What to do about ticks? A two-prong approach to tick control. The battle against ticks must be fought on your pet and in your environment. On your pet, FRONTLINE kills ticks at the larval, nymphal and adult stages of their life cycle. Approved for cats and dogs, it controls ticks continuously. In your environment, minimize the threat of ticks with two simple tactics: Make your yard unfriendly to ticks by keeping your grass short, bushes trimmed and minimizing mulch or leaf litter. Avoid tick breeding grounds like tall grass and brush when you are out on walks. And, of course, check your pet for ticks regularly.

How to check for fleas:

  It's a good idea to check pets for fleas on a regular basis. It is especially important to check if your pets seem unusually nervous or grumpy, or if they're scratching more than seems natural. When checking for fleas, look for black specks (flea dirt) on your pet or on its bed. There are two easy ways to do this:
~Run a metal comb (available from your vet or pet store) through your pet's coat making sure that you touch the skin below. If the comb gathers black specks you may have found flea dirt.
~Place a white paper towel beneath your pet and rub your hands across its fur. If black specks fall on the towel, it may be flea dirt.
~If you find live fleas with either of these methods, drown them in soapy water before they can jump back on your pet.
Bathing Dogs:
Bathing dogs outdoors in warm weather may be the best place, because it is the messy part in dog grooming. Use a non-allergenic dog shampoo and start bathing the dogs body and legs. You should always shampoo your dog twice. The first run through breaks up the dirts & oils. Also, use a curry brush to gentling massage the shampoo into your pets coat. The dogs head should be shampooed last, paying particular care to ensure that no shampoo gets into his eyes, ears, and nose. Cover the dogs eyes with your hand while pushing the head down. You can try using cotton in the ears, or cover the ear hole with your thumb while bathing the dog. Leave the shampoo three or four minutes on the dog and then rinse, rinse, rinse. This removing of the shampoo is the most important part in bathing dogs.
When you are done bathing, towel dry the dog by blotting and pressing the towel against the coat. Once again, comb the coat through before drying to make sure there are no tangles or mats.
Brush Your Dog's Teeth:
It's a good idea to brush your dog's teeth on a regular basis to avoid cavities, gum disease, and the loss of teeth. Chewing rawhides, rubber dog toys, and dry dog food, may slow down some plaque and tartar build-up, but brushing your dog's teeth is vital for keeping them in top shape. It's always best to start when your dog is young. You can use a regular human toothbrush or a latex thimble with bristles for toy breeds. Start by massaging your dog's lips and gums for a few weeks to get him accustomed to the sensation of having his teeth brushed. Then, you can begin using a dab of canine toothpaste on a toothbrush and start your canine on his way to good dental hygiene. Always brush in a small circular motion and make your way from one side of the mouth to the other.