Tips to keep your outdoors (and indoors!) parasite-free

    

Parasites may be the last thing on your mind when you and your pet are relaxing in your own backyard, but unfortunately, these persistent pests make it their business to find pets no matter where they are—even on your seemingly safe home turf.

Although there is no way to guarantee that fleas, ticks and heartworm-carrying mosquitoes won’t invade your outdoor space, a few smart landscaping changes can make it much less likely for these bugs to crawl, jump and fly their way into your yard:

• Let in the sun. Get rid of the humid, shady hangout spots that fleas and ticks favor by keeping bushes well trimmed, mowing frequently and removing leaf litter. 
• Avoid overwatering, which creates extra moisture and humidity that bugs thrive in.
• Create a landscaping barrier with a three-foot-wide rim of wood chips or gravel around the perimeter of your lawn so that parasites have a harder time migrating through this buffer zone into your yard.
• Clear tall grasses and brush around your home, patio and decks so that ticks will be less likely found where you and your pet spend most of your time.
• Discourage wildlife that may harbor ticks and fleas with measures such as stacking woodpiles neatly in a dry area, placing bird feeders away from the house and choosing deer-resistant plants.
• Remove any sources of standing water, no matter how small, such as empty flower pots, plastic bags, tires or any other items that may collect tiny pools of water, as these make perfect mosquito breeding grounds. Standing water is also unhealthy for your pet.
• Call a professional pest control company if you know you already have an infestation and would like to treat the area with pesticides.

Even though you can’t control whether parasites or the wildlife that carry them enter your yard, you can easily stop these bugs from ever gaining a foothold in your home with year-round parasite preventives for your pets. No matter what parasites may be waiting in your pet’s favorite grassy spot, preventives ensure that your pet will always stay free from fleas, ticks and heartworms. 

Your veterinarian can recommend the best course of parasite prevention for your pet. 

Explore our wide selection of flea and tick preventives. >>