Grooming Tip of the Season....

During this season Fleas and Ticks are more than an uncomfortable nuisance for your pet.  They carry disease and can quickly give your pet a serious illness.  Beyond your pet, they can move rapidly to infest your house.  Proper attention to these pests can greatly increase the comfort of your pet, minimize the chance for illness and keep your home clear.

First, Prevention

Topical prevention prescriptions, such as Frontline, are spot-on liquids applied between your pet’s shoulder blades.  These liquids, as well as pills such as Program or Capstar, are more effective than flea collars, shampoos, dips, sprays, bug bombs or home and lawn insect spray.  Some of these can be potentially toxic to your pet.

Second, Spot and Remove

Early symptoms include excessive scratching on the part of your pet or small itchy bites on yourself.  Fleas can jump a very long distance and then crawl under your pet’s fur, usually around the lower back, tail, belly, inner thighs and neck.  Though they are small (about the size of a pencil tip) you can see them if you separate your dog or cat’s hair and look closely for them.  A fine-tooth flea comb can help find evidence of these pests.  These combs snag fleas and flea dirt (specks of dried blood that will turn red when sprinkled on wet paper towel).  If you find either, move on to stronger treatments.

Third, if you have an infestation, act fast.

Your Veterinarian can recommend a prescription that will rid your pet of adult fleas, larvae and eggs.  For some of these treatments, the bugs will have to bite your pet, but they act fast and are the safest, easiest, and most effective way of eliminating the bugs.  Also vacuum your home all over including furniture, beds, carpets, curtains and anywhere your pet lounges.   Be sure to throw away the vacuum cleaner bag right away, as fleas can crawl out and reinfest your home and pet.

Come back again for more Grooming Tips of the Season.