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F.O.C.C.A.S.
FLEAS AND FLEA CONTROL
Fleas are skin parasites of dogs and cats that are irritating to pet and are the most common cause of skin diseases. Fleabites also bother some people. Exposure to fleas can cause an animal to become allergic to the fleabites resulting in severe itching, hair loss and skin sores. Inspecting your pet's skin can reveal fleas, or you may see tiny black flea droppings or feces that indicate that fleas have been on your pet. Adult fleas spend most of their lives on the host, or in carpets or floors indoors. There can be many more fleas in the environment that on an animal. Fleas lay their eggs while on the host. The eggs fall off the host into the environment, which is why treatment of the environment is as important as treatment of the animal. Regular treatment of animals in a household is the most important part of flea control and can be accomplished in several ways. Flea baths kill fleas on the animal and clean away flea dirt from the skin and hair coat, but have no residual action. Flea spays and powers kill fleas and keep killing or repelling fleas for a period of time. Flea dips also help control fleas for one to two weeks. Flea collars help some, but are usually inadequate in heavy fleas infestations. Systemic flea control applied in liquid form may be used to control fleas. Always use flea products according to the manufacturer's instructions. Two new products that are available in California for flea control are Advantage and Frontline. Advantage is a liquid that is placed on the animals skin at the back of the neck, and at the base of the tail on large dogs. This product kills fleas for four to six weeks without reapplication, unless the animal is bathed or goes swimming. Frontline is applied in the same manner. Frontline kills ticks for four weeks and fleas for four to six weeks. The animal can be bathed in a mild shampoo and go swimming without the product washing off. Flea control is in the environment is important to keep fleas from jumping onto your pets as their flea treatment wears off. Spays or foggers are used to treat the indoors and can be supplemented by vacuuming up flea eggs and larvae to prevent continuation of the flea life cycle. Treating your animal's bedding and sleeping area regularly is also important. Yard and kennel areas are spayed to kill fleas outdoors. Since flea eggs and pupae are virtually indestructible, treatment of the environment at periodic intervals is necessary to kill fleas as they hatch and grow. Keep in mind that two adult fleas can multiply, producing 1000,000 flea eggs in just one month. Be sure to follow label directions. Flea control is a difficult and challenging problem that requires constant attention and work. The end result of flea free dogs and cats is worth the effort. Also See
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