FLEA CONTROL

Have We Just Started to "Scratch" The Surface ?? Few things seem to "bug" pet owners more than fleas and ticks. For thousands of years these pets have developed and refined their ability for survival. If we are to control these parasites properly, we must understand their lifestyles.

A very important part of their lifestyle is their ability to reproduce in great numbers. By producing many offspring they ensure their continual presence in nature. For decades we have focused our flea control measures on the adult flea. It was only a short time ago that we learned how important the earlier stages of the flea lifecycle was in proper control.

We have also recently learned that most of our previous knowledge of the reproductive habits of the common dog and cat flea was not completely accurate. It was originally felt that fleas spent a very short period of their life on the host (our pets) and the rest of the time in the environment (grass, carpet, etc.). It is now accepted that most of the lifecycle occurs on the host and so our approach to control must be integrated with our pet's habitat.

Our approach to proper flea control for our pets has taken two directions. The first is the continual attack on the adult flea, however with a slightly different twist. This new approach is to incapacitate the adult flea BEFORE taking a full blood meal, thus diminishing the chance for egg production. This not only seems to be very effective in controlling total flea numbers but also in controlling flea allergy.

The allergic symptoms from flea bites occur only when enough of the "saliva" from the flea has entered into the host's body. The new topical products (FRONTLINE and ADVANTAGE) will kill the adult flea before this event happens. These products enjoy a wide margin of safety for our pets and are very user friendly, requiring only monthly application. There is no mixing of chemicals and can be applied without owner contact with the product. The liquid is applied to the skin on the back of the neck. Bathing must be avoided 2 days before and after application to allow penetration.

The second approach to flea control is the attack on the egg stage of the lifecycle. This method is accomplished with an oral tablet (PROGRAM) that is taken monthly. When the flea ingests the drug from the pet's blood, the eggs that are produced will not survive. PROGRAM is also available in combination with heartworm prevention (INTERCEPTOR), for more complete parasite control, labeled as SENTINEL.

Proper control of your pet's environment is also important. Carpet is a perfect breeding ground for fleas. Carpets must be treated or discarded for proper flea control. Smooth surfaced floors (wood/vinyl) offer very little protection for the fleas and their development so are of minimal concern with flea control.

Fleas will also live and reproduce outside of your house. The areas to control are those that are protected from direct sun and wind where the ground would remain moist for breeding. Flea control is not as simple as we would like it to be, however, with the arrival of these new products and continued research, the battle is getting more effective. Review the lifecycle diagram of the flea below to better understand the proper steps in flea control.