Pets Have Fleas So How Do You Treat Them?

Pets do get fleas and not just the mucky ones; I have to tell people this quite often who come into my pet shop. Many people claim their pets don't need flea products because their animals have never been infected. Just the other day I noticed my dog was scratching a bit more than usual and when I checked her coat I discovered that "yes" she had them.

Adult fleas treats your pet as a food source, they jump on to feed but don't stay there, the rest of its life is spent in the local environment, i.e. your carpets, rugs and furniture, here it will lay it's eggs, 'thousands of them'. These eggs then hatch into larvae and find their way into any dark, warm spaces. From here they turn into pupae, which then hatch into an adult flea. This can take a matter of just days, or the pupae can remain dormant for many months, allowing the fleas to survive the winter outside. This is why, when your pets have fleas, it is so important to treat the house as well. In fact only 5% of the total flea population is the adult flea, the other 95% are the eggs, larvae and pupae of the next generation.

Fleas survive by sucking blood from your pet. In fact, they much prefer pets to people, so even if you are not being bitten, does not mean you don't have a problem! If you are getting bites, it is likely you have a large infestation and the fleas are feeding on you in desperation. This is why it is so important to regularly check and treat your pets for fleas. You don't often see live fleas on a pet (and if you do, again the infestation is likely to be heavy) but you can spot flea dirt. This looks like flecks of black soil but will readily turn red when combed from the fur and dampened on a piece of paper. Other signs include excessive scratching (in dogs) or grooming (in cats), small scabs appearing on the back or tail base and sore skin. Fleas are by far the most common cause of skin irritations in animals and should always be treated for in any dermatological problems, whether they have been seen or not.

There are various ways of protecting your pet against fleas and the most convenient and effective are spot on products. The best don't go into the animal's blood stream but stay in the skin, where they will kill fleas before they can feed. These types of product are particularly useful for animals that are allergic. With some pets even a single bite can start a bad reaction resulting in further treatment being needed. Some spot-on products will also help treat the local environment and prevent any of the larvae from developing in areas where the pet resides. These types of product are available from either your vet, on-line pharmacies or pet shops. With treating smaller animals or young ones, flea sprays or powder are best, as they allow very accurate dosing and are very safe. You may also find it beneficial to bathe the animal using a flea shampoo. Tablets are also available for pets who will take them, and who are not allergic to flea bites, with these the insect needs to bite its host before it is killed.

Remember, treating your pets is not the whole solution, you need to treat the large amount of eggs, larvae and pupae in the local environment? So you can see why it is equally important to treat your home. Use a good quality household flea spray from your local pet shop or vet. When treating the home put your heating on as this will help encourage the fleas to hatch, and so killing them with the chemical spray you are using. Do not vacuum after treating an area; leave it for at least a week, as the fleas will continue to hatch. You may have to use several treatments to rid the area of them completely. To monitor the area you can put down flea traps, these consist of a light over a plastic dish with a sticky pad in, the fleas are attracted to the light mistaking its warmth for body heat and as the fleas are trapped on the sticky pad you can easily see if the infestation is under control.

If your pet is regularly protected with spot on or other products against fleas, then a large home infestation is less likely. In order to breed a female flea must feed on a victim, a blood meal is what she needs and if she bites a protected pet she will die before she can do so.

Fleas are undoubtedly the most common pest in domestic pets and can cause problems from mild skin irritations through to very nasty skin infections. Protecting the animal with the aforementioned flea products of course easily prevents them and so ensuring they will not breed in your home.

On a final note if you are really struggling to get rid of these unwanted visitors to your home, consider calling in a professional pest controller. They will have access to a large variety of different treatments some of which are not readily available otherwise. You will of course still need to visit your local pet shop for the treatment for your pet.

c Gordon Bloomfield 2010 http://www.allpet.co.uk

Natural Pet Products - The Best Way to Treat Your Beloved Pets

I've heard it over and over, "I would love to feed my pet healthier, but not at that price!" or "My cat really enjoys the food, but I'm gonna be broke in no time flat!" or even "I love my dogs, but my husband would go over the top if he discovered they are eating healthier than us!"

Exactly what the majority of pet owners fail to realize is that by giving an all natural & holistic food for their cat or dog, they'll really be saving dollars in the long run. How, you ask, at $1.15 a pound? To begin with, we feed much less food (20% to 40% much less) because the food is all natural with no fillers as well as by-products. Take a moment to review the cost comparison chart between HealthyPetNet's Life's Abundance, Flint River Ranch and a number of other famous industrial pet foods by clicking here. Next, there are enormous savings to be made by not having those vet visits and harmful medications to fix your pet's allergies (the #1 reason pets are spotted inside the vet's clinic) and immune disorders (which can lead to chronic and serious disorders that require careful medication. Allergy symptoms include, but are not restricted to, itchy skin and bodily breakouts, swollen ears, abnormal licking of the front feet, digestive problems (gurgling, gas plus a tendency toward diarrhea), swelling of the toes as well as an irritated hind end (anus, sex organs) with licking plus dragging of the rear end on the floors.

Serving all natural will greatly reduce the mental and physical speed of premature aging in our pets, associated with a lifetime of poor nutrition. A number of degenerative ailments, such as cancer, kidney disease, heart disease, arthritis, skin problems, bowel irregularity (like Pancreatitis), and even diabetic issues have been found to either be hurried or slowed down greatly by what is eaten. Please keep in mind that by also feeding a properly put-together home-made or raw diet will provide these same benefits, and much more!

Scientists have demonstrated that as pets and humans feed on unsuitable food, or unsuitable portions of food, they age or degenerate a lot more quickly, and as they do, they become much more prone to disease...which may result in very high, and perhaps unmanageable, veterinary bills. Have you been wondering yet, "Why has not my veterinarian suggested a diet change yet?" Yes, I would ask that from them too. Unfortunately most veterinarians get little training in vet school on canine and feline nutrition, other than what the industrial pet food company representatives tell them! And believe it or not, many veterinarians make a lot of money by selling exactly the same pet foods they were taught about, by these company reps, in veterinarian college. Since serving an all-natural diet to my Boxers for 4 years, my vet has only seen them for scheduled vaccines and spays/ neuter. In fact, I am one of the blessed ones who has got an open-minded veterinarian, who refers many of his clients to me, who he believes their symptoms are diet-related. I'm very honored he is doing this.

As with us humans, pets are as susceptible of enduring a variety of diseases and illnesses as a result of a damaged and compromised immune system, a number of which are irreversible. Just to list a few, our pets are more susceptible, and more unlikely to combat and resist the following problems/sicknesses by a weakened immune system:

• Parasites (e.g. mange)

• Cancer & leukaemia (with cats)

• Repeated colds or flu

• Persistent microbial infections & viruses

• Fungal disease

• Slow wound recovery

• Repeated injury

• Allergies

• Respiratory inflammations

• Diabetes

• Aging dogs and cats

• Frequent veterinarian visits for trivial ailments

Pet owners are starting to learn that treatment for present conditions for their pets should not be the only way they handle health issues. Preventive care is critical for animals, just as it is for humans. ANIMALS have got emotions, perceptions and personalities exactly like human beings. To look after an animal, it's helpful to observe the animal and learn how to distinguish between normal typical behavior and behavior that is abnormal and out of balance. Pets usually reflect the emotions of the people close to them and the environment in which they live. Emotions like dread, anxiety, worry or depression can lead to disease since they deplete the physical body of its natural vitality, thus reducing the immune system's ability to function correctly. My viewpoint is that just what a pet consumes, (the quality of nutrients, in addition to appropriate supplementation), as well as the purity of his environment, is the foundation of his overall well-being. By staying as close to the ways of nature and getting rid of harsh chemicals from their diet plan and surroundings, we've witnessed remarkable changes take place with the lives of a number of pets, as well as their delighted owners that I have known over time. By feeding all natural foods or perhaps a properly prepared homemade/raw food diet, you are boosting your pet's natural immune defenses, improving its health, boosting its athletic performance, bolstering it's entire nutrition and adding years to its life expectancy.

Must I say more?

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