Fleas, Fleas Go Away. Come Back… NEVER!

Fleas, Fleas Go Away. Come Back… NEVER!

June 25, 2012 in CK Vets, Blenheim, Chatham, Ridgetown, Wallaceburg

Bad news: There are over 1900 species of fleas in the world.

Good news: You only have to worry about one, Ctenocephalides felis (cat flea), which, despite its name, is the biggest threat to most of our pets (dogs, cats, rabbits and others). But how much harm can a little flea do? Plenty.

It starts with your pet scratching and chewing. Then he fidgets continually and is unable to sleep. Eventually you see bare spots and sores on his skin. If ingested, fleas can cause tapeworm. To a small animal, a heavy flea burden can be especially damaging and possibly lethal.

Don’t underestimate the flea. It can jump from 35 – 40 cm (14” – 16”) and can bite you as well as your pet. Females can lay eggs after just 48 hours of their first blood meal. Before you know it, you have a huge family party of thousands of fleas setting up house in your pet’s fur and in your home.

You’ve been hit! Now what do you do? Fight!

As soon as you detect flea infestation, visit your CK Vet for a flea collar. The staff will help you get the right one for your pet’s size so their nervous system have handle the amount of pest-fighting chemical in the collar. Be cautious about flea collars purchased at drug, grocery or pet stores as they are not as effective.

Note: Topical treatments, oral medications, flea shampoos, powders and flea combs are not as effective as a flea collar. They can also be toxic to your pet, especially cats.

Fleas have been on earth longer than mankind, so don’t think you can ever completely beat them. Just keep your eyes out for changed behaviour in your pet and take action immediately…or the little enemy may win!