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