Fleas and Flea Control

As a pet owner, you may have already noticed: fleas are worse now than every before. The warmer weather and higher humidity creates ideal living conditions for these pests. Still, with a combination of products for your pet, and products for your home, these pests can be controlled.

Controlling Fleas on your Pet:

Lately, it seems that our once effective flea products are no longer working as well. While it is very possible that flea populations are developing a tolerance to these products, owner compliance may also play a part in flea population problems. It is important that an owners apply products correctly if they are to work properly:

Application: Make sure to read instructions or talk to your veterinary staff to confirm that you are using topical flea products correctly. Large dogs, for instance, should have the product ampule split over several spots on their back, instead of just one spot on the back of the neck. It is also important that an owner split the hair and make sure the product is being applied directly to the skin.

Bathing: Bathing and playing in water can affect the efficacy of topical flea products. In all cases, your pet should be completely dry before applying flea product; Frontline requires that you wait 48 hours before applying flea product (this gives the skin's fat layer time to regenerate). With any flea product, repeated baths or time in salt water can deteriorate the product more quickly.

Meals: Oral flea products (such as Program and Comfortis), should always be given with a meal. This helps the product enter the pet's system better.

Consistency: Consistent, timely application of flea products is one of the best ways to ensure control of flea populations. Failure to apply/give these products monthly could give fleas time to breed and lay eggs, leading to a population explosion later on.

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Controlling Fleas in the Environment:
If you have a severe flea problem in your home, it is important to treat your environment (house and yard) as well as your pet. For this task, your options are varied, ranging from services that come to your home, to do-it-yourself options. Traditional pesticides work well, but there are also several less toxic options that do the job well.

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A New Line of Defense:
The pharmeceutical industry has responded to pet owners' cries for help. Within the last year, three new flea control options are available through you veterinarian. In an effort to keep our patients happy and healthy, All Pets Animal Hospital is carrying two of these products, Vectra and Comfortis.

READ MORE ON VECTRA AND COMFORTIS>>>

If you have questions about any of these products or promotions, please give us a call at (760)634-2022! One of our friendly staff members will be happy to help you!