Ugh, Fleas Again!

Last year we had fleas on our cats and our ferrets. But choosing the right flea treatment for your pet can be difficult. So I found some great websites with information, so I am posting some of it and have the links listed. Knowing when to treat and how often can be very helpful. Talk to your vet before doing any treatment plan.

What are fleas?

Fleas are small (1/10"-1/5"), biting insects usually associated with cats and dogs but fleas bite people too. Female fleas require blood to lay healthy eggs. Larval fleas are worm-like (lower right photo) and live in the "nest", or pet bedding. Flea larvae do not bite but rather feed on organic debris and adult flea feces which contain digested blood.

Adult fleas have no wings and are flattened side to side. This shape helps them move between the hairs of their host animal. Fleas jump when disturbed. Fleas bites result in red, itchy lesions and can even transmit diseases, tapeworms, and cause a skin ailment called flea bite dermatitis.



Flea life cycle

The basic flea life cycle is pretty simple. Eggs are laid in the host animal's nest (pet bedding) or fur. Eggs hatch in about a week. Worm-like flea larvae feed on organic debris and feces from adult fleas and after two to three weeks fully grown larvae pupate in a silken coccoon. After one or two weeks as pupae adult fleas are

Full article: http://www.livingwithbugs.com/fleas.html



Safety tips for pet owners:

*Consult your veterinarian about the best way to to protect your pets from fleas and ticks and whether pesticides are even needed.

*Use extra care before use on weak, aged, medicated, sick, pregnant, or nursing pets, or on pets that have previously shown signs of sensitivity to pesticide products.*If you use a spot-on product or any other pesticide on your pet, carefully read and follow the product label.

*Use flea and tick control products only on the animal specified by the product label - for example, dog products for dogs only and cat products for cats only.

*Follow any label prohibitions against use on weak, aged, medicated, sick, pregnant, or nursing pets, or on pets that have previously shown sensitivity to pesticide products. Apply only the amount indicated for the size of the animal being treated.
Do not apply to kittens or puppies unless the product label specifically allows this treatment. Pay attention to the age restrictions for puppies and kittens on the label.

*Monitor your pet for side effects or signs of sensitivity after applying the product, particularly when using the product on your pet for the first time. Do not apply spot-ons to pets known to be sensitive to pesticide products.
If your pet experiences an adverse reaction, immediately bathe the pet with mild soap and rinse with large amounts of water.

*Keep the package with the product container (such as individual applicator tubes). Also keep the package after treatment in case adverse effects occur. You will want to have the instructions at hand, as well as contact information for the manufacturer.

Full article: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/flea-tick.htm



Because of the toxic nature of some pesticides on animals and children, here are the safer ones. Full article discusses the harmful effects of many of the pesticides used today, http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/pets/pets.pdf


Safer Products Registered for Use on Cats & Dogs*

Newer Spot-On Insecticides Cat Products Dog Products:
Fipronil Frontline Spray Treatment Frontline Spray Treatment
Frontline Top Spot for Cats Frontline Top Spot for Dogs
Imidacloprid Advantage Tm 9 (Imidacloprid) Topical Solution Advantage TM 10, TM 20, TM 55, or TM 100 Topical
Solution
Advantage 18 (Imidacloprid) Topical Solution Advantage TM 110
Lufenuron Program ** Program**
Methoprene Har tz Rabon Spray with Methoprene Aerosol Har tz Rabon Spray with Methoprene Aerosol
Formulation Formulation
Zoecon Rf-322 Ovicidal Pump Spray Zoecon RF-322 Ovicidal Pump Spray
Zoecon 9207 Collar Zoecon RF-372 Collar
Sandoz 9116 Mousse RF-9414 Shampoo
Raid Flea Killer Plus Raid Flea Killer Plus
Fenoxycarb Raid Flea Killer IV Plus
Pyriproxyfen Flea Ovisterilant Collar for Cats #1 Flea Ovisterilant Collar For Dogs
Pyriproxyfen IGR Residual Ovisterilant Shampoo #1 Pyriproxyfen IGR Residual Ovisterilant Shampoo #1
Pyriproxyfen 10% Spot On for Cats Permethrin-Pyriproxyfen Residual Shampoo for Dogs
Adams Flea And Tick Mist With Nylar Adams Flea and Tick Mist with Nylar
Mycodex Fastact WP Flea and Tick Spray with Nylar Mycodex Fastact WP Flea and Tick Spray with Nylar



Fleas can carry many diseases and can make your pet very sick:

Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD):
Excessive biting or scratching around
the tail, groin, backside, neck or back possibly producing
scabs or bumps.

Anemia:
Pale gums, weakness and lethargy.

Tapeworm:
Intense anal itching or tapeworm segments around
the anal area or in the feces.

Rickettsiosis:
Infected cats may not have clinical signs or
show symptoms but the disease can be passed to humans.

Plague:
High fever, dehydration and enlarged lymph nodes.

Cat Scratch Disease:
Few symptoms in cats, but can be
passed on to people.

Again, always consult your vet before using anything!