Health
Bug OFF! How to Keep Fleas at Bay BY APRIL TISHER
They have been on our planet for over
100 million years
and are literally described as blood-sucking parasites. Ahh yes, the ever-annoying
flea!
Not only can they cause your dog or cat to scratch and be uncomfortable, they can also infest your home. In fact, they can jump 30,000 times without stopping and produce 2,000 eggs during their 3 week life. According to Petcarrx.com, they can consume 15 times their body weight in blood on a daily basis. This, my friends, is why we have to keep them at bay! According to Terminix, a popular household pest expert, “Flea bites on humans are less common because most flea species prefer pets as their hosts,” we can all agree we do NOT want them on our pets or in our home. Veterinarians recommend flea and tick prevention for your household pets, especially in Florida. Our warm climate and lack of hard freezes mean that these pests can thrive. Flea bites on humans are usually small, red and itchy around the feet and ankles. A few bites themselves aren’t dangerous, but repeated bites or numerous ones can cause secondary infections or allergic reactions in humans. What is the best way to ensure we don’t become hospitable to these pests? Prevention and treatment is key, and they can range in price and method from prescription topical medications applied directly to the animal to oral medications to flea collars that can be
T I P
Use salt on your rug to help kill fleas! The salt will dehydrate the fleas and help them die! (Make sure to keep pets away from this area.) Sprinkle on the area, let sit for two days and vacuum up. Repeat as necessary, and dispose of vacuum contents outside, not in the kitchen trash!
purchased over the counter. Many of these products will prevent fleas, as well as ticks and other pests, and should be discussed with your pet's veterinarian to determine what is the safest, most effective method for your animal. A study put out by Veterinary Parasitology reported that after a 90 day study on 128 dogs from five states, when used correctly, topical flea medicine was 88.4 % effective and oral treatments were 99.9 % effective. Most mediations/treatments are based on age and weight, so what works for one pet or breed may not work or be safe for another.
Some possible options to talk to your vet about: Bravecto chewables are a popular choice for dogs; they prevent fleas and ticks for up to 12 weeks. These are weight based so there are several strengths to choose from. The cost is around $55 per dose or $200 for the year. Bravecto topical solution is also available for both dogs and cats, similarly priced and effective. Frontline Plus is a topical medication applied directly to the back of your dogs (not safe for cats) coat to protect them from fleas and ticks for 30 days. A six-month supply will run you about $66 dollars. Advantage II may be a good choice for your small dogs because its a topical treatment effective for up to 30 days. Forty-three dollars will buy 4 doses on Amazon. K9 Advantix II is a topical treatment for large dogs that protects against fleas, ticks and mosquitoes for a month. It costs $67 for 6 months. * Always check with your veterinarian before starting a new flea and tick program.
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WELLNESS360 | MARCH/APRIL 2020
