All dog owners are familiar with the problems caused by pesky
fleas. Fleas are very small wingless insects, brownish red in
color, and have sharp mouths by which they obtain blood from their
canine hosts. Flea bites usually cause your dog to scratch at
affected areas and some dogs are more sensitive than others and can
have allergic reactions to flea bites. In general, fleas do not
transmit diseases from dogs to humans, but the potential for this
exists and they can and do bite humans as well as dogs and cats.
Fleas and flea larvae live in warm climates and will live until the
ground freezes in cooler climates. They can live on in your home
well past this time also.
If you suspect that your dog has fleas, you should take him to your
veterinarian. Your veterinary staff member will first use a flea
comb on your dog. Flea combs are wide tooth combs and “flea dirt”
or dried blood flea excrement is what they are looking for. If this
is found, your veterinarian will recommend treatment. Most
veterinarians recommend preventive treatment for fleas as it is
much easier to prevent them than to treat them.
For those of you that wish to treat your dog for fleas without
commercial products, there are a few recommendations. One way is to
comb your dog with a flea comb regularly. You can put some
petroleum jelly on the comb to help fleas stick to the comb. Other
people recommend using rubbing alcohol to slow down the fleas so
they are easier to catch. Garlic and Brewers Yeast added as
supplements to your dog’s food are recommended by those who prefer
the natural approach to treating fleas, however, the benefits of
these treatments have yet to be proven.
There are several over the counter flea treatments available at
your local pet store. However, many of these contain pyrethrins,
which are natural insecticides derived from the chrysanthemum
plant. In the past, this kind of treatment of fleas was the only
one available to veterinarians. If you choose to use a product
containing pyrethrins, you should be aware of the potential side
effects. There is a potential threat of toxicity when using a
product containing pyrethrins, not just to your dog, but to other
animals in the house and humans as well. Make sure you follow the
label usage directions and if you have any questions about using
these products, consult your veterinarian.
Today, there are much safer products available. Most of these
products are only available through your veterinarian. One of the
most popular treatments for fleas is Frontline Plus by Merial. It
is topically applied to the skin of your dog on the back of the
neck. According to Merial, Frontline Plus kills 98-100% of adult
fleas within 24 hour and will also kill eggs and larvae to prevent
fleas from recurring. Frontline Plus is waterproof for up to 30
days and is safe to use on puppies as young as 8 weeks of age.
Another popular flea treatment is Sentinel by Novartis. Sentinel is
a monthly pill that also prevents heartworms. Sentinel kills adult
fleas, eggs, and larvae. Novartis also makes the flea control
products Program and Capstar. Program is a flavored tablet that is
given monthly, and while it does not kill adult fleas, it does
interrupt the flea life cycle by preventing the development of flea
eggs. Program is safe to use in dogs and puppies four weeks of age
and older. Capstar is a pill that is given to kill adult fleas. It
can be given as often as once per day. According to Novartis,
Capstar will begin killing adult fleas within 30 minutes. One pill
should kill all adult fleas. Capstar is safe for dogs and puppies
four weeks of age and older.
Remember that it is much easier to prevent fleas than to treat them
once your dog has them. As with all medications, follow the advice
of your veterinarian. If you need more information about fleas and
flea prevention, contact a member of your veterinary staff or pet
professional.
VintageDogArt 