How to Control and Prevent Fleas .Dr. Cori Gross DVM
4/14/2008 10:04:33
Spring’s arrival ushers in the return of blue skies, sunny days, blooming flowers, and...flea infestations! Even if you don’t see live fleas, your pet could still be getting bit and your home could still become infested. For every flea you actually see on your pet, there could be hundreds more that you do not see; after all, a female flea can lay 50 eggs per day.
Fleas love the warm temperatures and humidity of spring and summer but are also perfectly happy living in our homes when it is cold outside. The best way to prevent a flea problem is to apply a topical monthly agent to the back of the pet’s neck (oral products are also available).
Do I really need to apply flea control every month?
The Companion Animal Parasite Council(CAPC)publishes guidelines to aid veterinarians in the prevention of internal and external parasites. The council’s current flea control recommendation is to administer flea preventatives all year long. This will not only keep your pet comfortable and prevent secondary bacterial infections due to itching, but will also help prevent parasites caused by fleas, such as tapeworms and cat scratch disease (an infection that causes swelling of the lymph nodes after an animal scratch).
Don’t forget about pets with allergies! Many pets will be allergic to flea bites in addition to their air-borne or food allergies. These pets may not ever appear to have fleas, but could have bald spots, scabs or skin infections. The only way to keep these dogs and cats comfortable is to apply the preventative every month (and some vets will recommend re-dosing every three weeks instead of every four).
That makes sense for dogs, but what if my cat never goes outside?
Indoor-only cats get fleas, too. The humans living with the cat are often the culprits, because they bring fleas and eggs into the house on our shoes and pant legs. There is also high potential for flea infestation if the cat lives with a dog or another cat that goes outside occasionally.
