fearfree.com\/2025\/01\/preserving-the-human-canine-bond-through-superior-flea-and-tick-control\/","title":{"rendered":"Preserving the Human-Canine Bond Through Superior Flea and Tick Control"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

The relationship between clients and their dogs has deepened as more people integrate their pets into daily routines, sharing everything from the food on their plates to the places they sleep. While this close harmony strengthens the mutual benefits of the human-animal bond, it also increases the chance of sharing unwanted parasites.<\/p>\n

Ensure nothing\u2014including fleas, ticks, and their associated diseases\u2014can come between your clients and their canine companions with effective parasite education and prevention.<\/p>\n

Making room for Fido: Is letting your dog sleep with you OK?<\/h5>\n

Before we explore the unseemly world of parasites, let\u2019s pull back the covers on canine sleeping arrangements.<\/p>\n

According to veterinary behaviorist Dr. Meghan Herron, DVM, DACVB, FFCP-V, sharing the bed with a dog is acceptable and, in some cases, advantageous for the dog or pet parent. \u201cMore and more people want that comfort and affection,\u201d Herron said. \u201cHaving a canine companion [share your bed] can be helpful.\u201d However, the dog’s and their owner’s comfort should be a priority. \u201cNot every dog is going to enjoy sharing the bed,\u201d said Herron, citing the need for undisturbed sleep or cooler temperatures as common reasons why. \u201cSome dogs do great in a crate or sprawled out on a hardwood floor.\u201d<\/p>\n

While some owners worry that treating their dogs like humans (i.e., anthropomorphism) may lead to a sense of dominance or behavior problems, Herron says this is not the case, adding \u201cthere is no known correlation between these interactions and behavior issues.\u201d<\/p>\n

When sharing isn\u2019t caring: Health risks<\/h5>\n

Physical closeness is an everyday way for people and dogs to grow their relationships, but without proper precautions, it can also increase their risk for certain health hazards. Fleas and ticks can easily move from dogs to humans, often unbeknownst to us as we sleep or rest. While ticks are less nimble than fleas\u2014who can jump two feet high and 40 to 100 times their body length\u2014unattached ticks can easily migrate from dog to owner.<\/p>\n

In addition to causing painful bites, fleas and ticks can infest the client\u2019s home, trigger flea allergy dermatitis, and transmit harmful diseases, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis, through their saliva. Such challenges can potentially compromise the human-animal bond, as discomfort, illness, or household changes (e.g., alternative sleeping arrangements) can cause fear, anxiety, and stress in pets and people alike.<\/p>\n

Ultimate comfort: Protecting the dog-owner bond with effective parasite prevention<\/h5>\n

Fortunately, many parasite preventive options are available for dogs that can prevent undesirable bedfellows such as fleas and ticks and help dogs and owners preserve their close relationship. \u201cThere are preventions out there that can stop parasite-related problems before they even start and help treat the problem if it has started,\u201d Herron said.<\/p>\n

The best product for each canine patient will depend on the dog\u2019s preferences and comfort, and practical matters such as convenience and efficacy. The two parasiticide types include:<\/p>\n