Flea and Tick Prevention
Flea Identification:
Fleas are small brown or black wingless insects that feed on the blood of a variety of mammals, including cats, dogs, and even humans. These insects cause considerable irritation and distress to pets. Severe infestations may lead to anemia from blood loss. It is important to note that a flea can transmit tapeworms if ingested by a dog or cat. The best place to look for fleas on your pet is the hindquarters, base of the tail, abdomen, and groin. If no fleas are found, tiny black granules that resemble pepper may be observed. This material is flea feces and consists primarily of blood. To distinguish this material from dirt, place it on a piece of white paper or towel and add water. If the material turns a rust color, fleas and eggs are nearby.
Life Cycle:
After taking a blood meal, the female flea can lay thousands of eggs on the animal and in the animal’s environment. The eggs prefer draft-free areas of the house where they hatch into larva. The larvae require a minimum of 3 weeks to hatch but can remain in the environment for months. Once hatched, the flea aggressively seeks a blood meal.
Tick Identification and Life Cycle:
Ticks are wingless arthropods that can live for 4 or more years. They feed primarily in the spring and fall but can be found attached to you or your pet any time of the year, especially if the temperature remains warm. If they feed for very long, they often cause a red, raised, and painful area on the skin. Ticks molt through various larval and nymph stages that are barely visible to the naked eye. A tick, if left undisturbed, may feed for several days on one host. As it does, it inflates and engorges with blood and can potentially transmit disease(s). While dogs tend to contract tick diseases more frequently than cats, it is still important to take measures to prevent infection with diseases like Erlichiosis and Anaplasmosis.
Treatment:
Many products exist that are highly effective and safe for eliminating fleas and ticks on cats and dogs. The following is a list of products sold at and recommended by Timberview Veterinary Hospital:
Available Products:
-Credelio for Cats (for both cats and dogs) kills fleas and ticks and is effective for 30 days
-Advantage (for both cats and dogs) kills adult fleas, stops eggs and larvae from developing for one month
-Seresto Collar (for both cats and dogs) kills adult fleas, flea larvae and ticks for up to 8 months
–Bravecto Plus (topical for cats) kills adult fleas and ticks and various other parasites for 12 weeks
-Revolution (for both dogs and cats) kills adult fleas and various other parasites for one month
Treatment of the environment is an important step in controlling a flea infestation. We
recommend vacuuming on a daily basis to help deplete fleas and flea eggs from carpet and furniture. Be sure to throw out the bag (outdoors) each time. Keeping lawns mowed can reduce flea and tick exposure. In order to break a flea infestation it is necessary that all pets in the home be treated with a flea preventative for a minimum of 3 consecutive months.