Are You Considering a Dog?

Have you been thinking about getting a dog for a while now, but you are uncertain which dog to choose? If this applies to you, then you need to research and decide which type of canine would make the best addition to your family. A huge benefit of going with a dog that is purebred is that you can be certain about the dog’s attributes as far as appearance, size, temperament, and care needs. Knowing how you dog will behave and look as it matures will be an instrumental factor in your decision-making process.

Your Canine and You

People tend to forget all reason when they are selecting puppies. This statement seems even more true when children are included in the puppy selection. Even so, it is best to be knowledgeable before choosing your dog because the more you know; the better prepared you will be when you actually have the pet at home. Knowing all you can is important not only when it comes to choosing your specific breed but also when you’re deciding where to obtain the dog. It is highly recommended that you thoroughly research before purchasing your canine. Dogs are lifelong acquisitions; not temporary appliances.

When you are doing your research, make sure that you remain honest. You may love that beautiful Collie with the gorgeous coat, but will you have the time to care for that coat every single day? Perhaps you would do better with a dog with fewer grooming needs. Sure, you love that beautiful Golden Retriever, but will she enjoy living in your small one bedroom apartment? Where will she run and play since you do not have a private yard? You will need to answer questions such as these when you explore your options and make plans for being a good pet owner and a good neighbor.

Are you ready for the responsibility of having a dog? Having a dog requires more work than caring for a goldfish. Take the time to chat with breeders about the needs of the dogs, and do not hesitate to ask them questions. Conscientious breeders will gladly share their experiences and knowledge.

Finding the Right Breeder

These same breeders are responsible and seriously care about the canines they breed and raise. They make it a top priority to breed dogs who are in the best shape mentally and physically. It is from these highly-regarded individuals that you want to buy your puppies; this suggestion cannot be over emphasized. When you have chosen a breeder, screen that person or company. You should request to see either the dam or sire of the puppy you are purchasing. You should also pay attention to how all the canines in the breeder’s care respond to their “pack leader” and to you. Are the puppies happy and friendly or skittish and fearful? Any decent breeder will be checking you out as well to ensure their puppies are going to good homes.

The Financial Expense

You have to think about more than just the buying price when it comes to the financial expense you will be incurring when you get a puppy. You will need to add in funds for all the supplies and maintenance that make up good care for your pet; these are items such as food, collars, leashes, toys, and preventative health care such as vaccinations. Before you buy that adorable puppy, make sure you can afford to give him or her the life they deserve.

As a responsible pet owner, you will have to be prepared to take care of all your dog’s health needs for its entire life span. Of course, you will have to pay for things like shots and physicals, but you should also be prepared for unexpected illnesses and accidents because sadly they do happen. A review of your financial state would also include your ability to meet all of your pet’s financial needs.

The Importance of Obedience Training

Since a dog who does not behave well is an issue for everyone who lives with you or near you, obedience training is very important. First of all, you have to deal with a pooch that does not listen, and your neighbors may even be concerned about their own families if your dog gets out of hand. When your dog is well-trained, it represents the entire dog community in a positive light. Even more, when a person has a dog who is well-behaved, that person comes across as being someone who is indeed a good and responsible pet owner.

Pet Diabetes

When your veterinarian informs you of your dog’s diabetic condition, you should know that he or she is trying to offer you some good suggestions, but most of what is known about pet diabetes is from books. Few veterinarians have actually taken care of diabetic dogs in home environments.

The Symptoms of Pet Diabetes

Three types of canine diabetes exist. Not surprisingly, all diabetic dogs display common symptoms. The most obvious ones are listed below:

• The dog urinates more frequently.
• The dog has excessive thirst and drinks more often.
• The dog loses weight.
• The dog appears more exhausted and naps more than usual.

While the symptoms above do not apply solely to diabetes, they are usually the first evidence of diabetes observed by dog owners.

Urination Increases

Dogs with diabetes will urinate more often because they have too much glucose in their bodies since they cannot process it correctly. In its attempts to get rid of the glucose, the canine’s body works to eliminate it through urination. Because of the excessive urination, the animal experiences an increased desire to drink in order to replace the lost water.

The Presence of Ketones

If a dog’s body is unable to get enough energy from the food it takes in, then it will burn its stored fat for fuel. This will result in a dog losing weight and the formation of ketones. It is not unheard of for a diabetic canine to suffer weight loss even when it is eating regularly and has a larger than usual appetite.

An animal’s body can be tested for the presence of ketones, and if found, they can be treated, typically through dietary therapy. If ketones are not treated, a possibly fatal condition could arise.

Does Your Dog Have Diabetes?

Perhaps the symptom of diabetes seen most often in canines is when a dog who is house trained suddenly begins to urinate about the house. At times, this behavior may be confused with other conditions such as a bladder infection and incontinence in dogs of advanced years, but a blood test can provide a reliable diagnosis.

Dog diabetes will respond to the same tests used for assessing human diabetes. If the tests are positive for diabetes, a management program for the condition should begin immediately.

Though there were a couple of shake-ups in the top 10, no breed was able to unseat the perennial top dog. For the 20th consecutive year, the much-beloved Labrador retriever leads the pack when it comes to registrations.


According to the American Kennel Club these were the most popular dog breeds in 2010:

The AKC’s Most Popular Dogs in 2010

1. Labrador retriever
2. German shepherd
3. Yorkshire terrier
4. Beagle
5. Golden retriever
6. Bulldog
7. Boxer
8. Dachshund
9. Poodle
10. Shih Tzu

Outside of the top 10, the AKC spotted a few other trends emerging from the past decade of breed statistics. For example, the French bulldog has undergone a renaissance in the last 10 years, jumping 50 spots — from 71st to 21st! Likewise, the diminutive Havanese jumped from 86th to 31st place.

In addition, the AKC expanded its litter of registered breeds on January 1 to welcome the Norwegian Lundehund, the Xoloitzcuintli and the Entlebucher Mountain Dog – growing next year’s list of Most Popular Breeds to 170 dogs.

The food allergy is one of the most common issues faced by canine owners. Once the allergy has been identified, then the treatment can begin.

Some of the foods that most often cause allergies in dogs include:

• Wheat Products
• Foods containing Soy
• Eggs and Chicken
• Dairy Items
• Corn Foods
• Beef Products

What causes these allergies to occur? Is it not true that the majority of canine food products on store shelves have these ingredients in them? The answer is surprisingly “yes”, but this is not a coincidence. Overexposure to these particular foods has been associated with higher incidences of dogs having allergic reactions.

When you consider the diet the ancestors of dogs had thousands of years ago, you can see that several of the foods are somewhat new to dogs, meaning they were introduced to them in the last 50-60 years. Several generations are needed for animals to build a tolerance to specific foods; today’s dogs have not had ample time to build that tolerance.

What Reactions Are Commonly Seen with Allergies and What is a Quick Treatment?

The major signs of food allergy in your dog are like those seen in other dog allergies and include:

1.      Itching is the most common sign of a dog with a food allergy

2.      Ear infections that are chronic or recurring

3.      Excessive loss of hair

4.      Hot spots on the skin

5.      Extreme scratching

6.      Skin infections that may clear up with antibiotics but come back when the drugs are discontinued

7.      Frequent Bowel elimination

If your dog displays any of these signs, you should start the process of diagnosing this problem.

First, remember that there are several irritants in your dog’s environment that can cause skin irritation or itching. When this is your dog’s main symptom, you need to make sure that it is not the result of fleas. If fleas are not the problem, look at other irritants like contact and inhaled allergens, parasites, and some forms of skin cancer, etc. If all of those causes can be ruled out, your dog probably has a food allergy.

While you are trying to find the source of the problem, you should attempt to ease your dog’s itching with organic and natural tonics. Scratching or biting at the skin excessively can cause breaking of the skin and infections.

Using an Elimination Diet to Identify Your Dog’s Food Allergy

After other causes have been eliminated, the food trial should start; this trial is also known as the Elimination Diet. The purpose of this diet is to remove all food from your pet’s diet and then gradually bring all of it back until the offending food is found. Chances are your dog has an allergy to only one or two ingredients in the food. Some sort of protein is typically the responsible agent.

Your dog should be placed on a diet that contains a carbohydrate and protein that he has not been exposed to before for twelve weeks. The following foods are examples that fit this bill: rabbit with rice, duck with rutabagas, and venison with potatoes.

Once you select a diet, feed the dog  solely those foods for the entire twelve weeks. It can be hard as your dog should not be given any treats at all during this period. Keep in mind that you do not know what food is the source of your pet’s allergy.

The dog should be watched closely. If the symptoms seem to improve after the trial, try feeding him his normal diet. If his symptoms come back, you will know that he is allergic to something in that certain food. If the symptoms don’t clear up during the food trial, you should try another carb and protein source and resume your food tests.

Treatment for the Identified Canine Food Allergen

Once you have identified the allergen, you need to plan your dog’s future diet. You have two options as the owner of a dog with a food allergy, homemade diets and special commercial diets.

If you use a homemade diet, it can be changed periodically to introduce new ingredients. For instance, if you feed your dog rabbit and potatoes, you could give him beef for a week and see how he tolerates it. If he has symptoms again, you will know that he is allergic to it, and you can remove it from his diet.

Eighty percent of dogs with food allergies respond well to hypoallergenic diets. Just remember that if you choose a commercial food that is hypoallergenic, it should not have any of the ingredients that were found in your pet’s old food.

Hypoallergenic foods typically have alternative sources of protein, meat, and essential fats.

Selecting a natural or organic commercial food will guarantee a better quality of ingredients as well as no byproducts. Look at the label to be sure the ingredients will agree with your pet.

Canine Obesity

As a dog owner, you can definitely control your dog’s diet. The choices you make will greatly affect your dog’s health and life expectancy. A healthy diet and a regular exercise routine are just as important to your elderly canine as they are to you. The best way to stay in control of your dog’s weight is by ensuring that it exercises regularly and by only feeding your dog a healthy, natural meal (as suggested by your veterinarian) on a regular meal schedule and not off your plate.

Canine Hip Dysplasia and Arthritis

Each of these conditions is quite common and has been seen in all breeds of dogs. Hip dysplasia is more often seen in the larger canine breeds. Both diseases are genetically inherited in several breeds of dogs. Neither arthritis nor hip dysplasia has a cure, but the pain can be managed in both diseases.

Keeping your canine in the appropriate weight range is one way to reduce the pain and misery caused by hip dysplasia and arthritis. Indicators of arthritis in your dog include an inability to settle down at night, trouble managing uncarpeted floors and steps, and difficulty rising. Stiffness in the morning, an altered bearing, hopping instead of walking, and trouble going up and down the stairs are signs of hip dysplasia.

Periodontal Disease and Gingivitis

Dental Diseases affect dogs of all ages, but they affect older dogs in large numbers. The inflammation of the gums, known as gingivitis, is one of these painful diseases that results in bleeding and swollen gums. The pouches around the gum lines engulf bacteria and food fragments, and this makes the situation even worse. The accumulation of the bacteria may lead to more serious problems like kidney, heart, and liver diseases.

Of course, these are diseases that can be avoided and controlled with a little tender, love, and care. Regular brushing and rinsing of your dog’s teeth makes a huge difference.

Vision Issues

Your eyesight grows worse as you get older and so will your dog’s. Dog illnesses that often appear as dogs grow older are keratoconjunctivitis (dry eyes) and cataracts. Cataracts are suspected when the canine has cloudy eyes, and keratoconjunctivitis is indicated by inflammation of the inner eyelids.

Dog Senility (also known as Cognitive Dysfunction Disorder)

Canines with this condition are usually treated orally with Anipryl or its generic, cheaper counterpart Selegiline. Selegiline can be obtained in tablets in the quantities of 30 mg, 15 mg, 10 mg, 5 mg, and 2 mg. The dog’s mass will decide the quantity of Selegiline needed. Once the medicine is proven effective, the veterinarian might keep your pet on it forever.

Drug Interaction Concerns: Canines that are being treated for parasites or who are already taking antidepressant medications should not take Anipryl. Before a veterinarian prescribes this medicine, other brain related conditions such be eliminated as the cause of the reoccurring symptoms. The symptoms of dog senility may consist of the following:

• Disorientation and forgetfulness (the dog may not remember how to go up and down the steps)
• Unusual aggression
• Late night walking back and forth
• Uncontrollable bathroom urges inside the residence
• A decrease in activity
• Inability to remember friends and family
• Looking intently into space but at nothing in particular

Heartgard for dogs is made to fight, prevent and conquer the nasty heartworm disease. Your dog can get heartworm disease from mosquitoes laying eggs/larvae inside of their skin, which eventually get right into their system and their heart. Heartworms up to 12 inches long have been found clogging up the right side of dog’s hearts, and in some cases, it has resulted in death. Clearly this isn’t a problem you want your pet to deal with, so let’s take a look at why Heartgard for dogs is so great.

Heartgard has been the go to name for a solution to prevent heartworm disease in both dogs and cats for many years. Heartgard for dogs has been knocked off, generic brands pop up for cheaper, but nothing ever can compare to the original and real Heartgard for dogs. If you can believe it, the medication is so perfected that it literally works on every breed of dog. It’s also known to work, and work well. If you read more reviews on the net, it’s positive experience after positive experience.

Heargard for dogs has another version, and upgrade if you will, called Heartgard Plus. This will fight against heartworms and roundworms, another similar problem that unfortunately affects way too many dogs each year. Heartgard and the plus version both come in chewable beef tablets, so your dog will not even bat an eye to scarfing it down on the first look!

When Scott and Jackie left the room for a while, hotel security discovered Baby who was barking. The Winstons were given a choice, “the dog goes or you go.” Needless to say the Winstons, Baby, and their business left without a second thought.

Recognizing there was a demand for quality kennel style, hotels for dogs, in 2006, Scott and Jackie started their own business, the Atlantic City Pet Hotel and Grooming, which they billed as Atlantic City’s only 24 hour pet hotel.

Currently, the hotel is preparing a re-launch with five designer luxury suites for owners who want their pets to be pampered as much as they are. The suites will definitely have their owners wanting to visit with their pets because they will include entertainment units with DVD/Blu-Ray players, platform beds, armoires, toys, and slides.

The guests, typically dogs and cats, relax for a few days, and while they are at the hotel, they are regularly let out of their cages to play, walk, and be groomed. There are even training classes for those pampered pooches who want to improve themselves.

In the future, pet owners will be able to log onto the Internet to check on their pets at any time through the use of online camera. All this may sound quite unusual, but similar hotels are opening up all over the country. There also are plans to get Internet cameras set up for owners to check on their pets at any time.

While a pet hotel concept may be unique to the resort, similar businesses are growing in popularity across the country, near airports in particularly because travelers often need a nearby place to board their pets. Business is indeed booming for those who want to reach into the pet hotel market. The American Pet Products Manufacturing Association estimates that Americans spend around $3.2 billion each year on grooming and boarding for their pets.

Cape May County has many cottages and inns which allow guests with pets. One of these, pet friendly hotels is the Billmae Cottage with has rooms especially designed for dogs and even has a happy hour for the dogs to mingle and meet.

It’s getting nice out there for pets.

The cold weather can turn your dog’s daily walk into something dreadful. Slippery ice, cold concrete, and wet pavements can make walking painful for your dog. Bark n’ Boots are accessories which can eliminate this problem. Bark n’ Boots are boots with a patented tread and traction technology which allows your dog to watch safely.

If you have been neglected your dog’s paws all these years, then your dog may already be having problems. For injured paws, Woof at Suburban House Dogs is a better option. Woof is a soothing balm that is made out of shea butter and will help your dog’s paws heal. Woof is multi-purpose and helps heal dry skin and moisturize dry coats.

If Woof isn’t the product for you, Paw Care Balm is another alternative. Paw Care is a mixture made from organic herbs and aromatherapy-grade oils. As a result, your tongue, happy dog will not get sick from licking this balm.

When your pet safety plans include keeping your dog warm and fashionable, the Winter Dog Jacket and Camo Dog Coat from My Hollywood Pets can take care of those needs. This durable winter dog jacket will keep the rain, wind, and snow off your dog. The fleece lined coat is perfect for walks at night. The camouflage dog coat is lined with triple-layer fleece whichprotects your pup from the elements from head to tail. The coat comes with a removable fur-trimmed hood so you can accessorize for any occasion.

These hot outfits and accessories will have your dog prancing even on the coldest walks.

The property has some 50,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space. The hotel has 10,000 square feet of land that is covered in outdoor runs and play areas for dogs. It has a private dog park where owners can spend time with their dog on vacation. There are several types of dog rooms available. They range from air- conditioned indoor rooms to indoor/ outdoor mixed suites. It also has four VIP suites that feature television, raised bedding, and private outdoor yard.

There can be up to 270 dogs to cater to the resort along with 30 cats. The cats will be held in “Kitty City” a complex made up of two and four room condos. These condos are designed to provide comfort and privacy. Other things the resort offers is a grooming salon, pet playgroups and staff to read bedtime stories to your pet. If you’re going to Disney World with your pampered pet, then this is the hotel for your beloved family member. No matter what the breed your dog will be comfortable.

The mission behind Best Friends Pet Care is to ensure that pets have the very best of everything while they’re on vacation with their owners. No expense is spared in the hopes that pets will have as much fun as their vacationing owners.

It sounds amazing and quite original, the whole thought of a luxury pet hotel, but Best Friends Pet Care isn’t the only one of its kind in the US. The Barkley Pet Hotel & Day Spa is a 22,000 pet paradise exclusively designed for the finest dogs and cats who crave leather furnishings and spa treatments. For the owners who always have to know what their pets are doing, there are even webcams available for quick check-ups.

Preparing in advance is the biggest obstacle ahead of you when planning a pet friendly getaway. Is your pet physically and mentally able to fly? Does the airline you’re applying on accept pets as passengers? Do you know about airline pet policies for most major pet friendly airlines? These are vital things to know. Of course, any answers you get in advance should be checked again a few days before the actual flight.

In addition, you should also be aware of the following factors before buying your family airline tickets:

• What are the size requirements for a pet to fly either as a carry-on or as part of the cargo?
• Is your pet at least eight weeks old? The USDA also requires that all pets be weaned from their mother before they can fly.
• Is your flight a direct or nonstop flight? Your dog and you both would probably prefer a nonstop option if available.
• If your dog fits into an approved carry-on bag, the carrier must fit under the seat ahead of you. Your dog cannot sit in your lap.
• Be sure and make your flight reservation as early as possible. If an airline has already accepted a number of requests for animals on board, it may turn down your request. You want to make sure your pet is at the top of the queue.
• As always when flying, make sure you leave plenty of time for checking in your pet.
• Make sure your kennel, whether onboard or below the plane, is well marked with your name and address. It should be labeled with a sticker higher than 1 inch that says “live animal”.

If you keep these factors in mind, you should have no problem at all planning a great vacation for all members of your family.

There are differences when it comes to dental care for a canine. Your dog should learn to adjust to you carrying out an oral hygiene routine from the time of being a puppy so as to learn to accept the process. That way your dog will be used to it when he or she becomes of a more stubborn age.

There are special doggie toothpastes to help remove stains. In most cases, simple regular brushing, depending on the dog breed, would be adequate. Since there are special toothpastes for dogs, there is no need to use Crest or Colgate on the dogs and it won’t get the same results. Talk to your veterinarian about what you can do to keep your dog’s teeth healthy. This will include a regular, dental routine at home and at the vet’s office.

A veterinarian can use dental tools to do a full cleanup on the dog’s teeth. A cleanup for a dog would ensure that the layers of buildup are eliminated and it would take care of a lot of the staining. This is especially important if there are layers of build-up on the dog’s teeth. In severe cases, professional services are needed to remove the build-up from the teeth.

If you begin working with your dog early to keep his or her teeth clean, then this will pay off in the long run. When it comes time to cleaning and whitening your dog’s teeth, it will be very easy.

• Boredom or loneliness
• Lack of attention
• Lack of toys
• Too much energy
• Feeling trapped; if he digs near the fence maybe he wants out
• Instinct to seek prey; maybe looking for bugs
• Nesting instincts (for mother dogs)
• Protection instincts, if he’s trying to create a den or hiding bones
• Feeling too hot; the dirt underneath is cooler than the hot surface

The first thing you need to do is pay attention so you can figure out what’s causing the problem. Once you identify the problem you can take the appropriate steps.

If your dog is bored, lonely, looking for attention, or has too much energy:

• Don’t give him negative attention for digging.
• Dedicate time to spend with him daily.
• Teach him some new tricks; this way he gets to interact with you and gets the positive attention he needs for learning them.
• Walk him twice daily.
• Make sure your dog gets lots of exercise.
• Keep him busy in the yard by rotating through a series of toys, including kongs.

If his digging is instinctual, provide for those needs in other ways:

• Give him a protected place outside, perhaps a dog house.
• Look around to see what he may want to escape. Is he outside for too long? Do neighborhood kids tease him outside the fence? Is your garbage right outside the fence, luring him with the scent of meat?
• Create a designated “digging area” covered with loose soil (maybe with treats and toys hidden underground). You’ll need to supervise his outside time for a while so you can train him to use it. If you see him digging somewhere else, make a loud noise and move him. Reward him when he digs in the right spot—that way he gets to dig and gets positive attention!
• Make his usual digging spots less attractive. Spread rocks, or temporarily cover the area of plastic or wood. Place partially developed rocks along the fence
• Make sure he has water and shade to relax if he’s feeling overheated—maybe even a small children’s pool or sand.

No matter what the cause, remember not to scold him. This won’t help anything because it will only increase his fear and anxiety. If possible, supervise him whenever he’s outside so you can redirect him when he starts digging. It might be a challenge to curb this behavior, but it’s not impossible!

There is a brewing battle between the manufacturers of Natural Balance Pet Food and independent pet supply owners. The main crux of the conflict is all about the implementation of the Minimum Advertised Price or MAP. Admittedly the market leader when it comes to the premium pet food products, the manufacturers of Natural Balance Pet Food would want to streamline the distribution structure by rationalizing the pricing scheme all the way down to the end users. This is probably the main strategy of the company in maintaining a distinctive branding that will distinguish their premium lines from other brands.

Unfortunately, this pricing strategy is perceived to be too rigid by a considerable number of retail pet food chains. Its imposition seems to run counter to the pricing strategies being adopted by these retail outlets. Worse, this high pricing level is construed by the smaller players in the market as tacit accommodation and protection of corporate clients by the company. Rightly or wrongly, the imposition of MAP is turning out to be a flashpoint in the relationship of the company with independent pet food outlets.

Most owners of retail pet food outlets see the 10% upward adjustment in the price of Natural Balance Pet Food as a form of encroachment on their business independence. Definitely, any form of meddling will not sit well to them. The price differential imposed on Natural Balance Pet Food is even considered by many as onerous. While most of these dog and cat food retail outlets agree that Natural Balance Pet Food are a notch above the rest in terms of quality, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they can unilaterally impose high prices for their products.

This pricing scheme is such a sensitive issue for retailers as it is seen as their single most significant differential advantage over corporate distributors and retailers of the premium pet food lines. They are willing to go the extra mile to protect their business interests.

As a result dog itchy skin cases have gone up three fold over the past 5 years. In fact dog dandruff, dermatitis, and even severe cases of canine eczema are now as common as they in us. Dog Allergies are also on the rise, again a direct result of chemicals in our environment.

So how do we treat our pets who are experiencing skin irritations and dog skin allergies? Perhaps the best long term solution is to begin providing your loved one with dog enzymes specifically formulated for pets. These digestive enzymes will act as a catalyst in the animals digestive system allowing them to better absorb and process the needed nutrients and supplements in the food they eat. You see, as dogs are animals by nature, there systems are designed to process raw foods and items found in the wild. There systems have a hard time digesting processed foods, and as a result they often pass the nutrients they need. The result is a weak immune system leading to dog dandruff, dermatitis, and a host of other skin problems. These enzymes will allow the dog to naturally defend itself better against allergies and skin conditions. Interestingly enough, the first place a dog shows signs of a weak immune system are on his skin and coat – in fact, next time your pet is agitated notice that will quickly see dogs dandruff and dander form on their coat.

Another treatment and preventive measure for itchy dog skin is to use a quality medicated dog dandruff shampoo at least once every other week to treat and nourish the skin. Using a dog shampoo with zinc will eliminate any bacterial growth, at the same time replenishing the skins deficient zinc.

To wrap it up, dogs itchy skin, as well as many other skin conditions, can effectively be eliminated by providing you pet with a daily dose of dog digestive enzymes. Also be sure to use a medicated dogs dandruff shampoo to eliminate the dander and dermatitis on their coat and skin.

In case you’re unfamiliar, here’s how ticks operate: these parasites stick their heads into skin and feed on the blood, growing larger with every drop. When the tick reaches a certain size, it uses the fur or hair to lay eggs in. Both people and pets can get Lyme disease so it’s crucial to prevent ticks from multiplying.

1. After you find a tick on your pet, pull it out carefully by the head with fine-pointed tweezers (while wearing latex gloves).

Be careful not to squeeze the tick’s body, as this can inject more potential pathogens into you or your pet.

2. The next step is to thoroughly clean every area your dog or cat’s laid.

Use your vacuum’s crevice tool to get in the corners and cracks of furniture. You may even want to use a specialized chemical cleaner to be sure all the eggs are gone. Many pet stores sell medicated sprays and shampoos you can apply to kill eggs on your pet. If you have an outdoor cat or dog, you should also trim the grass to get rid of any ticks out there.

Your best bet is to be far more thorough than you deem necessary when you removing ticks from your home. Only then can you be certain your family and pets will stay healthy.