Now’s the time to protect your pets against nasty fleas and ticks

The weather is warming up and that means your pets will likely be venturing outside a bit more, whether it be on daily walks or just to relax in the sun in the backyard. But, with this new freedom comes the risk of being infected by fleas, ticks and worms.

Fleas are the most common, and while they may be small, they can cause your dog and cat great harm. Flea bites are irritating and painful to animals leading to excessive itching, infection and in the worst cases anaemia due to blood loss.

Perhaps a lesser known fact is that fleas can also infect your pet with tapeworm larvae which can lead to an infestation. And even humans can be effected by fleas from the bacteria they carry. It’s called ‘cat scratch fever’ and it can make you very sick.

Thankfully, there are ways to protect your pet (and in turn yourself) from these nasty critters. Medications, special collars, shampoos and brushes can all help to protect your dog and cat and now’s the perfect time to invest. You can buy everything you need online from Amazon Australia for cheap – and if you spend a certain amount you’ll get free delivery, so you won’t have to visit busy stores during the pandemic – it’s a win-win!

Flea treatment

As a pet owner you’ll know one of the most effective ways to kill fleas is through medication. There are a heap of different brands available, but Advocate is one of the more popular choices – and it’s rated 5-star on Amazon Australia by happy customers.

The best part is that it’s not in a tablet form (so you won’t have to try hide it in their food). Instead, it comes as a solution in a tube which you just squeeze onto their skin. You should apply it once a month for ongoing protection from fleas, heartworm and intestinal worms.

There are different dosages for cats and dogs, depending on their weight – and, while it can be bought in store or from your vet, there’s a heap of pet owners who say it’s much cheaper on Amazon Australia – especially if you subscribe. For example, the Advocate fleas, heartworm and worms treatment in a six-pack for a dog weighing between four and 10 kilograms will cost you $78.11 on Amazon Australia with free delivery.

Meanwhile, the Advocate fleas, heartworm and worms treatment in a three-pack for cats weighing over 4kg will set you back just $37.50. Plus, if you subscribe you can save 10 per cent.

Tick treatments

It’s not just fleas that can harm your pets, but ticks, mites and worms as well. They may be small but they can cause a lot of damage and make your dog very sick. In fact, ticks can cause Lyme disease which leads to arthritis and swelling in the joints. In rare cases ticks can also cause paralysis.

Thankfully, there are ways to prevent infection, including a chewable medication for dogs. The Nexgard, Flea, Tick and Worming Monthly Chew looks just like other treats you’d give your pet when they’re behaving well and also boast a beef flavouring so they’ll likely be gone in seconds.

And as the name suggests the chew doesn’t just protect from ticks, but heartworm, intestinal worm and fleas as well. Similar to the flea treatment medication there’s different options available for dogs of varying weight – so make sure to check this before making a purchase.

You won’t even need to head in store to buy the chews, with many Nexgard products available on Amazon Australia. You can grab the Nexgard, Flea, Tick and Worming Monthly Chew for dogs weighing between 3.6kg and 7.5g, in a three-pack for $53.16.

Flea and tick collars

For added protection you can also purchase a special collar which will help prevent fleas and ticks from infecting your cat and dog. It’s a super easy way to keep them safe and healthy seeing as most pets tend to wear a collar anyway.

They may not be as pretty as normal collars but most are effective for months in killing fleas, so as soon as they jump onto your pet’s skin they will be dead. Great right? Seresto sells these types of collars for both dogs and cats. They are water resistant and odour resistant which is a plus for both you and your pets.

Like other flea and tick treatments, which collar you purchase depends on the size of your pet (and whether its a cat or dog) but they are all incredibly affordable for what they do and how long they last.

On Amazon Australia you can purchase the Seresto collar for dogs weighing over 8kg for $39.76. While the Seresto collar for cats and kittens sells for $39. Both have been given a 5-star rating from pet-owners, so you can be rest assured that it really does work!

Flea shampoo

Your dog either loves or hates baths, and your cats are certainly more likely to be the latter, but if you can get them to stay still for long enough there are some great shampoos on the market that help to rid your pets of fleas and soothe irritated skin.

The Total Care Flea Control shampoo can be purchased from Amazon Australia for just $11.20 and it’s received a 5-star rating so it gets the tick of approval from us! It promises to kill fleas and aids in the control of paralysis ticks. Plus, maybe to your dog’s relief, it doesn’t have to be used regularly.

In fact, Total Care recommends using it no more than once a fortnight to give the natural oil in your dog’s coat and skin a chance to do their work. You could also not wash your dog for at least 48 hours after a spot-on flea treatment – so don’t go trying to use all the flea treatments at once.

Alternatively, there’s the Fidos Everyday Shampoo for Dogs and Cats. It’s not a flea treatment like Total Care’s product, but it does work well if you need to remove any build-up of dirt in your pet’s fur. And because it’s soap-free it won’t affect any flea medications and treatments you’ve been using on them, which is a plus! The shampoo costs $12.56.

Brushes

If you’ve had head lice yourself, or had to treat your kids’ hair when they were young, then you’d know all too well the benefit of using a comb to remove the nasty insects. The same can be said for fleas on your cats and dogs.

There’s special brushes designed to remove fleas and their eggs from fur and they are super cheap to purchase on Amazon Australia. They might not look like much but they could be a big help if you find your dog or cat has an infestation.

The Total Care Pet Flea Control Comb costs just $9.99 online and has a 5-star rating from happy customers. Meanwhile, the Petface Flea and Dust Comb is a little more expensive at $12. Both can be used on cats and dogs.

Never shopped on Amazon before? Starting is simple

If you’re new to online shopping on Amazon Australia, don’t fret! It’s easy to get started and we’ve even put together a simple ‘how-to’ guide to help you along your shopping journey.

You’ll have to sign up first (which takes less than a minute!) and then it’s time for the fun part! Simply use the search bar at the top of the screen to look for items that you want – this can be as generic as ‘garden tools‘ or as specific as a particular brand. Or, if you’re just in a shopping mood and want to see what’s available, you can browse through the ‘Best Sellers’, ‘Today’s Deals’ and ‘New Releases’ to give you some inspiration.

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