Stop the Itching!

As the weather warms up, fleas and ticks will once again be looking for new homes among your pets. Why should you treat even if you’ve never had any problems?

Fleas can be picked up at the park, in the yard, or from contact with other animals. I even heard a story of an indoor cat that got fleas from a stray cat that was living under the house!

Fleas take 6 to 8 weeks to make themselves at home and it may take that long before you notice the excessive itching, biting, or dots of blood that mark a flea’s residence. By then, the fleas have laid eggs and have a whole new family living in your pet’s fur.

Even after the initial flea treatment, it may take a month or more to rid your pet of the larva and eggs that have buried themselves beneath the skin. That’s why products like Frontline recommend monthly treatments.

Besides spot treatments, other options are the flea collar, which works in the head and neck area, or shampoos and sprays, which are limited to a few days effectiveness. Most of these work on adult fleas only. Oral medication keeps flea eggs from hatching, but is ineffective on adult fleas.

Flea prevention also includes home and yard maintenance. Insect growth regulators sprayed in your yard can help keep flea numbers down. There are also sprays and powders for the home. Animal bedding, furniture, and carpets should be vacuumed or cleaned regularly.

Although providing for your pet’s comfort alone is a good reason to stave off a flea infestation, keep in mind that fleas like human flesh too. Although you won’t want to put flea collars on your kids, you will want to take the appropriate steps to create a hostile living environment for fleas.

Pets and Planting

Spring is here and if you haven’t already mapped out your gardening and landscaping, you’re considering it.

If you have pets, be especially careful which flowers you choose. The following flowers can be dangerous to their health. (Click on image to enlarge).

If you believe your pet has ingested any part of these plants or bulbs, call your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680. Even if you don’t see any adverse signs at first, that doesn’t mean your pet hasn’t been affected. Keep a sample of whatever it is may have been chewed or eaten.

The ASPCA recommends you keep hydrogen peroxide and a bulb syringe on hand for poisoning emergencies.

Also be especially careful with pest baits, insecticides, and fertilizers. Most of them are poisonous to humans and animals. If you believe your pet has gotten into these items, keep the container for your call to the vet.

Best wishes for a beautiful yard and healthy pets!