Ardmore Animal Hospital Flea Dip for Cats
October 24, 2012
Fleas are the virtually common external parasite of companion animals, and as a result, flea allergy dermatitis is the virtually common skin disease of dogs and cats. Flea command has always been a claiming for veterinarians and pet owners considering the developed fleas cause the clinical signs, yet the bulk of the flea population (eggs, larvae and pupae) are plant off the pet in and around the habitation. The ideal flea control plan utilizes products that target the various stages of the flea life wheel, and not only the adult fleas on the pet. To sympathise how to fully eliminate fleas from your home, a bones understanding of the flea life cycle is needed.
Eggs are laid in Fluffy or Fido'southward hair glaze and are designed to fall off the host. They are resistant to insecticides, but susceptible to various insect growth regulators. Larvae develop in the hosts environment and feed on developed flea feces (claret) that autumn out of the hair glaze of the pet. Larvae are susceptible to traditional insecticides, borates and insect growth regulators. Larvae somewhen spin cocoons (often within carpeting fibers) for pupation. Pupae are resistant to freezing, drying and insecticides. Pupae can lie dormant for many months; they are stimulated to go adults by vibration, warming and increased carbon dioxide. Normally, this occurs when a dog or cat is near. Emergent fleas are fairly mobile and can survive a few days without a host, if in a suitable environs. New fleas begin feeding within hours of finding a dog or cat. The entire life bike of C. felis can be completed in as few as 16 days!
Typically, Fido contracts fleas when you accept him out for a walk. Fleas tin be in your thou, parks, woods- virtually anywhere. Indoor cats tin can too develop a flea trouble, particularly if they sit in open windowsills, since fleas can bound from the ground outside, through the window screen, and onto Fluffy. Owners can also bring in immature stages of the flea on their shoes. One time one brute in the firm has fleas, the problem can quickly spread amidst all household pets. It is important to notation that, while fleas can bite humans and cause small, red, itchy bites on the skin, the definitive hosts are dogs and cats, non people! Fleas cannot cause an infestation on humans alone.
For the flea allergic patient, or for any itchy patient with fleas, continuous first-class flea control is required to remain symptom-complimentary. Even very minimal exposure may be sufficient to perpetuate itching in a hypersensitive patient. In the past, veterinarians and pet owners tried to control fleas by treating the environment of the animal for the immature stages of the flea. This approach, although effective when properly instituted, is labor intensive and requires frequent repetitive applications. Also, some of the older products fabricated for killing fleas on our pets practise not kill fleas instantly or are not long lasting plenty to actually help flea allergy patients, because the female person fleas survive long enough to lay a few eggs and perpetuate the life cycle.It is essential that ALL household pets (cats and dogs) be treated for fleas, every bit non-treated animals tin can serve as a reservoir for future flea infestations. We recommend twelvemonth-round flea command for our patients, every bit fleas tin can be an issue even during the winter months in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Todays Flea Control Products
Today, veterinarians have many cracking flea command products in our armory, more than can be discussed here in this blog. In that location are at present several highly efficacious, long lasting and very safe new products to choose amongst. Older products such equally flea collars, shampoos, powders and sprays are no longer recommended, as much safer and more than constructive products are currently on the market. There are many knock-off products on the marketplace, whose packaging resembles that of the more effective flea control products; these products are often considerably less expensive, and for skillful reason they are not effective! In some cases, some of the lesser-quality flea products tin fifty-fifty be quite toxic, especially to cats. Please follow the recommendations below for specific product recommendations.
Fipronil is a broad spectrum insecticide available as a spray or a baste-on. Fipronil binds chemically to the hair and is absorbed through the hair follicle by the sebaceous glands. Fipronil may kill 95% of fleas for up to 30 days afterward application on dogs; the product also lasts upwards to biweekly bathing. Information technology is labeled for puppies and kittens of 8 weeks (10 weeks for Top Spot). It is too affective against ticks. The production is labeled to be applied no more than than once a month; yet, in severely flea-infested homes we do recommend applying the product every 3 weeks for at to the lowest degree three months to eradicate the infestation. Frontline Plus contains the insect growth regulator Due south-methoprene and likewise provides control of eggs and adult fleas. Frontline is bachelor over the counter at Ardmore Animal Infirmary, equally well as pet stores, and internet pharmacies.
These products are available as a spot-ons for either dogs or cats. Advantage Multi is a prescription drug that besides is a heartworm preventive. Advantage seems to exist very well tolerated by sensitive cats. It provides flea knockdown in about 8 hours. 100% killing tin be maintained for at least two weeks. It is susceptible to wash off, therefore outdoor active dogs and dogs that swim or that must be bathed because of dermatitis must be re- treated frequently. Imidacloprid has no efficacy against ticks, but Chiliad-9Advantix, with permethrin does; it also repels mosquitoes. K9 Advantix is just labeled for once a calendar month usage, and ONLY FOR DOGS; this product is toxic to cats! Reward and Advantix are available over the counter at Ardmore Brute Infirmary, pet stores and internet pharmacies.
This prescription drug is designed equally a once-a-month heartworm preventive and flea preventive for dogs and cats equally young as 6 weeks old. Information technology also kills developed fleas and tin can exist used to care for sarcoptic mange, ear mites and ticks. Additionally, information technology helps control roundworms and hookworms in cats. The product is placed on the skin at the dorsum of the neck, just is absorbed into the body to take its effect when female fleas ingest it with a blood meal. Developed fleas volition die slowly, but more importantly, female person fleas stop egg production equally soon as they are exposed.This production is typically not recommended as a primary flea-control amanuensis in dogs, because information technology does not provide acceptable tick control; this is of detail concern in a tick-infested surface area like suburban Philadelphia.
It should exist noted that there are a myriad of other safe and effective flea preventatives on the market. For more reading near these products, click hither.
When treating a flea infestation, information technology is not only essential to treat all household pets (dogs and cats), but to adequately decontaminate the environment every bit well. Every bit nosotros previously learned higher up, adult fleas are constantly shedding eggs into the home and these can re-emerge up to six months afterward being deposited in the home.
Only about 10% of the flea population (mainly the adults) are on your pet. The flea eggs, larvae, pupa, and the few adults that reside in the carpeting, bedding, and living areas make upward approximately xc% of the flea population. Neglecting this population of fleas will ensure that the flea problem will keep and worsen over fourth dimension. Several steps need to be taken to fairly decontaminate the dwelling house.Daily vacuuming of carpets and furniture is essential for overall flea eradication. This will eliminate adults, eggs, larvae and pupae earlier they develop. Emptying the vacuum bag frequently is also important; otherwise, the fleas will hatch, develop, and leave the vacuum to re-infest the living quarters. Dispose of the vacuum bag properly and frequently.Wash all bedding, wear, and removable furniture covers, in the warmest temperature permissible.Apply insecticide, sold as an over the counter fogger or by a professional exterminator. Follow all instructions very advisedly; remove all pets, people, and encompass all food in the surroundings before applying insecticide. Take special precautions for pets and children.
There is speculation, and a lot of internet chatter, that fleas have become resistant to Frontline and that this product is no longer every bit effective as it once was. To engagement, no scientific studies confirm that Frontline resistance is a true phenomenon. In most cases of persistent flea infestations, an obvious cause for the handling failure can be identified: applying the production in the incorrect manner, inefficient habitation decontamination, failure to treat all household pets, not faithfully using the product at a xxx day interval, etc. However, in that location are a few cases where these causes for handling failure can be ruled out. There are many anecdotal reports of Frontline resistance, and more than may be emerging. In cases similar these, we are recommending Advantage or Revolution as an alternative to Frontline. This is an upshot that is existence closely monitored by the veterinary customs; hopefully in the near hereafter we volition have bodily scientific studies to refute or confirm the concerns about Frontline resistance.
ane.) Use continuous, year-round flea command for all dogs, indoor/outdoor cats and indoor cats who have exposure to the outdoors via window screens
2.) If fleas become established on one pet in the home, ensure every household pet is treated monthly with a flea preventative
3.) Vigorous cleaning of the home is essential to eradicate the infestation, since 90% of the flea population is lurking in your home, not on Fido
Follow these steps to keep Fido and Fluffy flea-free!
Ardmore Animal Hospital Flea Dip for Cats
Source: https://newtownsquarevet.com/flea-fi-fo-fum/
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