I have more time to play with my toys and my buddies.”
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Fleas are not only a nuisance but also are the source of some serious medical problems both to the dog and owner. The bite causes discomfort and severe skin irritation. The pests crawling and biting above the skin cause restlessness, scratching and chewing. The result is selfinflicted trauma evidenced by hair loss, inflammation and sores around the base of the tail, thigh and back area. In addition, if the dog suffers from an allergy to exposure of flea saliva, then the skin lesions can involve the entire body. This condition, known as flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), is the most common skin condition. Fleas are blood-sucking parasites that can cause anemia, a dangerous problem in young animals. Fleas transmit the canine tapeworm. A flea control program begins with understanding the life cycle of the flea. Fleas have four main stages in their life cycle: egg, larva, pupa and adult. The total cycle can be as short as two weeks or as long as two years. The adult flea, well known for its jumping abilities, prefers to reside on the animal where it feeds off the dog’s blood. But the flea control program must be effective for the egg, larva and pupa stage of the flea. Before purchasing expensive control products a number of factors should be taken into account. These include the age and health, type and number of pets in the household. Environmental factors such as temperature {August2011}
and humidity, floor coverings, bedding and exposure to outdoors need also to be taken into consideration. Flea products for pet use come in a variety of delivery forms from oral tablets, topical sprays, concentrated liquids, powders, shampoos and dips. When making a purchase consult a veterinarian to help make the appropriate selections. Most products are great, but they can be dangerous if used in the wrong situation. Every situation is unique and requires a thorough understanding of the products. After all, we want to kill fleas not harm our beloved pets. A decision must be made whether to give or use any chemical or synthetic product on the animal. Some people prefer not to use any chemicals that might have potential risk on their pet or in the environment. In these cases there are home remedies and natural flea control methods that can be found on the Internet. It’s important to remember that fleas are not only an annoyance but also a serious health threat. Therefore, it’s advisable to evaluate between the low risk for adverse side effects and the high risk of disease from the flea-
bite. Professional advice and the use of well known, name brand products will greatly reduce the potential for toxicities. Remember; always adhere to the instructions on the label. If the package has age or species requirements, then use only as directed. Some of the newer products target the adult flea or the larval stage of the flea. Many of these also control heartworms, ear mites, intestinal parasites and mange mites. So, in addition to killing fleas these help eliminate many other dangerous external and internal parasites. Most of these drugs can be purchased from a veterinarian - a great source of information for each pet. MOM: “Tucker, you can spend day and night in the pool to beat the summer heat but there’s a much better way to beat the fleas. Drowning the little suckers is a natural, very short term of method. However, I can give you one safe, effective chewable tablet monthly that kills the adult fleas and prevents heartworms and intestinal parasites. So have fun cause Mom’s got the situation covered.”
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