Taking The Bite Out of Fleas and Ticks
by: Deborah on March 10, 2007
Fleas are truly devoted to their work. In one day, a single flea can bite your cat or dog more than 400 times.
During that same day, the flea can consume more than its body weight of your pet's blood. And before it's through, a female flea can lay hundreds of eggs on your pet, ensuring that its work will be carried on by generations to come.
Fleabites may be merely a nuisance to some pets, but to others, they can be dangerous. They can cause flea allergy dermatitis--an allergic reaction to proteins in flea saliva. A pet's constant scratching to rid itself of fleas can cause permanent hair loss and other skin problems. A pet can get a tapeworm if it eats a flea that has one. And flea feasts on your pet's blood can lead to anemia and, in rare cases, death.
But fleas are not your pet's only nemesis. Tick bites can give your pet such infections as Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. And ticks can give those same infections to you.
The good news is fleas and ticks are getting easier to control.
When to Treat
It's best to treat your pet at the beginning of flea and tick season. The severity and length of the flea season vary depending on which part of the country you live in. Fleas also can live inside a warm house year-round.
In many areas, September is often the worst month for flea infestation. In most parts of the United States, the greatest chance of infection by a tick bite is May through September, the period of greatest tick activity by "nymphs." Nymphs are the stage of tick development that occurs after they have had their first blood meal and molt, and before they become adults.
Lyme Disease
About 200 species of ticks live in the United States. Some of these can transmit infectious diseases, such as Lyme disease, to pets and humans. Studies indicate that dogs are 50 percent more susceptible to Lyme disease than humans, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium transmitted through the bite of the deer tick, also called the black-legged tick, which is no larger than the head of a pin.
Typical symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs include joint soreness and lameness, fever, and loss of appetite. Symptoms in humans include fatigue, chills and fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, and a red, circular skin rash.
How To Remove a Tick
If a tick is removed within 24 hours, the chances of it transmitting Lyme disease or other infections are much less. Use fine-point tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull gently. Avoid squeezing the body of the tick. Clean the site of the bite, your hands and the tweezers with disinfectant. You may want to wear protective gloves.
You also may want to place the tick in a small container, like a pill container, and bring it to your vet for identification. Never use a burned match, petroleum jelly, or nail polish to try to remove ticks. These methods are ineffective.
Flea And Tick Control And Prevention
Deborah’s Pet Salon & Resort can help you fight the flea and tick battle. We carry Frontline Plus products for all your pets’ needs. Frontline Plus is one the best once a month treatments on the market, offering one month’s protection against ticks, lice and other pests, and up to three months protection against fleas. And if your pet has already become a victim of fleas and ticks, we offer flea and tick baths and dips to help rid your pet of these nasty critters.
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