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We Know: All About Treating Fleas in Pets
When Your Pet Has a Flea Problem
Fleas can live in other areas besides your pet's fur. The fleas must be
killed in all their life cycles or they
will continue to reproduce. The cycle includes adult fleas, eggs, pupa and larvae. It is important to treat the entire
home and possibly the yard as well. If your pet seems to react adversely to any treatment, seek a vet's help immediately.
Flea Treatment Choices
There are several choices for treating fleas:
- Fogger or a professional extermination: Room fogger insecticides can be purchased at the store, but you may decide to bring in a professional
exterminator. Be sure to also vacuum the carpets regularly, and wash everything possible, including drapery, furniture covers, and pillows.
- Spot treatment: These are products applied to specific areas of your pet that may be more vulnerable to fleas
than others. Be aware that counterfeit versions of some brands have flooded the market. You can avoid this problem by purchasing these
products from your vet. An even more serious problem has been reported with some products causing seizures in animals treated
by certain spot treatment products.
- Flea treatment medicine: These products are administered to your pet either as pills or injections. They are
targeted to killing the flea larva, not adult fleas, but killing the larva is also important to stop the fleas from
reproducing.
- Flea treatment spray or powder: These work similarly to spot treatments and are applied to specific areas on
your pet. Some only affect only adult fleas, while other products also work against flea larva and eggs.
- Flea collars: Most flea collars only kill adult fleas though some will also work against larva and eggs. There
are two basic kinds of flea collars. One kind of flea collar contains a substance that is absorbed into the animal's skin.
The other type of flea collar uses a gas that sprays out from the collar to kill fleas in the immediate area. Some pet owners
prefer using herbal flea collars that use essential oils to repel fleas instead of potentially toxic chemicals.
- Flea dip or shampoo: These are easier to use on dogs than cats, but pet owners sometimes use this method as the
first step to eliminating fleas. Dips and shampoos can be harmful to the animal if overused.
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