I HATE Ticks!!!!!!

I 'd always thought roaches were the most disgusting pests on earth till I got acquainted with the TICK. And man, they are the most disgusting and resilient creatures I've ever seen.

Probably the only saving grace for pet owners when it comes to these hardy brown pests, is that they are large enough for the naked eye to spot. Here are several things that you need to do once you spot ticks on your pet to make sure they don't infest your pet as well as your living area:

1) De-tick your pet

Unfortunately, the best way is still to comb through your pet manually and get rid of the little suckers with tweezers or bring them to a professional groomer or veterinarian for de-ticking. If you're de-ticking your pet yourself, make sure you don't chuck the ticks in your bin as they are quite a resilient. Instead, fill a container with some apple cider vinegar, dump them in there and keep the container closed. It might take several hours before the buggers actually die (some people actually recommend burning them!). For long-coat pets, its best to keep the coat short for now as its much easier to check for ticks.

2) Put your pet on a spot-on product

Like many have suggested here, frontline and advantix are pretty good off-the-shelf products you can purchase. Such products will ensure that any ticks still leeching on your pet will die after feeding on your pet. Refrain from bathing your pet 2-3days before or after using the product on your pet. Do abstain from areas where your pet might pick up more of such pests or pass on these pests to other pets such as in dog runs.

3) "Bomb" the areas where your pet normally rests

While spot-on products kill the ticks after feeding, it doesn't prevent them from residing in your living area and jumping onto your pet. You will need to use other preventive measures such as off-the-shelf tick "bombs" which are available at all pet retailers. These DIY foggers will get rid of these pests from your living areas as well as your pet's bedding and toys. What's great about the fogger is that they will be able to reach tiny crevices in your living areas where ticks commonly like to hide. Should you still see ticks infesting your living area after the DIY fogging, call your local pest buster for help immediately.

4) Maintain a cleansing routine for your pet

Finally, once you've done all the above, check your pet daily to remove any remaining ticks. They won't all go away at once and you may still get the occasional tick or two for weeks or months to come. Make sure you clean your pets bedding and toys at least once a week and you can use some warm apple cider vinegar mixed with water when cleaning. Some pet owners don't fancy the idea of putting their pets on products like frontline or advantix for an extended period of time. Once you have ascertained that your pet is not at the risk of tick infestation, you may want to consider alternative products for tick prevention such as neem oil instead. You can find these in diluted sprays or in its concentrated form where you can add to your pet's shampoo for its weekly bath.

Keeping a well-balanced diet and a proper cleaning routine for your pet will go a long way in protecting your pets from tick infestations. And a healthy pet is very often a happy one too.