ANIMAL MEDICAL CLINIC

L. B. WINDLEY DVM, Ed.D., p.c.

600 West Lincoln St.

Tullahoma, Tennessee37388

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931-455-6723 931-455-2837 931-455-5504

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EFFECTIVE FLEA CONTROL

FOR THE 21st CENTURY

FLEA CONTROL IS AN ALL YEAR TASK IN OUR SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENT. HOWEVER WE ALL HAVE OUR GREATEST CHALLENGE DURING THE SPRING, SUMMER, AND EARLY FALL.

THERE ARE THREE AREAS OF CONCERN THAT MUST BE CONSIDERED IN ACHIEVING GOOD AND SAFE FLEA CONTROL:

  • THE PET
  • THE INDOOR ENVIRONMENT
  • THE OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT

Dr. Michael Dryden DVM, MS, PhD, from Kansas State University Veterinary School, is the most knowledgeable man in veterinary science on fleas and flea control. He tells us that fleas are one of the most common and important parasites of dogs and cats. These small pests feed on the blood of your pets and can take 15 times their body weight in blood each day. Female fleas also lay 40 to 50 eggs a day. It does not take long for your pet to be anemic from blood loss, irritated by the crawling pests, itchy and burning from the hundreds of bites, and your home and environment overrun with reproducing fleas. In addition to skin disease and anemia these tiny creatures can transmit tapeworms to our pets and Bartonella bacteria or cat scratch fever to the owners.

Killing and controlling the reproduction of fleas in your environment is essential as is the right flea product for rapid and prolonged kill of those fleas. Each product has a correct administration time, dose, and administration technique that can be found on the product insert or explained by the staff of Animal Medical Clinic so that you can safely and properly use the product and achieve your goal of flea control.

Many flea control products kill fleas rapidly (within 4 to 24 hrs) and continue to kill fleas for as much as 30 days. It is important that the flea control product that you select also prevents the eggs, larva, and adult fleas from reproducing and continuing to feed the eggs and hatching larva into your environment. It is very important that you investigate and select the proper product for your flea problem and control that will prevent further infestation of immature fleas while killing the existing adult feeding fleas on your pet and in your environment.

It can take several weeks to eliminate a flea infestation because the fleas that you see on your pet are only feeding on the pet’s blood, while 90% or more of the infestation is living, laying eggs, hatching new fleas, and breeding in your carpet, furniture, floors, and outdoor environment. It can take time and repeated treatments to kill all the fleas that may be in the cycle of egg to larva, to young adult, to feeding adult, to reproducing adult. Patience and persistence are needed to get the job done and hopefully maintainance of a future flea free environment by not letting your guard down and allowing the crescendo of flea population to build again.

Some important facts to remember in establishing flea control:

  • All pets in the household must be treated; dogs, cats, and even small rodents, rabbits, or other mammals.
  • Fleas lay eggs on the pet and the eggs sift off onto the floors, carpets, furniture, bedding, and outdoor environment to feed the future generations of a flea infestation.
  • By the time you see fleas on your pet there have been flea eggs, flea pupa, flea larva, and young hungry developing adults waiting to reproduce in your environment. Rarely do pets become infested from fleas that may jump from one pet onto your pet.
  • By using flea control products that prevent flea reproduction, egg hatching, egg laying, and larva survival you can achieve environmental flea control where no more reproducing fleas exist in your home and on your pet. New fleas will be sterilized and killed by regular application of flea control products that have month long activity for killing and sterilization.
  • Missing one month can leave your pets and your environment vulnerable, again, to flea infestation.
  • Most flea products do not repel fleas nor do they kill fleas instantly but rely on the residual flea killing and sterilization properties to effectively end your pets’ and environment’s infestation.
  • Washing the pet’s bedding regularly and vacuuming your floors regularly can help in reducing the reproductive cycle of an infestation.
  • Urban wildlife that visit yards and territory of your pets are often infested with fleas and leave developing eggs, larva, and adults that can re-infest indoor-outdoor pets. Using residual flea killing products and treating your yard with appropriate flea killing products, as directed on the package, can help prevent environmental re-infestation.
  • BE CAUTIOUS TO AVOID ANY PRODUCTS THAT ARE NOT FDA AND EPA APPROVED PRODUCTS. SOME CAN BE DEADLY. REMEMBER THAT NATURAL AND ORGANIC DOES NOT MEAN EFFECTIVE OR SAFE.

I. CONTROL OF FLEAS ON YOUR PET

REMEMBER THAT FLEA CONTROL CAN NEVER BE ACHIEVED BY TREATMENT OF THE PET’S BODY ALONE.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SAFE AND EFFECTIVE PRODUCTS THAT WE OFFER. SOME OF THESE EMPLOY ENZIMATIC TARGETED DRUGS INSTEAD OF INSECTICIDES THAT CONTROL THESE PET PARASITES.

FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE AND COST SAVINGS WE OFFER ALMOST ALL THE APPROVED FLEA AND TICK CONTROL PRODUCTS THROUGH OUR JTRX ON-LINE PHARMACY. YOUR ORDERED PRODUCTS ARE DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO YOUR HOMEAND AT COSTS COMPETATIVE WITH PETMED EXPRESS AND OTHER ON-LINE SOURCES.

BELOW IS A LIST OF OUR RECOMMENDED AND MOST EFFECTIVE FLEA & TICK CONTROL PRODUCTS:

ADVANTIX II: ISAN EFFECTIVE 30 DAY APPLICATION FOR

FLEAS AND TICKS FORDOGS ONLY. ADVANTAGE II AND

ADVANTIX II ALSO PREVENT FLEA

REPRODUCTION, EGG, AND LARVA HATCHING.

ADVANTAGE II: is available for cats and controls fleas through a monthly

Application but does not control ticks on cats. Advantage II alsocontrols flea reproduction.

ANIMALS SHOULD HAVE ADVANTAGE PRODUCTS APPLIED 36 HRS AFTER A

A BATH AND THEN NOT BE BATHED FOR THE NEXT 30 DAYS. BATHS WASH OFF

THE EFFECTIVE PRODUCT.

5. VECTRA 3D FOR DOGS PROVIDES EXCELLENT AND SAFE MONTH LONG FLEA AND TICK CONTROL

WITH A MONTHLY APPLICATION DOWN THE BACK OF DOGS. WE HAVE FOUND

VECTRA 3 D TO BE EFFECTIVE AT FLEA, TICK, AND PARASITE REPRODUCTION

CONTROL.

VECTRA FOR CATS PROVIDES EXCELLENT AND SAFE MONTH LONG FLEA CONTROL

FOR CATS ALONG WITH GOOD PARASITE PREPRODUCTION CONTROL. VECTRA

FOR CATS IS ALSO APPLIED DOWN THE BACK OF THE PET CAT.

6. COMFORTIS IS AN ORAL TABLET TO CONTROL FOR DOGS AND CATS.

COMFORTIS ACTS FOR 1 MONTH TO KILLFLEAS ON DOGS AND CATS

COMFORTIS DOES NOT KILL OR PREVENT TICK INFESTATION AND COMFORTIS DOES NOT HAVE ANY ACTIVITY TO CONTROL FLEA EGGS AND LARVA DEVELOPMENT OR FLEA REPRODUCTION.

THIS PRODUCT IS ADVISED FOR DOGS OR CATS THAT ARE BATHEDFREQUENTLY.SPECIAL CAUTION SHOULD BE TAKEN WHEN USING COMFORTIS OR TRIFEXIS MEDICATIONS TO AVOID THE USE OF IVEMECTIN PRODUCTS AT THE SAME TIME. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOUR PET IS USING EITHER OF THSEE DRUGS.

COMFORTIS IS NOT AFFECTED BY BATHING YOUR PET AS ARE THE TOPICAL APPLICATION PRODUCTS ADVANTAGE, ADVANTIX, VECTRA 3D, AND VECTRA.

7. SERESTO IS FLEA AND TICK COLAR FOR DOGS AND CATS THAT PROVIDES

8 MONTHS OF FLEA AND TICK CONTROL. THIS PRODUCTS IS NOT AFFECTED BY

BATHING THE PET, BUT IT IS RECCOMENDED THAT THE COLAR BE REMOVED BEFORE

A BATH OR THE PET GOING INTO THE WATER.

SERESTO PROVIDES A SUBSTANTIAL COST SAVINGS FOR FLEA, TICK, AND FLEA EGG

AND LARVA CONTROL OVER THE MONTHLY TOPICAL APPLICATION PRODUCTS.

WE RECOMMEND THE USE OFADVANTAGE II, ADVANTIXII, ADVANTAGE-MULTI, COMFORTIS, VECTRA, VECTRA 3D, OR SERESTO FOR YOUR PET’S CONTINUED FLEA CONTROL. THESE SHOULD BE USED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. ALWAYS READ THE DIRECTIONS FOR THESE PRODUCTS AND USE THEM ONLY AS RECOMMENDED.

CONTROL OF FLEAS IS EASIEST WHEN THE EFFORT IS STARTED EARLY BEFORE THE MATING FLEAS PRODUCE THOUSANDS OF EGGS THAT WILL HATCH INTO ADULT BITING FLEAS IN JUST 14 DAYS. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU CONTINUE BOTH FLEA CONTROL AND HEARTWORM CONTROL ALL YEAR ROUND IN OUR ENVIRONMENT.

II. FLEA CONTROL IN YOUR HOME ENVIRONMENT

REMEMBER THAT FLEA CONTROL FOR YOUR PET CANNOT

BE ACCOMPLISHED UNTIL THE ENVIRONMENT IS FREE OF FLEAS.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS TO TREAT YOUR HOUSEHOLD

ENVIRONMENT FOR FLEAS:

SURFACE AREAS SPRAYS

FOGGERS

POWDER INSECTICIDES

WE RECOMMEND THE USE OF SURFACE AREA SPRAYS IN A PRESSURE CAN FOR USE ON YOUR FLOORS AND OTHER SURFACE AREAS.

IT IS CRITICAL THAT THESE MATERIALS CONTAIN A GROWTH REGULATOR (SUCH AS PRECOR, FENOXICARB, OR OTHERS) INORDER TO BE EFFECIVE.

WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU VACUUM ALL SURFACES

WELL BEFORE TREATMENT AND DISCARD THE VACUUM BAG (WITH THE FLEA LARVA AND EGGS VACUUMED UP) OUTSIDE THE HOUSE. THEN APPLY THE SURFACE INSECTICIDE AND GROWTH REGULATOR AS RECOMMENDED ON THE CONTAINER. A PERIOD OR BEING OUT OF THE HOUSE MAY BE NEEDED OR CAUTION TO KEEP PETS AND CHILDREN OFF THE DAMP SURFACE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU NOT VACUUM FOR AT LEAST 10 DAYS AFTER TREATMENT TO LEAVE AS MUCH OF THE CHEMICAL IN PLACE AS POSSIBLE.

REMEMBER THAT CONCURRENT TREATMENT OF THE PET AND POSSIBLELY YOUR YARD AREA ARE NEEDED TO INSURE GOOD FLEA CONTROL.

III. OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT FLEA CONTROL

REMEMBER THAT FLEAS ARE A NATURAL INHABITANT OF OUR OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT AND THAT THEY COME TO OUR PETS AND HOUSEHOLDS FROM THE OUTDOOR AREAS. IF YOU HAVE A HEAVY FLEA INFESTATION OUTDOOR TREATMENT WILL BE NEEDED.

THERE ARE SEVERAL PRODUCTS FOR OUTDOOR FLEA CONTROL

PREPARED GARDEN HOSE DILATORS WITH INSECTICIDE

STOCK CONCENTRATED INSECTICIDE

1. DURSBAN

2. MALATHION

3. DIAZINON

SOME PRODUCT NAMES ARE:

  • ENFORCER YARD AND KENNEL SPRAY
  • ADAM’S PLUS YARD AND KENNEL SPRAY
  • BAYER ADVANTAGE YARD AND KENNEL SPRAY
  • MOST WAL-MART, LOWE’S, AND HOME DEPOT STORES CARRAY AND GOOD SELECTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL FLEA & TICK CONTROL PRODUCTS.

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW THE PACKAGE INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY TO SAFELY ACHIEVE FLEA CONTROL WHILE ACHIEVING SAFE USE FOR HUMANS, PETS, AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THE USE OF CARBARYL (SEVEN) FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL OR FLEA CONTROL ON YOUR PET. THIS CHEMICAL IS INACTIVATE IN SECONDS OF EXPOSURE TO LIGHT AND CAN CAUSE TOXIC PROBLEMS IF USED IMPROPERLY.

WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND CAUTION WHEN DEALING WITH THESE STRONG INSECTICIDES. BE SURE THAT THE LABEL IS READ AND FOLLOWED AND THAT CONTACT WITH SKIN, EYES, AND INHALED AIR IS AVOIDED.

ANY OF THE ABOVE MATERIALS IS SUITABLE TO USE ON LAWN AND KENNEL AREAS OUTSIDE THE HOUSEHOLD. CARE SHOULD BE USED TO APPLY THE MATERIAL WHEN A RAIN WILL NOT WASH IT OFF BEFORE IT HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO KILL THE FLEA POPULATION.

WE RECOMMEND AN APPLICATION OF ONE OF THESE MATERIALS AS EARLY AS THE MIDDLE OF MARCH TO AVOID THE POPULATION OF FLEAS BECOMING HEAVY AND INVADING YOUR PET AND HOME.

SUMMARY

IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT TREATMENT OF THE PET ALONE WILL NOT GIVE GOOD FLEA CONTROL.YOU CAN AVOID AN EXPENSIVE BATTLE WITH FLEAS IN YOUR HOME AND ON YOUR PET BY FOLLOWING THESE STEPS:

  1. SPRAY YOUR YARD IN THE EARLY SPRING
  2. KEEP YOUR PET ON; VECTRA, VECTRA 3D, ADVANTAGE, ADVANTIX, ADVANTAGE-MULTI, COMFORTIS, OR WITH A SERESTO COLAR YEAR ROUND.

3. KEEP A BOTTLE OF PYRETHRIN FLEA SPRAY WITH A GROWTH

REGULATOR ON HAND TO KILL THE OCCASIONAL FLEA THAT

MIGHT COME INTO YOUR HOME AND GET ON YOUR PET.