Fleas are annoying little creatures who can cause some serious problems for your pet! Skin infections, itchiness, anemia, tapeworms, just to name a few! When dealing with fleas, it is important to observe the flea life cycle. Adult fleas lay eggs, which roll off your pet and into the environment (carpets, beds, furniture, etc). The larvae hatch out of these eggs, molt a few times, and then form pupae. These pupae cannot be penetrated by any flea product on the market. Stimulated by warmth, motion, and/or pressure, the adult fleas emerge from these pupae, jump back on your pet(s) and the cycle starts over.
The adult fleas you see compose only 5% of the entire flea population! The entire life cycle must be treated in order to prevent more fleas from infesting your pet.
Ticks are very prevalent in this area, particularly during the summer months. Ticks can carry a variety of diseases, including rocky mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, lyme, and anaplasmosis.
At Harmony, we recommend year round flea prevention and tick protection as indicated. We will recommend one or a combination of the following products based on your pet’s lifestyle and needs:
- Sentinel: Heartworm prevention and flea prevention in one! A chewable once a month tablet. www.sentinelpet.com
- Advantage Multi: Heartworm prevention and flea protection in a convenient monthly topical application. www.advantagemulti.petparents.com
- Comfortis: Once a month oral flea treatment for dogs.
- Vectra or Vectra 3D: a once a month topical that treats fleas in cats, or fleas and ticks in dogs. www.summitvetpharm.com/Pet-Owners/Products/
- Frontline Plus for Cats: a once a month topical that treats fleas and ticks in cats. frontline.us.merial.com/home/
