Ticks and Fleas
Firstly, let’s get an idea of what we’re dealing with. Fleas and ticks are similar in that they use their sharp mouth parts to cut into the skin and feed on your pet’s blood. They leave behind redness and irritation and can also transmit diseases to both humans and pets.
So how do they differ? Fleas are wingless insects, ticks are arachnids (related to spiders). Adult Fleas find 1 host and stay there until they die (they have a life span of 2-3 months) whereas ticks move around multiple hosts changing every couple of weeks. They both thrive in warm weather but ticks are better adapted to live through the winter and can therefore live for up to 3 years. Fleas can jump 150 times their height and the female flea can lay 40-50 eggs in a day – just think how quickly an infected dog could infest your salon!
In fact, fleas could live in your salon for 100 days without a blood meal. Fleas tend to cause skin issues such as allergies and dermatitis, and they can carry tape worms, whereas a single bite from an infected tick can cause many potentially more harmful diseases including Lyme Disease.
You should encourage your customers to check their pets regularly, especially when they return from walks. Ticks should be removed immediately, but as they embed into the skin you should always use a tick remover - an important piece of kit for any professional groomer!
If you have to treat an infected dog in your salon remember you’ll also need to treat any affected areas of the salon too. Flea and Tick Laundry Treatment by Groom Professional is designed to wash away fleas, ticks and mites – perfect for sanitising uniforms, bedding and towels.
Shampoos, Conditioners and Treatments
Make sure to include some anti-flea and tick products in your salon – it will already be too late to order it when you need it! Groom Professional’s new Bye Bye Buzz range is suitable for all coat types, and contains concentrated neem oil, which is not only anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and great for skin irritations, but it is also a natural remedy to repel and remove ticks and fleas. The deep cleansing shampoo also contains coconut oil to nourish skin and coat.
Tropiclean Flea Bite Relief Treatment is not a shampoo, but an ultra-soothing medicated solution, formulated to stop itching and irritation from flea bites fast. This treatment contains AHAs which exfoliate the skin, cleaning pores and promoting healthy cells. It’s also enriched with oatmeal and cocoa butter to soothe and nourish the skin.
For a more luxurious treatment in your salon, the Madra Mór Fortify/Flea Relief Mud is massage mud treatment for pets which relieves irritation from fleas and other parasites. The minerals and ingredients in Madra Mór Flea Relief Mud provide natural flea and parasite relief and fortify the skin. Loaded with antiseptic and anti-fungal ingredients, this treatment also makes a wonderful treatment for those dogs suffering from yeast problems.
Tools
As well as having a reliable tick remover in your salon a flea comb is another essential piece of kit. The Groom Professional double row comb has two rows of tightly spaced teeth to double the effectiveness when combing for fleas and eggs. Due to the two rows of teeth, this comb can be used on all coat types, even short coats.
Retail
If your customers are asking for advice on how to keep insects away, the Groom Professional Bye Bye Buzz Spray is a great recommendation. This spray has a specific blend of citronella, tea tree oil, lavender oil, and chrysanthemum oil which will actively repel insects. It is spritzed on a dog’s coat and effective immediatley – a great item to retail in your salon this season.
