Ready or not, flea season is here
Your dog has been scratching and biting himself. You use that little comb with tiny teeth and there they are, the little black spots the size of a sesame seed. Flea season has arrived.
What to do?
The Humane Society of the United States, the American Veterinary Medical Association and veterinarypartner.com are good sources of advice.
Dr. Carol S. Foil on VeterinaryPartner.com says flea allergy dermatis is the most common skin disease in dogs and cats - but most of the flea population, including eggs, larvae and pupae, are in and around the house.
A flea lives anywhere from 12 days to six months. Female fleas begin laying eggs within 24 hours of selecting their host, producing 50 eggs each day. The eggs fall off onto the furniture, carpets or outside the house, and when the larvae emerge they burrow into carpets, under furniture or into soil before spinning into a cocoon.
The cocooned flea pupae can lie inactive for weeks before emerging as adults "that are ready to infest (or reinfest) your pet," notes the AVMA.
Signs of flea problems range from mild redness to severe scratching that can lead to open sores and skin infections.
But since most of the flea's life cycle is spent off your pet, treating only your pet won't eliminate the problem. In addition to killing the adult flea, the flea eggs, larvae and pupae also have to be eliminated.
Yes, use the 'bomb'
The HSUS says a flea "bomb" inside your house is the most effective treatment for flea infestation. Get all your pets out, including birds and fish, and you have to be absent for a few hours, too.
Follow up by combing your pet regularly with a flea comb, vacuuming frequently, washing his bedding weekly, bathing him with a pesticide-free pet shampoo and mowing areas of the lawn where he spends time.
It may also be necessary to treat the outside of your home with a flea/tick killer on the grass and soil.
Some other tips from HSUS:
• Avoid organophosphate-based insecticides and products with carbamates and pyrethroids.
• Never use flea and tick products designed for dogs on cats, and vice versa.
• Be certain of your pet's weight before purchase to ensure proper dosage.
• Never apply pesticides to very young, elderly, pregnant or sick animals unless directed by a veterinarian.
• Read the ingredients and warnings; follow all instructions on the package.
In my experience, the first and best step for flea control and treatment is to consult your veterinarian.
Adoptables
• Chevy is a male Maltese/Chihuahua/terrier mix. He's about 5 months old and weighs about 10.2 pounds.
• Emily is a female Lab/hound mix. Her age is unknown, but she weighs about 65 pounds.