Sometimes fleas are unstoppable from getting into your yard, but whether your dog or cat actually gets bitten by one, can be up to you.

Fleas can enter your yard by a multitude of different wildlife such as skunks, coyotes, raccoons and untreated cats and dogs.

Some nurseries in your area may sell products to discourage these animals from entering into your yard to reduce the risk of your animals having a flea jump on them.

Fleas and ticks love yards that are full of brush and are not maintained.

By keeping your bushes trimmed, cutting your lawn and making sure your lawn is not overgrown you can deter these pests from having a negative impact on your life.

Most pet owners like to rely on a method of flea prevention products. With these products they are typically applied on a regular basis, it is incredibly important to not miss a dose, because if you do, your pet is not protected.

It goes without saying that you should keep a tidy house to avoid flea infestations, but if a pesky flea makes its way inside you can buy household foggers or sprays that will kill adult fleas as well as their larvae and eggs as they hatch.

Proceed with caution; these products can be toxic to pets and children.

If your cats or dogs don’t mind taking a dip in the tub every two weeks, you can buy flea prevention shampoos.

It is an inexpensive option that many pet owners choose to take.

However, these shampoos do not provide long lasting protection, so bath times will be something you will regularly need to do especially in the height of flea season.

For more tips or if you need veterinary treatment in Kersey, CO, contact Powell Veterinary Service at (970) 352-9164 today.

Do you have any tips that you try on your own that you would like to share? Let us know in the comments below!

The post How To Protect Your Pets From Fleas This Spring first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.

Many owners of guard dogs prefer to have their ears cropped to create an intimidating look to ward against intruders. Working and hunting breeds also have their ears cropped, historically for safety reasons. For example, hunting breeds used to have them cropped to protect from the bites of wild animals.

While ear wounds are not usually life threatening, they do bleed a lot and frequently need to be stitched, often resulting in scarring. For owners with multiple dogs, ear cropping can prevent your animals from harming each other during rough play.

Also, ears that flop hang over the ear canal can prevent air and light from getting inside. This can result in an increase in bacteria and infection, which can lead to permanent hearing loss. For pets with frequent ear infections, cropping can reduce the problem.

While many people still believe the AKC breed standards of cropping, we feel your pets ears should be allowed either way. Deciding to have your dog’s ears cropped is a personal decision and the choice is yours alone! If you do decide to get your pup’s ears cropped, please have a professional perform the procedure. We have seen many botched home procedures that result in pain and infection, something we don’t want any pet to experience.

At Powell Veterinary Service, we typically perform the ear crop procedure on puppies between the age of eight and twelve weeks. Ears can be cropped in a variety of lengths and in a rounded or bell shape.

Performed under general anesthesia, this surgical procedure includes the measuring, trimming and suturing of the puppy’s ears. Ears are then bandaged for support. Follow up visits take place at five to seven days to ensure proper healing and again at ten to fourteen days for suture removal. Most ears will stand in a week or two, though longer ears often take longer to stand.

To view the ear cropping procedure and some of our work, click here and scroll to the bottom of the page. Contact our Kersey, Colorado office at 970-352-9164 to learn more and to schedule an appointment for your pup.

The post Ear Cropping: Why and How it is Done first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.