Treatment of Fleas

If your pet has fleas, the treatment is multi-model in order to stop fleas at every stage of their life cycle.  Treating the pet alone is NOT enough.  For every one flea you see on your pet, there are MILLIONS of eggs, larvae and pupae in your home and environment.  This is true even if you don't have carpeted floors.  If you do not kill these early stages, they will just continue to hatch out and jump back on your pet.  Steam cleaners and carpet shampoos DO NOT kill flea eggs and larvae.  Baking soda DOES NOT kill or inhibit flea eggs and larvae.  Attempting these wive's-tale treatments will only extend your pet's suffering with this parasite and your own frustration.

Topical Flea Treatment

Frontline and Revolution are convenient products to kill adult fleas on your pet.  When the flea comes in contact with your pet’s skin, it will kill the flea in a matter of hours.  The flea will become hyperactive so don’t let the fact that the flea is still moving mislead you. It will die shortly.  One important point: it is critical that you treat ALL pets inside and outside the home to eliminate fleas.  Not treating the cat that “never goes outside” gives fleas a convenient and safe place to breed.  All pets should be treated every 2 weeks for the first 3 treatments.

Frontline and Revolution have a wide margin of safety. (Note: do not use Frontline on rabbits or other small mammals due to toxicity; Revolution is safe for ALL mammals)  These products eliminate the need for flea collars, dips & sprays, which are often ineffective due to resistance and are not nearly as safe for your pet.

Capstar

Capstar is a very safe and effective oral medication that quickly kills fleas.  It begins working within an hour and kills 99% of fleas within several hours.  It does not last more than 24 hours.  This is a great product to use in combination with topical flea products because it lasts until the topical medication takes full effect.  It is not effective as the sole treatment for eliminating fleas.  This medication is particularly important if there is a large flea burden or if your pet is sensitive to fleas.

House Treatment

We have an area premise spray that contains an insect growth regulator that kills the eggs, larva and adult stages all at once.  The home should be treated every three weeks, until no more signs of fleas are found on your pet. The flea develops from an egg to adult in 3 weeks.

• Step 1: Launder everything that’s washable; particularly the pet’s bedding and your bedding
• Step 2: Vacuum all over (even hard wood floors), then empty the vacuum bag immediately OUTSIDE (if you empty into an indoor trash can, they’ll simply jump out).
• Step 3: Read and follow all directions on the can.  Spray half the house (spray a 10 ft. by 10 ft. room for only 10 seconds; be sure to spray under furniture and between cushions.) Keep pets and people off the treated surfaces at least 3-4 hours, until the spray is dry. Repeat the process on the other half of the house.

If anyone in your family has asthma or any other respiratory disease, you should have a licensed exterminator treat your home.

Yard Treatment

Treat the yard with a good insecticide like Ortho’s yard insecticide spray or granule, which can be found at hardware stores.  Keep pets and people off the yard for 36-48 hours or as directed on the product instructions.  The granule remains effective for approximately 8 weeks.

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