Fleas

Fleas. If you have pets, you know more about these lil…ahem…than you want to know. They are unbelievably resilient (rivaled only by the cockroach), and while they prefer cats and dogs (the body temperature is more pleasing to them), they will happily munch upon humans if no four-footed creatures are available. While bubonic plague is often cited as a good reason not to have fleas about, that is a disease caused by a very specific flea, in a specific environment. This does not rule out other conditions spread by fleas or allergic reactions to the bite. At the very least, they cause painful and embarrassing itching.

The market abounds with products, rumors, suggestions and folk wisdom on how to get rid of the beasties. Effectiveness varies, as does the toxicity of the treatments. Dog products are more readily obtainable that those for cats, and dogs are less prone to adverse reactions. Treating cats for fleas is a toss-up. Cats tend to be more delicate when it comes to medications. They have adverse reactions to more types of meds and substances than dogs. They are also harder hit by a flea infestation. Some breeds of dogs, however, can also have reactions to the flea insecticides, and to fleas.. If your budget will allow it, getting your veterinarian involved in your anti-flea campaign is an excellent idea.

If you cannot afford a good vet, then the next line of defense is a licensed veterinary supply. While there are some reputable sellers online, be wary of purchasing medications from the Internet. Veterinary offices have always been a target for theft, but last year thieves seemed to focus on flea prevention products. It is possible that some products offered for sale online may not have been lawfully obtained.

Some products offered for sale over-the-counter are simply ineffective. Some may cause health problems for your pet. Some may be touted as “natural”, and therefore assumed to be better for your pet than chemically produced, but may actually challenge your pets’ health as much as more conventional products.

Your local veterinary will be glad to dispense products such as Frontline, and Advantage. I’ve had good luck with both. Frontline tends to be a little milder, and not prevent quite as broad a spectrum of pests. Advantage Plus for dogs is quite good, but my veterinarian explained that it can be toxic to cats; so in deference to my mixed household, I dropped back to Frontline.