| There are several different types of flea, | | | | recommended products, it is important to |
| but by far the most common is Ctenocephalides | | | | apply it correctly. Part the fur on the back |
| felis felis, also known as the cat flea. | | | | of your pets neck and empty the contents of |
| Though it is called the cat flea, it is the | | | | the pipette onto the skin, to form a small |
| species most often found on dogs as well. | | | | puddle of liquid. Applying it to the back of |
| Unless your pet has a severe infestation, he | | | | the neck prevents your pet from ingesting it |
| she is probably not bothered by the odd flea, | | | | as this is the one place they cannot lick at |
| unless he/she has a flea allergy. However, | | | | whilst grooming themselves. Once it is |
| since these unpleasant insects also bite | | | | applied, do not wash or bathe your pet for |
| humans we are, not surprisingly, somewhat | | | | several days and do not let your pet go out |
| intolerant of them. This article discusses | | | | in the rain or go swimming, or the product |
| how to tell whether your pet has fleas and, | | | | will wash off and be wasted. The liquid is |
| if they do, how to eliminate them from your | | | | absorbed through the skin and distributed |
| house.It is not always obvious when your pet | | | | around the body.Generally these products |
| has a flea problem. You may see an adult flea | | | | provide protection for 1 month from the time |
| crawling around on your pets skin, especially | | | | of application. Frontline? for cats provides |
| if they have a pale coat. However, the | | | | 1 month protection vs fleas whilst Frontline? |
| easiest way to check for the presence of | | | | for dogs provides 2 months protection vs |
| these pesky critters is to look for flea | | | | fleas, but only 1 month protection vs ticks |
| dirt. This is actually flea feces, and | | | | and so is often applied monthly |
| appears as tiny black specs near the base of | | | | nevertheless.2. Spraying the house. This is |
| hairs on certain parts of your pets coat, | | | | equally as important as treating your pet, as |
| particularly around the rump (on the back, in | | | | the major part of the flea life cycle |
| front of the tail). Since fleas feed on | | | | develops off the host, in the environment. |
| blood, their feces is basically dried blood. | | | | Though adult fleas will spend most of their |
| When these little black specs come into | | | | time on your pet, the flea eggs and flea |
| contact with water, they turn reddish brown. | | | | larvae live in the environment, often being |
| So, try this: moisten a piece of white paper | | | | concentrated in or near pet sleeping areas. |
| kitchen roll thoroughly and place it on a | | | | To eliminate the next generation of fleas, |
| hard surface. Then, lift your pet above the | | | | the environment must be sprayed thoroughly |
| paper and vigorously rub and scratch his/her | | | | with an effective spray.The commercial |
| back, going against the direction of hair | | | | introduction of Insect Growth Regulators |
| growth, so that as much scurf and debris | | | | (IGRs) represented a major breakthrough in |
| falls off you pet as possible. Afterwards, | | | | flea control. These chemicals are highly |
| examine the wet paper closely. If your pet | | | | effective at destroying flea eggs and larvae, |
| has fleas, the dried black flea dirt will | | | | and so complement the spot on treatments very |
| have fallen onto the wet paper and turned | | | | well. They are readily available over the |
| into little red spots.If you have seen a flea | | | | counter in many forms, and do not wash off |
| on your pet, or have found flea dirt as | | | | the floor with water so have considerable |
| described above, then you have a flea | | | | residual activity; application is required |
| infestation to deal with. Do not fear, the | | | | only once every 6-12 months.So, where and how |
| problem can be easily resolved by following | | | | should you use this household flea spray? The |
| these simple steps.1. All pets in the house | | | | various stages of the flea life cycle are not |
| must be treated with an effective flea | | | | found on tiled floors, or floors covered with |
| treatment. | | | | linoleum. They are mainly found in carpets |
| | | | and in cracks of wooden floors. First of all, |
| 2. The house must be sprayed to kill any | | | | shut all of the windows in the house. Make |
| fleas and flea eggs in the environment.It | | | | sure the house is empty, if this is difficult |
| sounds simple. However, I have lost count of | | | | then shut all of the pets in a room where |
| the number of times clients say to me that | | | | they seldom go, which you can spray |
| they have done that already, when in fact | | | | separately later. If you have an aquarium, |
| they did not do it quite properly and so | | | | move it outside or make it airtight as the |
| their flea infestation continued.1. If one of | | | | flea spray can get into the water and kill |
| your pets has fleas, you need to treat them | | | | the fish. Then, go round the whole house |
| all simultaneously. Your goal is to wipe out | | | | spraying anywhere where your pet(s) spend |
| every flea in the house, so make sure there | | | | time, concentrating on where they sleep and |
| is no safe host for them to live on. Remember | | | | their favorite lying spots. Remember to move |
| dogs and cats require different doses of flea | | | | furniture and spray underneath too. Hold the |
| treatment products.Many owners believe that | | | | aerosol about 30cm from the surface you are |
| applying a flea product they have bought in a | | | | spraying. Once you have sprayed everywhere, |
| pet shop or supermarket will kill all the | | | | leave the house, with the windows closed, for |
| fleas in their house, or that a flea collar | | | | 3 hours. On your return, open all the windows |
| will provide adequate protection for their | | | | and leave again for a further 30 minutes. |
| pet. Wrong. Purchasing these products is | | | | Then go back and vacuum clean the entire |
| certainly better than doing nothing, but they | | | | house thoroughly. Remove the vacuum cleaner |
| are nowhere near 100% effective. They are | | | | bag or empty the container |
| comparatively weak compared to the products | | | | immediately.Following this technique will |
| you can get from your veterinarian. There are | | | | ensure swift eradiation of the fleas both on |
| many veterinary recommended products, here is | | | | your pet and in your house. Good luck!Dr |
| a list of some of the best: Frontline, | | | | David Brooks is part of the online veterinary |
| Advantage, Advocate, K9 Advantix, Program, | | | | team at Veterinarians, Vet Technicians, |
| Revolution, Stronghold. Most of these are | | | | Nurses, Trainers, Behaviorists, Breeders and |
| prescription only medicines, meaning they can | | | | Pet Enthusiasts are here to answer your pet |
| only be obtained from your veterinarian or | | | | questions and concerns... |
| with a prescription from your veterinarian. | | | | |
| However, Frontline? has recently been granted | | | | Our dedicated community of caring experts |
| a general sales license and so can be bought | | | | are waiting to offer you advice, second |
| over the counter, or ordered via an internet | | | | opinions and support. |
| store.Once you have purchased one of these | | | | |