Fleas<br> The Invisible Threat

Fleas, the Invisible Threat

Adult fleas jump on your cat or dog. They bite them to feed on the blood. Then they produce eggs. Eggs drop from your pet to the ground or carpet. The eggs develop over time into adults. And the cycle starts all over again.

The adult fleas on your pet can actually cause serious medical problems -- like allergy dermatitis or tapeworms, and in some extreme cases, anemia. Flea-related diseases account for more than 50 percent of dermatological cases presented to veterinarians and more then 35 percent of the total small animal veterinary effort.

When to Start Treating

Ideally, flea control should begin as flea prevention -- before the season starts. Depending on which part of the country you live in, your season can last for four months or it can be a year-long problem. Year round treatment, while it may seem a little more expensive, is by far the best remedy. When you consider the cost of treating your house and yard, or treatment for your pet that has suddenly shown up with tapeworms or anemia, it is far less expensive to treat your pets monthly than to try to catch up with the flea population that can encompass your world.

Where to turn?

If you are in the midst of flea season and still have problems with fleas, do not despair. Your veterinarian is a flea expert and can advise you on the latest new products that kill adult fleas, eggs, and larvae, and that take care of fleas in your environment. They will base their recommendation on your regional weather conditions (high humidity and heat means more fleas on the way), your pet's health and level of flea infestation.

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