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GOTCHA! There is no easy way or guaranteed
way to get rid of fleas, but with a little knowledge and hard work
it can be done. First, you need to know that one flea will lay 18 eggs
per day. Those eggs soon change into pupae, which are very resistant to
pesticides. Those pupae may develop into adult fleas in as little as 11
days or may lay dormant for months. Fleas are nest parasites. They only
"eat" on the pet, and then return to the nest to lay eggs. SO!
Treating your pet is only part of the treatment plan. You also need to
treat the house, yard, and any outside pets.
- When treating your house, first vacuum
all the carpets, rugs, and furniture (even concrete). Remove all pets
including birds and rodents, and cover fish tanks. Spray with a permethrin/IGR
(insect growth regulator) combination. We recommend Siphotrol, Ectokyl,
or Mycodex area sprays. Foggers are not the best but are better than
nothing. However, they cannot reach under the furniture. Treat the area
again in 10 - 14 days. Vacuum before to stimulate pupae to hatch (you
can even let your kids run around the house because it is the vibration
that stimulates the hatching). A flea collar can be cut up and put in
the vacuum bag so that it will kill fleas that are in the bag. Be sure
to throw away the bag afterwards! In houses with heavy infestation,
treat again in 10 - 14 days (this would be the 3rd time).
- There are many safe flea treatments
for dogs and cats. There are also some not-so-safe products on the market.
Always be sure to follow label instruction and do not overdose. Be aware
that the exposure is cumulative. This means that dipping, spraying,
collars, house treatments, and expecially concentrated drops will add
up and can cause an overdosage to your pet. We recommend Frontline Plus
or Revolution for dogs and cats. These products are very safe and effective.
A good rule to remember is that if you have treated your pet with an
appropriate treatment and you are still seeing fleas, you have a problem
in the environment. The fleas are hopping on faster than they are dying
and falling off. Applying more pesticide to your pet will not help and
can cause an overdosage.
- Treat the yard! Don't forget this important
step, because this is probably where your pet picked up the fleas in
the first place. If the area is too large to treat, pay attention to
where your animal spends most of its time and treat there. Under bushes
and porches, dog houses, and outside bedding are common places to treat.
IGR does not work well outside because it breaks down in the sun. Therefore,
it will be necessary to treat the outside environment more often. We
don't handle alot of outdoor insecticides, so we suggest talking to
the people at the place you purchase your insecticides (Moscow Building
Supply, Tristate, and Spence Hardware). There are also residual pesticides
such as Suspend and Tempo available. You can use granules, but they
have to be watered to work. If this seems like too much then you can
always call a Pest Control Company and they can spray for you!
The staff at the Animal Clinic & Hospital
will be happy to answer any questions you have about flea and tick control.
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