FLEAS
Fleas are small parasitic insects that live in the fur of animals. They are reddish brown to black, about 2 mm long, and move quickly through the fur. They produce a black, ground pepper-like material in the fur that is actually the digested blood they feed on. It turns red when water is applied to it. Dogs and cats share the same fleas. It is important that all pets in your home are on a flea preventive, otherwise the fleas will not be eliminated. Our pets can get fleas any time of year. In the winter they survive on wildlife, other pets and in people’s homes and buildings.advantage
The life cycle of fleas has 4 stages: egg, larvae, pupa and adult. Only the adult fleas live on the animals, the rest of its life is spent in the environment – carpets, furniture, bedding, etc. It takes several months for a flea to complete its life cycle, so it is important to continue applying the monthly treatments even if you don’t see evidence of fleas. We also have products to help with environmental control and eliminate the immature stages. Fleas can cause anemia (loss of red blood cells which carry oxygen), especially in young or debilitated dogs or cats. In addition, fleas can carry several diseases and also act as vectors to spread one of the most common tapeworms of the dog and cat, Diplylidium caninum.
Some cats and dogs are allergic to fleas, and only have to be bitten once or twice before they can develop severe skin reactions. Excessive itch, hair loss, scabbing and secondary bacterial or yeast infections are very common with flea allergies. It is important to treat these animals year round, as even one flea can trigger a reaction.Revolution_large
Treating your pet for fleas has never been easier. With the many choices we have today, we can provide you with the safest and most effective flea preventive for your pet’s needs. Revolution and Advantage are two commonly prescribed products that will quickly kill fleas.
TICKS
Ticks are very common in the Niagara Region, being most prevalent in the spring and fall. They can be seen as early as March when the weather starts to turn. TicksThere are two types of ticks we commonly see; the Dermacentor or American Dog Tick and the Ixodes or Deer tick. These ticks are found in the grass and forested areas. They will attach and feed on your cat or dog’s blood for several days, getting bigger and bigger, before dropping off. They vary in size from a couple of mm to over a cm in length. Other than being unpleasant, ticks can spread disease. Several blood-borne bacterial infections can be transmitted by ticks, especially the Ixodes tick. These include Lyme disease, Anaplasma and Ehrlichia. These bacteria affect blood cells and vital organs of the body, and can cause life-threatening infections.advantix
When ticks are found attached to your pet’s skin it is important to pull them off right away. We can demonstrate how to do this. The tick should be identified by us to determine which species it is and which diseases it may be spreading. Tick prevention can be achieved by topical products such as Advantix, which causes the majority of ticks to drop off before biting, and Revolution, which kills ticks as they feed.
If you have any questions on how to prevent an infestation, call Martindale Animal Clinic. We are here to help.
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