It’s June - and as they say – spring has sprung. Flowers are popping up everywhere and so are fleas. You may be wondering what products are best for your pets or if they even need them at all.
What are fleas?
Adult fleas are reddish-brown insects with bodies that are compressed, or flattened, from side to side. Because fleas are so small, they can be difficult to detect. They are wingless, but possess incredible jumping ability. This enables them to jump easily from ground level to your pet. They prefer temperatures of 65-80 degrees and humidity levels of 75-85 percent - so for some areas of the country – like California - they are more than just a "summer" problem.
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Fleas feed on blood, and female fleas consume about 15 times their body weight each day. Incompletely digested blood is excreted from the flea and dries to form what is commonly referred to as “flea dirt.” This serves as food for developing flea larvae and is one way veterinarians and pet owners can identify an infestation. An unseen flea can begin feeding on your dog within seconds. And within 24 hours of its first blood meal, a flea can begin laying eggs. Egg production can reach a rate of 40–50 per day, resulting in an infestation. That's why it's critical to kill fleas quickly, before they can lay eggs.
Why worry about fleas?
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Fleas can cause severe discomfort for your pet, including scratching, chewing, biting and restlessness. Severe flea infestations can cause anemia, especially in young or debilitated pets. Ingested fleas can transmit tapeworm.
Tapeworms live in the small intestines and vary from less than an inch to several feet in length. The head of the worm fastens to the wall of the gut by hooks and suckers (ick!). The body segments containing the eggs are passed in the feces. Fresh, moist segments are about one-quarter inch long and are capable of moving. Occasionally you may see them crawling through the fur near your pet’s anus. When dry, they resemble kernels of rice. Some dogs experience anal itching from the segments. Tapeworms will drain nutrition from your pet.
Many dogs and cats experience flea bite hypersensitivity or allergies. A single bite can cause itching for up to 3 weeks. In dogs, flea allergy results in scratching and chewing, particularly along the back, tail, and thighs. This irritation can result in hair loss, redness, and bumps in these sensitive areas. Excessive chewing may result in a hair less, red, oozing, painful area known as a "hot spot".
Cats with flea allergy will develop a scruffy appearance and often have bumps and scabs along the back, on the abdomen, and around the neck. Occasionally, cats will develop hairless, firm, raised areas known as eosinophilic plaques. Flea control is the most important treatment for flea allergic pets and must include vigorous and regular treatment of all the animals, the yard, and the house.
Your pet isn't the only household resident that can suffer from flea bites. Flea infestations in homes and areas around a home often result in people being bitten by newly-emerging fleas. Humans are at risk for health issues, some of which can be serious.
What can you do to control fleas?
- Eliminate fleas in your home. Steam clean your carpets, vacuum frequently, use sprays or foggers, and launder bedding, blankets and throws weekly. The most effective way to handle a major infestation is to contact an exterminator.
- Eliminate fleas on your pets. Use a once-monthly flea control on your pets.
So, do WE recommend using flea control on your pets? The answer is a definite YES! What do we recommend? We carry and recommend the following:
For Dogs Only. Trifexis. Trifexis is a monthly chewable tablet. It kills fleas, prevents flea infestations, and can also remove any fleas that are on your dog at the time of treatment, it treats and controls hookworms, whipworms and roundworms, and prevents heartworm disease. It is for use in dogs and puppies 8 weeks of age or older and 5 pounds of body weight or greater. Heartworm infection can make dogs very sick and can even be fatal. This parasite is spread to dogs by mosquitoes.
For Dogs and/or Cats. Comfortis. Comfortis is a beef-flavored tablet you give to your dog or cat to kill fleas and prevent flea infestations for one month. It is a chewable tablet recommended for monthly use in dogs 3.3 pounds or greater, cats 2 pounds or greater and puppies and kittens 14 weeks and older.
For Cats Only. Assurity. Assurity is topical and provides a fast-acting way to protect your cat from fleas and lasts for 30 days.
Contact me with any questions.
Lisa Elias
Client Service Manager
Alicia Pet Care Center
25800 Jeronimo Road, Ste. 100
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
949.768.1313
mypetsdr.com
wecare@mypetsdr.com
