by Michelle Pineda, DVM, Dogwood Veterinary Hospital & Pet Resort
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ast year, North Carolina saw one of the worst flea seasons on record. To avoid fleas on your pets this year, it’s important to be proactive and start planning now. Fleas are not difficult to treat once you know what to do. For effective treatment, you first need to understand the flea life cycle. When adult fleas are present, thousands of flea eggs are in the environment and hatching out in the carpet, the bed, and the upholstery. One adult female flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day. These eggs fall off the pet into the environment where they mature and hatch into maggot-like larvae. The larvae live in the carpet and upholstery. They form pupae (cocoons), which emerge into adult fleas. Within a few days, ten fleas can turn into hundreds or thousands of fleas! Even if you kill all the adult fleas that are present on a pet, the thousands of eggs in the environment will continue to hatch out and re-infest that pet. Bathing your dog in a flea shampoo, putting out bowls of water, or even flea-bombing your home won’t work because these interventions kill only adult fleas and do nothing to rid your house of the fleas hatching out from eggs in the environment.
Bug off!
or K-9 Advantix (only for dogs). These products are very different from the older pesticides and are safe and effective when used correctly. They do cost more than Biospot, Hartz, or Sergeants flea spot-on products, but in this case, you definitely get what you pay for. Purchasing the correct product is only the first part of the equation. You must also apply it correctly and consistently. Topical flea products must be applied directly to the skin. On some pets, you must part the hair and actually dig down until you see the skin. Do not apply the product to the hair. To be effective, even the long-lasting flea products should be applied every month, year-round. In short, the key to preventing a flea infestation is to purchase a newer generation flea product and apply it every month, religiously, year-round. Avoid dangerous, ineffective, permethrin or pyrethrin-based products. It is much easier to prevent an infestation than to eradicate one. Above all, follow the advice of your pet’s veterinarian.
To be successful against the flea invasion, choose a product that has a long-lasting effect so that as new fleas hatch out, they will be eliminated. There are several flea products that are very effective, but remember that not all flea products are created equal. It is important to choose a product that will be both safe and effective. Many over-the-counter flea products contain organophosphate, permethrin, or pyrethrin and are either ineffective or not as safe as they claim to be. These outdated insecticides have been available for many years and are the main active ingredients in the less expensive, over-the-counter flea spot-on products, such as Biospot, Hartz, or Sergeants. In addition to safety issues, they just don’t work as well as the newer medications. The newer generation flea control products include Frontline, Advantage, Revolution, oral Comfortis, The Triangle Dog
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