Can a few fleas cause an infestation?
Fleas are bad news for your pet as they scratch and bite to relieve themselves from the itch. Just one adult flea can leave behind hundreds of eggs that are waiting to hatch & start their life cycle on your dog. Fleas can also spread tapeworm to your pet so protecting your pet against fleas is very important. They can also be bad news for humans because they can infest our homes breeding in the carpet and biting us as well.
Your pet is like a meeting place for fleas. On your pet, they feed and can mate, but after this, the female leaves your pet and lays her eggs in the surrounding areas. When they hatch, they feed on the excreta of the adult fleas before maturing themselves, and then the whole cycle starts again. Pets are not only irritated by the fleabites but some are also allergic to the saliva of the fleas resulting in flea allergy dermatitis (FAD).
How can I prevent fleas?
Start by ensuring that the grass around your home is kept mowed, as long grass can harbor fleas. If your pet has outdoor bedding, such as a hessian bed, replace it with one of the nylon beds as hessian is like a magnet for fleas. Wash bedding regularly and use a spray such as environmentally safe Fido’s spray around beds and kennels or other areas where your pet may spend large amounts of time.
In the past, we had to wait for the fleas to appear on the dog or the cat before we could treat them with a flea control product such as powder or sprays. Modern flea control products known as “spot on” products are applied to the skin of the animal between the shoulder blades. In simple terms, the applied solution will travel through the oil glands in the skin of your dog or cat, providing complete coverage for the animal from nose to tail! Your pet does not even need to be bitten by the flea for it to be effective as fleas need only come into contact with the pet and they will be killed. Washing your pet will not interfere with the effectiveness of the product. Chewable meat flavoured tablets are also a simple method to use for your dog. Modern products now prevent infestation from a range of parasites, intestinal worms, mites, ticks and fleas. These products last for a month and by starting now, the flea breeding cycle will be well and truly broken. It is recommended that you use these products every month without a break, as we all know, prevention is the best cure!
What is the safest flea product for dogs?
If your dog has sensitivities, you should always consult your vet before commencing a course of treatment. Simparica Trio and Simparica are both well-tolerated in various breeds of dogs when used as directed, including dogs with deficient multidrug-resistant-protein. The best product for treating heartworm, intestinal worms, fleas & ticks is Simparica Trio, because not only will it treat fleas but it will also treat heartworm, ticks (including paralysis & brown ticks), and intestinal worms. Revolution is especially popular with cat owners, as it means no more fighting to give your cat a worm tablet every few months for worms whilst treating fleas at the same time. Simparica trio is safe for puppies from 8 weeks of age, is a tasty chew and can be given with or without food.
Are there any side effects to flea & tick products?
The best place to start is to read the directions of your selected treatment. Check that the product has been tested and approved by the APVMA (Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority).
How to apply flea treatment on a dog?
All flea, tick & worming treatments will provide clear instructions on the use of these preventative treatments. Most today are squirted onto the skin and are then absorbed quickly. Always check to see how long after applying a spot-on skin product before your dog can get wet or have a bath. Some treatments are flavoured and will be readily eaten by your dog or pup.
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