Fighting Fleas and Ticks

Those of us who are animal lovers not only lavish our pets with affection, tasty treats, and toys, but we are also diligent in making certain that they are provided with proper healthcare. We dutifully take our pets to veterinary appointments according to physical examination and vaccination schedules to keep them healthy on the inside, but what about the outside?

External parasites such as fleas and ticks are constant threats to our pets, whether they reside indoors or outdoors. Fortunately, however, there are measures we can take to arm our pets—and ourselves—against these relentless enemies.

FIGHTING FLEAS
The occasional flea found on your pet may not seem like much of a burden. However, if left untreated, a few fleas quickly give rise to more fleas, which give rise to even more fleas, and before long, your pet will be crawling (or jumping!) with them.

Animals suffering from flea infestations often present with flea allergy dermatitis, which is an allergic reaction to flea saliva. The resulting lesions are extremely itchy, and hair loss (caused by the pet’s licking, chewing, and scratching to relieve the itching) may be noticeable. In addition to suffering from physical discomfort, young, senior, or heavily infested animals are particularly vulnerable to excessive blood loss and can develop anemia that can be life threatening if left untreated.

As well as being physically aggravating to your pet (and you), fleas can cause other problems. For example, fleas can transmit bacterial diseases, and ingestion of fleas (by you or your pet) may lead to tapeworm infections. To determine if an animal is suffering from a flea problem, veterinarians look for characteristic lesions and scabbing, signs of anemia, fleas, and “flea dirt” (the feces of adult fleas). 

Fleas and ticks can transmit diseases to your pets that, in turn, can be passed on to you. By controlling these parasites, you protect your whole household.

 Several fleas can quickly become a flea infestation: Flea larvae (immature fleas) hide in floor cracks, along baseboards, under rug edges, and in furniture or bedding. The larvae feed on flea dirt, form a cocoon (pupae), and emerge as adults after only 3 to 4 weeks. Within just a few weeks, adult female fleas can produce thousands of eggs, which then hatch into larvae. This cycle will continue unless it is interrupted.

Managing an established flea problem in your home is not an easy feat and requires thorough treatments of your pet, your home, and your yard. Clearly, flea prevention is the better choice.

A variety of preventive products are available. Topically applied products are a safe and convenient method of flea prevention and generally last for up to a month after treatments. Only a few droplets applied between the pet’s shoulder blades are effective in preventing and eliminating infestations. These products kill adult fleas, and some also prevent flea eggs from hatching and/or kill larvae. Oral medications are also available. Your veterinarian can advise you on which preventive product or combination of products is best for your pet.

TACKLING TICKS
Ticks are another group of dangerous invaders. Certain species are extremely difficult to eliminate once they have been introduced into your home. It is possible that you may find only one tick feeding on your pet, but more commonly there will be clusters. Regardless of their numbers, ticks can carry diseases that can affect both pets and people, including:

• Lyme disease. One of the biggest tick-transmitted threats in certain areas of the United States, Lyme disease can cause fever, lameness, loss of appetite, and swollen or painful joints in pets. In people, symptoms include fatigue, fever, headache, and what is often described as a “bull’s-eye” rash. If left untreated, the infection can spread to the heart, joints, and nervous system.
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever. A serious infection that can be transmitted by infected ticks throughout the country, it can cause arthritis, bruising, decreased appetite, fever, and swollen or painful joints in pets. It is potentially fatal in people and typically causes fever, headache, and muscle pain, followed by a rash.
• Ehrlichiosis. In pets, this potentially chronic infection can cause appetite and weight loss, bleeding, depression, and fever. In people, it can cause flu-like symptoms (such as chills, fever, headaches, and muscle aches) and can be life threatening.

Obviously, as with fleas, it is critical that you deal with a tick problem before it exists, not after you notice feeding ticks on your pet. And ticks are not just active in the warmer months, which is a common misconception. According to veterinarian and parasitologist Dr. Susan E. Little, of the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences at Oklahoma State University, “Many different species and stages of ticks are active at different times of the year in different areas of the United States. For that reason, year-round use of tick preventives is indicated in many areas.”

Conveniently, many of the products recommended for flea prevention are also effective against ticks. Work with your veterinarian to devise the most effective preventive regimen for your pet. 

Used correctly and regularly, preventive products can keep your dog or cat safely protected against fleas and ticks.

 If you notice a tick feeding on your pet (or you), remove the tick by grasping it with tweezers as close to the skin as possible and gently plucking it straight out, being careful to not leave the mouthparts behind. Note the date of tick removal, and monitor your pet (and yourself) for signs of illness.

As responsible pet owners, we need to protect our four-legged friends from their enemies. Fleas and ticks are constant threats to our animals, and our pets will lose the battle against them unless we intervene. Ally with your veterinarian to put into action a defense program that will stand a fighting chance in the war against these external parasites.

MY PET IS ON A PREVENTIVE PRODUCT, SO WHY DO I STILL SEE...

Fleas? If you have just started your pet on a flea-preventive product, especially if you had a severe infestation, it may take a while to completely rid your pet—and house—of fleas. Flea infestations require thorough treatment of all affected areas. In addition, because the pupal stage of development is resistant to chemicals, several treatments may be required. To ensure success, it is also essential to have all pets in the household treated individually.

Ticks? If your pet is on a preventive regimen, don’t be alarmed if you find an attached tick. It doesn’t mean the product isn’t working. Although some preventive products repel and kill ticks before they attach, some products don’t actually prevent ticks from attaching. These products work by interfering with a tick’s ability to feed, and they will cause ticks to detach before they can transmit disease.

FACT: An adult female flea can lay as many as 50 eggs a day!