Flea & Tick Preventative
Fleas
Flea allergy is the most common cause of skin disease in dogs and cats. In Louisiana, pets are particularly affected during the spring, summer and fall. Fleas are extremely prolific creatures. Adult females can lay 50-60 eggs per day, and produce more that 1,000 eggs during its lifetime. It is easy to understand why flea infestation can occur in just a short period of time.
There are 4 stages in the life cycle of the flea -- egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Only one stage, the adult, lives on the animal. The other three stages live in the environment. In general, eggs, larvae, and pupae account for 90-95% of the total flea population in a home. For every flea that is found on a pet, there are about 100 immature fleas living in the environment.
Significant improvements have been made in insecticides during the past several years. Newer chemical compounds -- both insect growth regulators (I.G.R.) and insect development inhibitors (I.D.I.) -- disrupt the maturation process of the flea. When these products are applied to the environment, the immature stages (eggs, larvae, pupae) do not develop into adult fleas. The advantage of these products is that they are less toxic for the animals and the environment, and are more effective in controlling fleas.
Dr. G uses and recommends FrontlineŽ Plus, which is applied directly to your pet’s skin. Unlike the older, more toxic products, these newer products are not absorbed into a pet’s bloodstream, but instead remain on the surface of the skin where they are toxic only to the fleas.
Ticks
Lyme Disease has become the most common tick-borne disease in North America, and a significant threat to public health. Of course, not only humans can get Lyme Disease; your dog can become infected after being bitten by an infected tick. Tick eggs live in the grass and weeds your dog may run through on family outings, daily walks, or during regular activities. Once attached to your canine companion, the eggs of the tick infest not only your dog but also his bedding and, ultimately, his home.
First discovered in humans in 1975 and later in dogs in 1984, Lyme Disease, or Borreliosis, continues to sweep across the country. It is caused by the transmission of a spirochete (bacteria-like organism) known as Borrelia burgdorferi. Deer ticks carry these bacteria, and when an infected tick bites, the bacteria are then transferred into the host’s blood.
Lyme Disease is prevalent in North America and may exist in any region where Borrelia burgdorferi-infected ticks live. Dogs and other animals that go into infested areas have the potential for carrying infected ticks back into their own habitat. To keep your pets and your family safe, you should be wary of any tick that you find attached to either yourself or your dog.
The signs of Lyme Disease are similar in both dogs and humans, although symptoms in dogs are not as obvious as in human Lyme disease. Once infected, your dog may experience arthritis, sudden pain or lameness, fever, loss of energy, loss of appetite, and depression. To properly diagnose Lyme Disease, blood tests may be performed. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are used to treat Lyme Disease in dogs, and your pet may need to be on medication for as much as a month (or sometimes even longer). Vaccines also have been developed after years of careful testing for both effectiveness and safety. While no vaccine is ever 100% effective, the canine Lyme Disease vaccine has proven in studies to be well-tolerated and effective. Following an initial series of vaccines given 3-4 weeks apart, your pet should then receive an annual booster vaccine.
In most parts of the United States, the potential for exposure to ticks is highest from April to November, but the risk of Lyme Disease varies by season.
Dr. G uses and recommends FrontlineŽ Plus to kill and repel ticks. To further protect your pet, check your dog after being outside, especially in grassy or brushy areas. Brush your dog after each outing. If a tick is attached to the dog’s skin, remove it carefully, washing the affected area and your hands afterward. Keep the grass and brush cut where your dog plays.