The Best Flea & Tick Control for Bull Mastiffs in Texas

More than 2,200 types of fleas exist in the United States which, along with ticks, latch on to all breed of dogs, causing misery for them and their owners. Fleas and ticks can lead to dogs, including bull mastiffs, to develop allergies because they inject saliva while feeding off the dog that can aggravate the skin. If your bull mastiff has fleas or ticks, they must be removed and prevented from returning.

  1. Destroy the Habitat

    • Prevention is the best form of defense against fleas and ticks. Fleas are spread by flea-infested animals -- such as another dog, cat or wild animal -- coming into contact with your yard and dropping fleas onto the grass or plants. The insects then latch onto your dog when they lay down or brush by. To prevent ticks and fleas hiding in your garden, cut your grass as short as possible, trim back bushes and shrubs and keep them short. This removes the natural habitat of fleas and ticks. Applying insecticide on bushes will also kill fleas and ticks.

    Eliminate Fleas and Ticks from the Home

    • Fleas and ticks are nasty pests that can get into the home. Although bull mastiffs have short, dense coats, they are still liable to pick up ticks and fleas when outside. In Texas, both hard and soft ticks are common, so there is a real possibility of them becoming a problem for you and your dog. Wash all pet bedding regularly with a suitable detergent and use an insect repellent. Regularly clean your home and vacuum carpets to remove any eggs. Cleaning this way will also remove the insect's food sources.

    Repel Fleas and Ticks

    • Flea and tick collars were introduced to America in 1964 as an effective and safe way to protect dogs and cats from fleas and ticks. Buy a collar from a pet store and make sure your bull mastiff wears it all times when outdoors. These collars are made from a special plastic that slowly releases insecticide that kills adult fleas and ticks. Make sure you change the collar as and when required according to the packaging for continued protection for your dog.

    Eliminate Future Problems

    • Use a flea comb to search for and remove fleas from your bull mastiff. Alternatively, bathe your dog and wash it with a flea and tick shampoo. When rinsing, place your dog on a white towel. Fleas will fall off your dog when being rinsed, and they should be easy to spot. Remove ticks with a specialist tick scoop that you can buy from a pet store. It is important you remove the whole tick; the tick head can stay in your dog even if the body is removed. The Texas Tick Removal website suggests using a pair of tweezers to grasp and then remove the tick, then washing the affected area using soap and water.