Did You Know?

• Fleas can bite up to 400 times a day!
• A female flea can lay 2,000 eggs
• Just one flea can multiply to 1,000 fleas on your pet and in your home in 21 days
• On average, a flea lives 2-3 months
• Adult fleas spend most of their lives feasting on your pet

These facts mean one thing; fleas can be a pain to deal with and no cat or dog should have to live with fleas.  The good news is veterinary-grade products not only kill adult fleas, but also prevent young fleas from maturing.

Protecting your pets:

Use a veterinary-grade flea control product on your pet. The purpose is to kill the adult fleas that live on your pet. Since most veterinary-grade products work for at least 30 days, your pet is well protected. That’s because a veterinary-grade product will kill the adult fleas that jump onto your pet along with the eggs and larvae.

Dogs and cats need different care. Several formulations can be used to rid your pet of fleas, including topical and oral treatments. But not every product is right for every pet. For example, some products are fine for dogs but unsafe for cats. If you share your home with both dogs and cats, you’ll want to avoid treating your dog with products that are unsafe for cats. Let your veterinarian know if you share your home with both dogs and cats so you can be sure to protect all of your pets safely.  Consult Dr. Jones, Dr. Murata or Dr. Clark on using special shampoos and other flea products together. You want to make sure that your pet is not taking in too much of the active ingredients that could lead to bad reactions.

De-Fleaing your home:

If you’re using a veterinary-grade product that contain growth inhibitors fleas do not mature, which means no more eggs! This means you may not need to spray your home.

When vacuuming, pay special attention to the places fleas like best. Immature fleas shy away from light, burying themselves in carpets, fabrics, and nooks and crannies. Be sure to focus your efforts on areas that are shady or dark. Make sure you vacuum every 2-3 days for at least four weeks.  Make sure you seal the vacuum bag tightly when done and place it in a garbage bag outside.

Research at The Ohio State University proved that vacuuming kills 96% of adult fleas and 100% of young fleas.  

Along with vacuuming and applying the correct product on your pet make sure you wash your pet’s bedding once a week for at least four weeks.

Hey, did you hear that PVAH is offering a month long flea control in a chewable tablet for dogs?
Just what I need, I'll race you there!