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Care of your dog - Flea Prevention
Flea infestations of our domestic pets can be a continual
problem for both them and their owners. Flea bites can cause
quite severe reactions in both animals and humans alike, and
can also cause anaemia in heavily infested young and old
animals. Fleas are much more of a problem during the warmer
months of the year, however animals kept inside in a warm
environment during winter can still harbour these nasty
bloodsuckers.
Clinical signs of
flea bites are varied. Some animals may have large flea
populations yet show no adverse effects, while an animal
that is sensitive to fleas may have a pronounced
inflammatory response (redness, itching, hair loss) to a
single flea bite. Identifying these parasites or their
faeces in the animal's coat makes diagnosis of fleas easy.
However, for conditions other than simple infestation,
veterinary advice should be sought.
There are numerous
preparations that aid in the control of adult fleas,
however, we recommend the use of both Frontline ® and
Advantage ™. Both of these products kill adult fleas,
and both are available as monthly 'spot-on' preparations.
Advantage is safe for use with kittens and puppies, and
kills developing fleas in your pet's environment. Frontline
may be applied as a spray or as a spot-on preparation, and is useful for
tick
prevention
also. Both Frontline and Advantage remain effective with repeated exposure
to water (when applied in accordance with the manufacturer's
instructions). We can advise you as to the suitability of either of
these treatments for your pet, in addition to other products that are
available.
It is also important
to treat the pet's environment when aiming to control fleas.
Bedding should be washed regularly and allowed to dry
thoroughly each time. Kennels should be protected from the
elements and well ventilated. Regular vacuuming of all areas
of the house to which pets have access will keep eggs and
developing fleas to a minimum, and where infestations are
especially bad, aerosol 'bombs' may be used.
Frontline
is a registered trademark of Merial Limited.
Advantage is a trademark of Bayer A.G. Leverkusen,
Germany.
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