(ARA) – Spring is an exciting time for pet owners – and cats and dogs – who have been cooped up inside all winter. But as your pets resume outdoor activity, it’s time to again think about protecting them from a common pest – fleas.
It may come as a surprise to many, but fleas are active the entire year. Once the weather warms up and your pets start spending more time outside, they can potentially come into contact with fleas in the yard or through contact with other animals that may be infested.
Adult fleas can bite your pet, causing discomfort, which can lead to irritation, allergic skin reactions and skin infections. They can even transmit other disease-causing organisms, including tapeworms.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), once a flea finds a host it can lay up to 50 eggs in one day. The time it takes for an egg to become an adult flea is dependent on temperature and can be anywhere from two weeks to eight months. Therefore, what could start off as a minor nuisance in spring can become a full-blown infestation by summer if left untreated.
Fortunately, flea infestations are preventable by taking the right steps to protect your pets. Here are five flea control tips to keep you and your pets happy and healthy:
* Regularly vacuum any place your pets spend time in your house, as carpet provides a perfect habitat for immature fleas, such as flea larvae (maggots) and eggs. Any bedding or blankets your pets come into contact with should also be washed regularly.
* If you have multiple cats or dogs, treat them at the same time for fleas since they can pass from pet to pet. This will help ensure that fleas won’t have an animal to act as the host agent.
* Take extra care if you live in an area that has a higher prevalence of fleas. Ask your veterinarian about local flea conditions or visit www.PetParents.com to check the flea prevalence in your area.
* Given that flea eggs can survive for up to one year without hatching, the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) recommends that pet owners not only treat pets year round, but treat them for life.
* Because fleas can take up to eight months to reach adulthood, it is important to use a monthly preventive product that can kill fleas at all life stages. Advantage II, made by Bayer Animal Health, is a topical, easy-to-apply, once-monthly flea treatment that kills all flea life stages to prevent fleas on a treated dog from infesting your home.
By following these simple steps, you can not only help avoid the burden of flea infestations, but you’ll ensure that the joys of warmer weather come without the potential problems that can come from your cat or dog being outdoors.