Tick and Flea Control for Bengaluru Pets: Prevention, Treatment, and Tick Fever

Ticks are small, dark, oval parasites that bury their mouthparts into the skin. After feeding, they swell to the size of a small grape. Common hiding spots: between the toes, inside the ears, under the collar, around the tail, and in the groin area. Fleas are tiny (1-2mm), fast-moving brown insects you may not spot directly. Look instead for 'flea dirt' — tiny black specks in your pet's coat that turn reddish-brown when dampened (digested blood). Your pet will scratch intensely, especially around the base of the tail, neck, and belly.

Monthly spot-on treatments (applied to the back of the neck) containing fipronil (Frontline) are widely available at licensed pet shops and vet clinics. Newer isoxazoline compounds like fluralaner (Bravecto — lasts 3 months) or afoxolaner (NexGard — monthly) are oral chewables requiring a vet prescription and are highly effective against both ticks and fleas. Avoid generic or unlicensed products from local markets — they often contain inadequate concentrations and can be unsafe. Important: permethrin-based products are for dogs only — they are highly toxic to cats. Ask your Pawsnexus vet for the right product for your pet's species, weight, and lifestyle.

If you find a tick on your pet, do not squeeze it, burn it, or coat it with petroleum jelly — this can cause the tick to regurgitate, increasing disease transmission risk. Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal hook: grip as close to the skin surface as possible and pull steadily upward with even pressure, without twisting. Clean the bite area with antiseptic. Monitor your pet for the next 2-4 weeks for signs of tick fever: loss of appetite, high temperature, lethargy, pale or yellowish gums, or bloody urine. If any of these appear, contact Pawsnexus immediately.

Adult fleas on your pet represent only about 5% of the total infestation — the remaining 95% (eggs, larvae, pupae) live in carpets, upholstery, and pet bedding. Treating only the pet without treating the home leads to reinfestation within weeks. Wash all bedding in hot water, vacuum carpets thoroughly and dispose of the vacuum bag immediately, and treat the home with a pet-safe household flea spray. Treat all pets in the home simultaneously — even cats that look unaffected. Products containing IGRs (Insect Growth Regulators) break the flea lifecycle and provide longer-lasting control.

Tick fever (ehrlichiosis or babesiosis) symptoms typically appear 1-3 weeks after a tick bite: high fever, sudden lethargy, loss of appetite, pale or yellowish gums, nosebleeds, or bloody urine. This is a veterinary emergency — untreated tick fever can be fatal within days. If you suspect tick fever, call Pawsnexus at +91 85500 46444 immediately. We offer home visits for tick removal, tick fever assessment, and prescription preventive treatments across Varthur, Gunjur, Balagere, and surrounding East Bengaluru areas.