Pet Tips
Flea and Tick Prevention
The return of spring brings with it new buds on
the trees and unfortunately "bugs". Some of these are
not simply pesky but may harmful to our pets and the people who
care for them as well. Parasites can be divided into 2 groups
external and internal. The focus of today's article will be on
external parasites or those that infest the "outside"
of our pets.
Pet owners in Nova Scotia are no strangers to fleas
- they love our wet and warm summers. Luckily recent studies on
fleas have brought about a better understanding of the biology
of the flea and have enabled us to design much more effective
flea control programs. It is important for us to understand how
the flea lives and survives in order to combat them. Adult fleas
lay eggs while on the host (that would be Princess!). These eggs
then fall off your pet and are deposited anywhere your animal
travels. The largest burden of eggs will be where your pet spends
the most time. Prime examples of these hot spots are sofas, chairs,
rugs and beds. Fleas have an extremely high reproductive capacity
and may lay up to hundreds of eggs per day. The flea eggs develop
into larvae. Nourishment for the larvae is provided by adult fleas
in the form of partially digested blood deposited as reddish-black
fecal pellets, otherwise known as "flea dirt". The larval
stage usually lasts 1-2 weeks then it produces a cocoon in which
to develop further. The cocoons are very hardy and resistant to
insecticides. Before the fully developed adult flea emerges from
the cocoon it can remain there for several weeks until a suitable
conditions present themselves - in which case it can emerge in
a matter of moments. I'm sure many of us have experienced this
"syndrome" when moving into a new apartment or home!!
Fleas are definitely a case of "an ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of cure". Aside from the bites
that they give Fido and some of the "sweeter" people
in your home, some pets are allergic to flea saliva and can have
an intense reaction to even a single flea bite every couple of
weeks. There are many products available on the market today to
help prevent infestations. They are aimed at either killing the
adults or killing the eggs/larvae. Most are effective when used
as directed. Please consult your veterinarian for the product
that will be work and be safe for your pet. Please remember to
use caution and a healthy dose of common sense when choosing flea
products. Never use a product intended for dogs on cats - this
can cause serious problems such as seizures, coma or even death.
Remember that there are often age restrictions with different
products - be extra careful with young animals. Sick animals and
exotic pets should not be treated without advice from your veterinarian.
Just a quick note on ticks which are an emerging
problem particularly in the Annapolis Valley and along the Southern
Shore of Nova Scotia. Certain species of ticks can be vectors
for disease in certain parts of the world; Lyme Disease, for example,
is a disease that is caused by a bacteria that can be transmitted
by the deer tick. The ticks we are seeing in Nova Scotia tend
to be primarily wood ticks. While they are generally not carriers
of disease, they can infest your pet, especially in wooded areas.
There are many effective products available and your veterinarian
is excellent source of information on tick prevention. So happy
and parasite-free spring!
For more information, take a look at the
article on Flea Control linked in the side menu.
Articles by Dr. Emma Raghavan
Appearing in the Halifax Daily News
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