Issue 3
Are
Those Fleas on My Pet?
 We
all know the signs…the echo of collars jingling as family pets scratch
and bite themselves incessantly. No matter how closely you look
you rarely see the quick little culprits, but they do leave their
mark…flea dirt! Flea dirt is flea feces which looks like coffee
grounds found on the skin of the animal often by the base of the
neck or by the neck itself. Flea dirt will turn orange if placed
on a white surface with a drop of water. So, now what?
In order to treat fleas successfully, you should understand their
life cycle. The adult flea lives on your pet, biting to take a blood
meal. The female lays eggs which fall off the animal onto its bedding,
furniture or in your carpet. The eggs develop through three larval
and one pupa stage before maturing into an adult. The adult then
will find a host on which to feed.
Different
flea products affect different stages of development. Products such
as Program (the flea pill found in the product Sentinel)
prevent the eggs from developing, thus preventing a severe infestation
in your home. One adult flea can lay thousands of eggs in a short
period of time. It is important to note that adults still jump onto
your pet, bite your pet, and live to tell about it. In order to
prevent and kill adult fleas, an adulticide should be used.
Some
of the easiest and most effective adulticides are the oils that
are applied topically to the skin, such as Frontline and
Advantage. These products kill the adult fleas before they
can lay eggs and therefore also prevent an infestation in addition
to killing the adults.
There
are still many collars, sprays, dips, etc., on the market, but you
should seek the advice of your veterinarian before using them. Some
of the products can be dangerous if used together and some are toxic
to cats. If your animal has fleas, you must also treat your house.
The first step is to vacuum the entire house and wash all bedding
the animal has used. Since fleas tend to develop deep down in carpeting
and under furniture, a premise spray should then be used. Flea bombs
can be used, but they do not get under furniture as they spray into
the air and then settle down.
Fleas
can be a frustrating and expensive problem, so prevention is recommended.
Flea prevention should begin in the spring and be used through late
fall or early winter. Fleas can carry tapeworrms, so if your pet
has had fleas, watch the stool for rice-like looking segments.
One
additional note about fleas is that some animals can develop allergies
to flea saliva so that a single flea bite can cause massive hair
loss and a chewing and scratching frenzy. Flea control is vital
to the comfort and happiness of these animals.
If
you have additional questions about flea control or treatment, do
not hesitate to call our staff!
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