No dog grooming would be complete without mentioning the fight against fleas and ticks on your Alaskan Malamute.  Millions of dollars are spent each year on flea products, evidence of just how prevalent this problem can be in households where dogs reside.

The key to combating this parasite, two of which can become millions in a blink of an eye, is to launch your offense on three fronts: The dog, the house, and the yard. If you find one flea on your dog, then rest assured that your entire house and yard have been infiltrated by adult fleas and flea eggs and larvae as well. All must be targeted.

The Dog

Begin with the dog, treating your Alaskan Malamute with effective yet safe flea products, perhaps a combination of bath, dip, and spray (all of which must be compatible with each other to prevent a toxic reaction; consult your dog’s veterinarian for advice on mixing and matching).

The dog world has in recent years experienced a revolution in the area of flea control. This is found in the rise of flea-control products that now allow us to fight the little bloodsuckers from the inside out.

These products include the insect growth regulators, which are typically administered orally each month, and inhibit the development of flea eggs and larvae so they may never reach adulthood and indulge their kind’s thirst for blood.

Also available are the so-called “adulticides,” which are typically administered on the skin at the dog’s shoulder blades and make their way into the animal’s system, where they work to kill adult fleas that have the audacity to bite into an unsuspecting host.

The Home

While your Malamute is being defleaed and treated, attack the household as well. A variety of sprays and bombs are available that will destroy both adult and preadult (eggs and larvae) fleas that may be hiding in the carpet, the furniture, your dog’s bed, your bed, etc.

The Yard

Finally, give the same attention to the yard, for here you will find fleas and their families just waiting to hitch a ride on the family pet for an entry into the house.

The warmer months of the year are typically the time when fleas are the greatest problem, so for most owners, this is a seasonal battle. In some areas where the weather remains balmy most of the time, it rages year round. Either way, success requires an owner who is willing to commit to the three-pronged attack on a routine basis.

Discuss all product options and your entire flea-control program with your dog’s veterinarian to determine how best to address flea colonization on your Alaskan Malamute.

With such a powerful arsenal at your disposal, it is best to follow the veterinarian’s advice rather than devise your own game plan, and remember that products appropriate for adult dogs may be too toxic for youngsters.

Dealing with Ticks

When you declare war on fleas, as an added bonus you may be targeting ticks, as well, for the products that destroy the former often do the same to the latter. Whether or not your flea-control products target ticks as well, check your dog’s skin and coat carefully from head to toe every time you return from a foray into tick country, just to be sure.

If you should find a tick on your dog’s skin, you cannot simply brush it away as you would a fly. Grasp the body of the tick and as much of its head as possible firmly between your thumb and forefinger (if possible wear latex gloves), and pull it out slowly with a sure, steady movement.

Apply a topical antibiotic ointment to the site to prevent infection, and watch the dog for several weeks to make sure she does not begin to exhibit signs of illness, stiffness, or lethargy.