HomeAs winter sets in so does the flea season. Even if your animal never goes outside, "the fleas come in through little nooks and crannies." says Dr. Kim Schemmer from Gulf Shore Animal Hospital in Naples. "They can get into the house through screens, doors, or even on your clothes."
For outdoor pets, public places are potential danger zones because they are not always sprayed to keep pests under control. Even if your dog only stays on the sidewalk when you go for a stroll, he can still pick up fleas that have fallen off other animals.
Newly built homes can also present a problem. "Flea eggs can live in the environment undisturbed and viable for one year." says Schemmer, who studied fleas for seven years at the University of Florida's Dermatology and Immunology Department. All the digging from newly planted landscaping can cause those dormant flea eggs to hatch.
So, how can you tell if your pet has fleas? Schemmer suggests using a flea comb once a week. If you get a black gritty material off your pet when using the comb, it could be "flea dirt." To verify this, place the material on a white towel, then wet it with water. If it dissolves and turns a pinkish red, it's dried blood which means your animal has fleas. You can also visually check for these small, black, bloodsucking parasites by parting your pet's coat in different areas. The best place to look on cats is around the face and neck. For dogs, check the abdomen, arm pits, and hindquarters.
Unfortunately, by the time you see your first flea, your already outnumbered. The adult fleas on your pet account for only 5% of the total population in the environment. Which means your first plan of attack should be to clean your house.
Start by thoroughly vacuuming rugs and furniture as well as washing floors. This should be done on a weekly basis. Make sure to concentrate on areas where your pet sleeps or spends a lot of time. Placing part of a flea collar inside the vacuum bag helps kill any adult fleas that get sucked up. If you don't do this, dispose of the bag immediately after vacuuming since it can become a breeding environment for fleas. It's also important to wash your pet's bedding once a week in hot, soapy water and dry on high heat.
Once you've taken care of your house, the next step is to find a flea product to apply on your pet. Listed below are four new formulas that have hit the market over the past couple of years making flea control easier and more effective than ever before.
Frontline is a topical "spot on" formula available only from veterinarians. It controls fleas for 3 months and ticks for 1 month. It kills fleas and ticks at the adult stage. Recommended monthly usage for cats and dogs 12 weeks or older. Will not wash off with shampoo or water for 30 days.
Bio Spot is a topical "spot on" formula available at pet stores. It kills adult fleas, eggs, larvae, ticks as well as kills and repels biting mosquitoes Recommended monthly usage for dogs 12 weeks of age or older. Can get wet but will wash off with shampoo.
Advantage is a topical "spot on" formula available only through veterinarians. Recommended monthly usage for dogs and cats over 16 weeks of age. Kills adult fleas before they can lay eggs (doesn't help kill existing eggs). Remains 90% effective for up to a month when dogs are immersed in water weekly and 92% effective when shampooed four days following treatment.
Program is an oral pill available only through veterinarians. For cats they have a liquid formula that can be applied to food. Recommended monthly usage for dogs and cats 6 weeks of age or older. Does not kill ticks or existing fleas, only prevents flea eggs from hatching. The company's brochure states pet owners will not see any dramatic decreases in the flea population for 30-60 days when using Program by itself to control an existing flea infestation. Another product must be used in conjunction with Program to knock down the existing fleas.
For those who don't like to use chemicals, Dr. Howard Peiper, author of "Are You Poisoning Your Pets?", suggests sprinkling nutritional yeast on your pet's food once a day. He warns not to use Brewers yeast, which can cause skin problems, allergies or vomiting. According to Peiper aged garlic, like the brand Kyolic, can also work by producing a reaction which emits hydrogen sulfide on the surface of the skin, making it unappetizing to fleas.
To learn more about fleas, animal behavior or if you'd just like to have a pet related question answered, Dr. Kim Schemmer and Dr. Howard Peiper will be two of the guest speakers at Barnes and Noble tonight from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. This free event is open to the public.