Flea Control Strategies

Did you know ...

O Fleas spend only 10% of their time on your animal

On average fleas' life span can be up to 2-3 years

O One girl Flies can lay up to a million eggs during their lifetime

O Eggs can live unhatched in your carpet for a year until the right environment for hatching occurs

O Bark dust, wood piles and ivy are great places for fleas to survive the winter months

A flea is the second oldest insect (cockroach is the first) because of their excellent survival mechanisms

life cycle of a flea

adult cat and dog flea prefer to feed pets, not people. pets are closer to the ground and warmer body temperature than humans. Another option would be to children - especially infants and young children. Female fleas will probe and bite and an average of seven times in the "grouping" before locating blood vessels in the skin. saliva they leave every bite can cause a localized allergic reaction (flea allergy dermatitis or FAD as we call it in the veterinary world.) After feeding on large amounts of blood, the female flea deposits her eggs and droppings (flea dirt), which consists mainly of undigested blood. Both eggs (which are white and about the size of a grain of salt), and feces (which are black and appear as ground pepper, often in the form of a comma) fall off the animal hair and spread throughout the region.

Here's a quick home-test to see if your pet has fleas: lay out a white piece of butcher paper and groom your pet for a few minutes to stand napapir. Do you see black, comma-looking things against the white paper? If so, put a drop of water on it. If it is flea dirt, the water will turn pink.

Flea eggs to remain in the environment for variable amounts of time and are not destroyed by extremes in temperature or pesticides. When the proper conditions exist, the eggs hatch and release tiny white larvae. These larvae are not able to get around and must rely on the undigested blood left in the feces of their food source. Larvae are very sensitive to extremes in the environment, pesticides, growth regulators and insect.

Within a few days the larvae spin cocoons called protective cocoon around him. cocoons are very resistant to all but steam cleaning, and can lie dormant for many months to years. pupae stage of the primary over-winter in the environment. When conditions are favorable (warm and humid), grub issue young fleas , a cycle is complete.

length flea life cycle can vary from a little as one month to as long as two or three years.

flea control products

There are many products available for flea removal. They vary in effectiveness, application, safety, convenience, fragrance products, and duration of effectiveness. Sounds pretty complicated, right? It is. This is actually a chemical nightmare.

EFFECTIVE flea control program must include all animals in the household and the WHOLE environment in which animals live (including your CAR .)

Many people use only one product at a time, which is not in force. You have to treat animals, house, garden and all at one time to get this challenge under control.

Control of fleas on the animal: You have your choice of powders, sprays, dips, spot-ons or oral growth regulator

Flea powder: The manufacturers of these products say flea powder is safe to use every 3-4 days dogs and cats older than 8 weeks of age. Active ingredient (Pyrethrins as the safest and most natural ingredients), takes about 15 minutes to kill fleas when first applied. By the end of 5-7 days, if not repeated, flea powder works just like the rest, taking up to 12 hours to kill fleas. No growth regulator in this product, so it only kills the adults.

Note: powder should be diluted to half strength with powder when used on puppies and kittens

Disadvantages flea powder: Flea powder can make a coat feel rough and dirty. So, if your pet is already embarrassed by fleas, and now they're alienation by not giving them the love that you used for their coats when they were cleaner and softer, this makes the problem worse. Animals do not enjoy the flea powder and it can make asthma worse.

Flea sprays: sprays may vary. Most are alcohol-based, and some are more organic than others. Alcohol is a quick kill of adult and pre-adult stages. Some Flea sprays containing insect growth regulator that will kill flea eggs as well. Make sure you get one with this in it. Pets are small when you get to see them with a bottle of that after a few applications.

The only time I use flea spray is when I treat a cat for ear mites (I spray on some kleenex and rub their heads down after I clean their ears and put medicine down each ear canal.) I also use spray my pant legs when I walk in the woods during tick season.

So, can you use alcohol or vodka to kill an adult? Yes, but using alcohol can be toxic. Alcohol contains some methanol, which can cause blindness when ingested. Cats groom themselves and will take it. If you want to use alcohol, stick with vodka or Everclear, but it really is not very effective.

Aromatherapy: Herbal insecticides include pennyroyal (very toxic), clove, citronella, and eucalyptus oils (diluted of course). It can be mixed with shampoo or apply naovratnik material fleas. They can be very irritating when applied directly to the skin. They should not be placed directly on a coat either, because when animals groom themselves they will ingest. Generally, pets hate this kind of control of fleas and only submit it to the learned helplessness type of situation.

Flea collars are only minimally effective in controlling fleas. Most collars containing dichlorvos, which is released as steam. They are sold under several trade names. Dichlorvos is toxic to animals and humans and can cause severe reactions occasionally. Remember, flea and tick collars do not work well for animals over 20 pounds.

. Note: Necklaces are particularly harmful to the persian cat They can also cause a localized reaction around the neck <. P>

Ultrasonic collars are ineffective and can cause hearing loss in your pet. Ultrasonic collars are expensive gimmick. Do not fall for it.

dips who kill fleas and mites for several days or weeks are highly toxic and should not be used for routine flea control. One study found that more than a year fell 3 led to increased incidence of cancer. Wear gloves if you choose this method of flea control (although I have no idea why.) Try to choose a non-organophosphorus (OGP), a type of growth inhibitor in it.

Pour-on and spot-on products containing organophosphates are also very toxic. Organophosphate spot-on kills fleas only after pet bites and sucks its blood. These products are also dangerous where children are concerned. Do not let a child be exposed to the pet for at least 24 hours after these products are used. I've heard of cases where a parent has a child found dead a day after putting on the family dog who sleeps with a child. They are applied once every two weeks. A good rule of thumb is "if something is good, is not necessarily much better." Use only the doses stated on the bottle. Make sure you know the weight of the animals before they dose. Note the following paragraph.

Common side effects to flea products may include hypersalivation, vomiting and diarrhea. Some animals to foam at the mouth, others stagger about. Their pupils dilate and they seem disoriented. The best treatment is to remove the product from animal skin or body. Bathe your pet immediately - with a mild shampoo that does not include flea control. Some animals may need to be treated by a veterinarian with atropine or steroids to help animals deal with toxicity, and in some cases save their lives. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call your vet.

One product on the market seems to be working pretty well and minimally toxic. It's called advantage . The advantage of the place-on with the growth inhibitor, which works for 3-4 weeks. It permeates the fatty layer of skin. It should be applied after a bath tub because leeches leather. ADVANTIX the formula used for those who are in the area tick. It is also quite safe.

for dogs who swim regularly, this product may not work as well as others, such as a program. If the advantage does not work for you, you're probably not following the total flea control program for the treatment of all animals in your house, home premise spray, auto and treatment, as well as the garden.

and then I saw the Advantage respond at the local level with the skin causing the hair in that area to fall out, but this is rare.

program is an oral product that contains growth inhibitor. It is given once a month and literally sterilizes adult fleas, so that they can not produce any eggs. It is very safe for the animal and owner. Animals do not mind the taste in most cases it is very effective when used with environmental control. Some forms of Program also include a heartworm preventative and monthly roundwormer (pyrantel pamoate). This product is especially recommended for flea problems of larger size and long-term maintenance. This is not a good product for the flea allergic pet , but because of fleas and still needs to bite the pet to take the growth inhibitor.

I am often asked about Frontline products. I'll have to say that I never muscle tested this product to be safe for any pet. Certainly, popular and sells like crazy (I do not wear.) I do not know why, but the advantage of the program seems to be the safest product with the least chance of side effects.

Flea Shampoos does not provide protection when you flush. They can provide temporary relief (for several hours with heavy parasite in the environment), and will kill fleas on the animals during swimming. They are good at getting rid of flea dirt on your skin, but they also dry out your skin and not good for dogs with dry / flaky or greasy / oily skin. It is better to choose the correct medicated shampoo for your pet in these cases.

Use a flea spray, powder, or an advantage for a pet after a bath for long-term results. Each animal has a disease of the skin with a flea problem should see your veterinarian for proper treatment and recommendations regarding diet, shampoo and treatment.

I'm sorry to say that B-vitamins, brewer's yeast, garlic, Cedar Chips and Herbal Flea Collars will not kill fleas. They do, however, make the skin smell bad to fleas, and will discourage them. Scientific studies show a decrease of only 20% in flea numbers using these products.

Note: Cedar chips and leaves can be harmful to the skin of your pet. roll with chips can be incorporated into the skin and cause cancer (that goes for rats too!). Essential oil from the wood is also highly toxic, and is known to cause cancer.

Avon Skin-So-Soft is used by itself as a flea deterrent, and the Duo-cide products. To use this product, add 2 tablespoons of Skin-So-Soft per pint of water in a pint spray bottle. Shake well before using each time - it is the oil / water interface. Skin-So-Soft may make the coat oily and you may need to wash your pet frequently as the dust will stick to this oil easier. If your pet has allergies, it will not be a good choice. The aim is to reduce exposure to an allergen for allergic pet hair. This product will help the pollen to adhere to your pet causes more problems.

Flea combs are highly recommended for animals that can not tolerate flea products. The challenge is that the owners use a comb as often as needed to animals - every day. Grooming can be a biweekly after a comb of no more fleas for several days in a row. Continue to use a flea comb daily for those flea-allergic pets. Fleas should be crushed with a thumbnail as they are very hard exoskeletons.

Some flea combs are better than others. Try to buy one that will rake off adult fleas, flea eggs and dirt all at once. These combs are also excellent in preventing hairballs in cats (and will comb the child's head lice very effectively). Flea combs will comb through a long coats very easily - tines bend and break. I like kind imported from England. They have great hands and can handle metal prongs that can really take a beating (or dressing.) I also use my flea comb to comb out the winter coats on my pets. They cost around $ 7.00.

Treatment of five for the environment:

In general, products that are used in the environment can be toxic and lasts longer than those that apply to animals. Never use these products directly to your pet or children unless the bottle states it is safe to do so (even then, I would question .)

where small children and infants are concerned, more importance is placed on safety performance. That is why it is important for you to get involved in the selection of products for your home and pets.

The assumption of control products kill only the susceptible stages of fleas at the time of use. They are quite safe and can be used as the main treatment of the environment in which homes are birds and fish as pets. The frequency of fogging and spraying depends on the temperature and humidity, the degree of flea infestation, transport pets in and out, the effectiveness of products used and the amount of domestic disorder in which the fleas can hide.

Foggers are designed to cover a large enclosed areas and move until all passengers (including pets) are away. They are most effective in the empty spaces and crawl spaces. In homes with furniture or floor items they are not very effective. Foggers can take care of up to 80% of the problem. Make sure you get one with a inhibitor of growth in it.

When using foggers, remove all living things from the room. Cover fish tanks and remove birds. Read the label before using any space sprays or foggers. Since the insect growth regulator Methoprene is also removed with suction, vacuum or steam clean before using them and wait at least 4 days after the fogging to a vacuum. Foggers are basically gone after 10-15 vacuumings.

Put dollars into growth inhibitor product for the most effective and economical results.

assumption sprays are designed for spot treatment or for difficult to reach areas and for areas that are not enclosed like the back porch or doghouse. Use premise sprays baseboards, under furniture and between the couch cushions and around the edges of the water bed mattress.

These products last 2-3 months, it is not easy to suck up (they last for 20-30 vacuumings), and are very good for high traffic areas and for continuous protection. These products are broken down and become ineffective from the sun's rays. Use them to touch the well-traveled roads in the house where you can vacuum more often. Do not forget to treat your car if pets are traveling with you (even just a vet.) This is an effective and good use of your dollars.

yard and kennel sprays are for outdoor use and should be used in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. Most fleas live in the 30-foot radius of the building - where most pets spend their time. These sprays can be purchased at your veterinarian's office, pet shops, online or at local garden store.

nematodes that eat flea larvae: A few years ago I was wearing a natural product of the nematode sprinkle on your lawn to kill the flea larvae. This will be a great product if it is still in force. infractions on this product that had to be wet, the expiration date are short, it is expensive and may not go away. If any of you out there has found a good product as it could be, let me know!

malathion and Sevin is commonly used sprays for the yard, but is inactivated by sunlight and they will not last more than 3-7 days. Spray them once the sun went down and when you know there will be no rain for a day or two.

household can be very effective flea control measures. Vacuuming will remove flea eggs, pupae and the flea droppings used by larvae for food. Vacuum some flea powder or add a piece of flea collar to each new bag or burn trash vacuum to prevent fleas from the end of the life cycle of the compost pile or garbage bag. Vacuuming every day is essential if you do not want to use chemicals. Also, getting rid of the carpet in your house helps a lot. I would also recommend an occasional shampoo of the carpets (not dry-chemical cleaning) because it will suffocate the grub.

Note the worms: When fleas (or mice) are ingested your pet tapeworm (tapeworm) is allowed to complete its life cycle. If you see rice-sized segments sticking your head around your pet's rectum or watch segments or "ribbon or noodle like" worms in the stool or animal bedding, you should contact your veterinarian for drugs to treat them. Over-the-counter worm preparations only treat nematodes (roundworms) and are not effective against tapeworms. Worming May be needed as frequently as every three weeks (the life cycle of tapeworms), depending on the weight of a flea problem.

When you are in doubt (especially for large dogs, which can be very expensive to worm,) to bring a fresh stool sample for a floatation. Floatation may not show eggs, even though your pet has worms.

My recommendation is to worm your pets if you see fleas with good tapewormer (I use Cestex ) and worm twice a year with pyrantel pamoate (also called Nemex or Strongid-T ) roundwormer. Piperzine is useless these days for roundworming and no longer works at all in cats. Trade doses were ineffective.

If you have wormers at home and would like to try to use them first, call your veterinarian. We need to know the chemical name (scientific name) will be able to tell if you have the proper medication.

Never give store bought Wormer a pet is ill, unless your veterinarian advises the first You May cause some serious problems - especially with triple-wormers. I once had a relative her pregnant dog triple Wormer. The dog is so tight that her uterus and she died suddenly.

Diatomaceous earth: Not all diatomaceous earth (DE) under the same conditions. Stay away from the types of filtration. All DE that is used for filtering purposes (pools, spa, etc) through chemical and heat treatment. heat treatment greatly increases the percentage of crystalline silica, which poses a serious inhalation hazard. DE has high crystalline silica content and some DE has high levels of arsenic in it. Our local organic people recommend Eternal Guard (www.perma-guard.com). Another brand to use that is safe Biconet. Only natural untreated DE should be used to control insects.

How to DE for a job? Dust clogs their breathing apparatus, so that the choke. Unfortunately, it also can worsen asthma symptoms.

with a cloth and mild soap bleach water is very effective for flea control in these houses with no carpets. Many of my clients with flea allergic animals and inhalant allergies children eventually change over the hardwood floors and linoleum.

Flea attractant light. What a racket. Do not waste your money on this trick. white dishes filled with water and Joy dish soap: I suspect that fleas are attracted to such an invention that you have a serious infection and you should think about doing something a little more effective.

Well, I hope this helps your flea problem. Good luck! You'll need it.

© 2005 by Dr. Denice M. Moffat