Summer vacation season is officially upon us, which means my partner and I are packing our bags and shipping the dogs off to their grandparents' house for a few days.
Now, Billy and Lizzie are thoroughly accustomed to the perfectly manicured, highly suburban lawns of the suburbs. Their grandparents, however, live a bit further out. It is a beautiful, sprawling property with tall grass, wooded edges, and nature galore. It is a wonderful place for a dog to run around.
It is also an absolute, undisputed utopia for pests.
Summer in Illinois means dealing with the unholy trinity of bugs: mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks. If you are also planning to take your pampered suburban pets camping, hiking, or out to "the sticks" this summer, here is the official survival manual for prepping them, protecting them, and decontaminating them when they get home.
The Pre-Game: Prevention is Your Best Friend
You cannot wait until your dog is actively scratching to start thinking about bug prevention. The defense strategy has to start before their paws ever touch the tall grass.
The absolute foundation of summer pest control is ensuring your pets are up-to-date on their vet-prescribed monthly preventatives. Whether you use a chewable tablet, a topical liquid, or a specialized collar, these medications are your first line of defense against the itchy home invaders (fleas) and the buzzing carriers of heartworm (mosquitoes).
The Grandparent Instruction Manual (Daily Maintenance)
When dropping the dogs off, I am leaving behind a very specific set of instructions to keep the bugs at bay.
- The "Stay Out of the Weeds" Rule: Ticks absolutely love tall grass and the shady edges of the woods. I have instructed the grandparents to try and keep Billy from charging into the thickest brush he can find. (As he is a Border Collie, I fully acknowledge this instruction is entirely futile, but I have to try).
- The Secret Weapon: Packed right at the top of their overnight bag is a bottle of Wondercide Lemongrass Flea & Tick Spray. This is our magical forcefield. The strict instruction is to give both dogs a quick, thorough spritz before they go outside. It is made with natural essential oils, it safely repels fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes, and as a bonus, it makes them smell like a fancy spa instead of swamp water. Win-win.
The Post-Trip Decontamination (Checking for Hitchhikers)
No matter how much prevention you use, a determined tick can still hitch a ride. The second we pick the dogs up, they are getting the full TSA pat-down before they are allowed back on the furniture.
- The Tick Check: Run your hands firmly against the grain of their fur to feel for small bumps. Ticks are sneaky, so you have to check the hidden spots: inside and behind the ears, between their toes, deep in the armpits, and under their collars.
- When to Worry (And When Not To): If you find a tick, take a deep breath. Do not panic, and please do not try to set it on fire. Grab a tick-removal tool or a pair of fine-tipped tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the dog's skin as possible, and pull straight out with steady pressure. Wash the area with soap and water.
- When to Call the Vet: You only need to ring the vet if the tick's head gets stuck under the skin, if the area becomes severely red and infected, or if your dog starts showing weird symptoms (like lethargy or a fever) in the days following the bite.
The Pets Etc. Bug Bunker
Summer adventures should be about making memories, not panicking over bugs.
Before you head out on your next camping trip or drop the dogs off at the grandparents, swing by Pets Etc. in Plainfield. We are fully stocked with Wondercide sprays (in several amazing scents), tick-removal tools, and soothing shampoos to treat those inevitable mosquito bites. Let our team help you build the ultimate pest-prevention arsenal so you can actually enjoy the great outdoors!