| FLEA
CONTROL
The battle against fleas
is far from easy, but these armored pests can be controlled
by easy steps we can take.
Health
Concerns: In addition to being annoying, fleas
pose several health problems to your pets. The common internal
parasite, the tapeworm, is transmitted to your pet by biting
an infected flea. Also, pets can become anemic if they have
many fleas feeding on their blood, which will result in
a lethargic and depressed pet. Flea infestations can cause
coat problems, obsessive grooming behavior, not to mention
flea allergy dermatitis.
Understanding
the Flea Cycle:
To fight or prevent flea infestations,
one must understand the life cycle of the
flea. The average flea cycle is approximately
21 days if environmental conditions are
right. Fleas prefer temperatures of 65-85
F with humidity of 75 -85%. Thus, North
Carolina is a prime spot for year round
infestations.
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Preventative
Measures:
1) On your pet
- Although past treatments for fleas were messy, time-consuming,
smelly, and potentially harmful, we have easy and effective
products today that are safe and odorless. Two of the most
popular products, Advantix
and Frontline, are liquids that you apply to the back
of your pet's neck once a month. In addition to controlling
fleas on your pet, these products are safer for young puppies
and kittens than previous treatments. Visit our Prentatives
page for all of the preventatives we carry at Town and
Country.
2) In your pet's
environment - You must also remember to treat the
environment in which your pet lives. This applies to both
indoor and outdoor pets. Fleas only spend 10% of their lives
on your pet. The other 90% of their time is spent in the
nearby environment. Also, fleas have a life cycle of 21
days from egg to adult. Therefore, it may be necessary to
treat the environment more than once to eradicate the fleas.
Ask
your veterinarian for the best line of defense against fleas
for your pet's health.
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