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Padlin's avatar
Padlin
Explorer
Mar 19, 2015

Dogs wintering in Florida

A post in another forum on bedbugs got the wife and I looking into what we might run into next winter when we try Florida for a month at some of the state parks with our Maltese. For those who winter in Fl with pets, do you take any special precautions to be proactive? DW is concerned mainly with sand fleas. With our small trailer we try and spend a good deal of time outside and our Maltese wants to be where we are.

If it matters, we're spending a couple weeks at a beach site near Vero Beach, one week midstate, then 2 weeks or so at a few parks inland in the northern parts.

9 Replies

  • xteacher's avatar
    xteacher
    Explorer
    Mar 20, 2015
    Definitely have your dog on flea/tick protection as well as Heartworm preventative (hopefully already on this!). I use NextGard for fleas/ticks, and Heartgard Plus for Heartworms; both are chewables. They work well for us down here in the deep south.

    We bought folding beds at Camping World for our little dogs, which we put in their x-pen. It keeps them off the ground and out of the sand. We also use the top half of an old beach umbrella to shade them from the hot sun. Here's a photo to better show what I'm talking about:
  • LakeN's avatar
    LakeN
    Explorer
    Mar 19, 2015
    As a back up, you might carry some Adams Flea & Tick shampoo with you. As said, heartworm & Frontine or equivalent beginning before your trip. For pesky mosquitos/sand fleas you can make up a mixture of water & Avon Skin so Soft oil. About half & half. Put in spray bottle & use for human skin and your dog. Works well to spray your hands and rub onto dog. We like this cuz it doesn't leave your skin feeling like it is coated with chemical.
  • Padlin's avatar
    Padlin
    Explorer
    Mar 19, 2015
    nomad297 wrote:
    Sand fleas?

    You're kidding, right?

    Bruce


    I thought that's what she said, till I just looked them up. So let's just make it for protecting your pet from generic insects in FL.

    Sounds like it's no worse then anywhere else so it's a non issue.

    Ticks are normally not a problem, she's white with short hair so they stick out pretty well. A good thing to be aware of though.
  • Deb_and_Ed_M's avatar
    Deb_and_Ed_M
    Explorer II
    Mar 19, 2015
    IMO - the "threat" is the ticks in the middle states as you head to FL. We don't let our dogs go poking around in the underbrush (things that bite/sting; and could possible eat them!) and Florida doesn't seem any better/worse than here in Michigan, where my dogs pick up the occasional flea from the local wildlife.
  • mabynack's avatar
    mabynack
    Explorer II
    Mar 19, 2015
    Make sure they're on heartworm medications. That's a big problem down here. You also need to be careful about letting them get near bushes and long grass or you'll have to deal with ticks.
  • dturm's avatar
    dturm
    Moderator
    Mar 19, 2015
    Dog Folks wrote:
    Just take your normal precautions against fleas and ticks.

    Florida is no different than Mass. Just warmer.


    I'll second this. Make sure you have heartworm prevention and give it all year. As far as flea control, there are some areas where one flea product works better than another. If the frontline isn't working, don't be afraid to try another.

    We're doing this winter in Alabama and Florida and used Advantage II with no flea problems with Jill.

    Doug, DVM
  • Dog_Folks's avatar
    Dog_Folks
    Explorer
    Mar 19, 2015
    Just take your normal precautions against fleas and ticks.

    Florida is no different than Mass. Just warmer.

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