Fleas!
Fleas! Fleas! Fleas are both a bane and
a boon to the Veterinary clinic. While
there is profit in selling prevention and treatment for flea problems, it is
also a conversation we are having constantly and repeatedly, which can be
wearying. There is an abundance of misinformation
in the world today about appropriate flea prevention treatments, what works and
what doesn’t. In particular, living in
the southern states does not afford owners a respite from the flea population
at any time of year, especially as the weather stays continually warm
throughout the year.
Therefore,
most people need to treat their house and yard for fleas. We hear from a lot of clients that their flea
prevention is not working, but after asking a few questions we find that the
client is not treating their house and yard.
No animal flea product has a real chance to work if their environment is
not being treated in order to kill the entire flea life cycle.
Some
tips:
·
If
you have carpeting in your house, borax/boric acid powder – which can be found
in the laundry detergent aisle – is a great way to treat for fleas. Sprinkle it on your carpet and rub it in with
a broom, and reapply after you have done the usual vacuuming 3 or 4 times (be
sure to test on a corner of carpet first to make sure there isn’t a
reaction). Borax is safe for pets and
humans, and is a cheap way to kill fleas.
·
If
you have mostly hard flooring – tile, hardwood, or linoleum – sprays are
usually a better option. We sell
Siphotrol Premise spray here at our clinic, and have for years, but you can
also buy sprays and treatments at pet stores.
·
For
treating your yard, there are a few options.
If you already have a yard treatment service, simply request that they
treat for fleas. This is not something
they necessarily do automatically, so make sure to ask for it. If you do not have a company that services
your yard, you can purchase triazicide granules in the lawn and garden
department of any home improvement store.
Granules tend to be more effective because, unlike sprays, they won’t
wash away when it rains.
·
Typically
the best option for house and yard is a paid service because if the flea
problem continues, it is their problem to solve.
There
are many product options for flea prevention for your pet. Most are great products, although we do not
recommend any that you can buy at your grocery store, like Hartz. These are not regulated by the FDA and can be
highly toxic for your pet. We also do
not recommend flea collars, as these are generally not effective (tick collars,
on the other hand, are one of the most effective ways to protect your dog
against ticks).
Generally,
a once-monthly topical or oral application is sufficient as flea prevention for
your pet. Occasionally, though, if an
animal spends time in areas you are unable to treat yourself –for instance, the
dog park – it can be necessary to treat them with additional products. A flea spray such as Adams can be a great
supplement to your monthly product and is very safe for frequent use no your
pet. A great time to use it would be to
spray it on your dog right after a visit to the dog park to kill any fleas they
may have picked up while playing.
Not
everyone needs flea prevention, especially if their pets stay mostly indoors,
but remember that it is easier to prevent fleas than to get rid of them. Fleas in our tropical climate are especially
aggressive, and once they take hold in someone’s house, they can be a huge
nuisance.
