Control of Fleas

Fleas are a constant source of trouble all the year round to dogs and cats and can vary from being symptomless to causing scratching, reddened areas with hair loss, acute wet patches, smell and coat damage. Some pets, especially cats, become allergic to the saliva that the flea injects into the skin when it bites. Regular flea prevention is strongly advised for all pets, as by the time most owners discover their pets have fleas, the house is usually affected. The most common flea on the dog and cat is the cat flea. The adult parasite spends most of its life on the animal but the bulk of the life cycle (egg, larva, pupa) occurs off the animal. The eggs are laid in the carpets, between the floorboards, under skirting boards and in soft furnishings. It is in these areas that the larvae and pupae are found. In warm, humid weather in mid-summer, the life-cycle can complete out of doors but in today's households with carpets and heating, most fleas breed all year round indoors. This means flea control has to be directed towards the breeding population in the house as well as the adult fleas on your pet. Even if you only see one or two adult fleas on the animal, the rest are almost certainly in the house.

Control in the house

• Use an environmental aerosol such as Indorex. These products will keep flea numbers under control for 6 - 12 months.
• Vacuum the entire house, especially the areas animals have access to. Move furniture and vacuum under sofas and beds.
• Empty the entire contents of the vacuum cleaner bag. This removes the eggs, larvae and pupae that you have hovered up.
• Spray the house with the environmental aerosol according to the manufacturer's directions.
• In severe cases, do not vacuum for seven days then repeat the above, targeting especially the spots which pets frequent most in the house. Remember to include the car if the pet travels in it. Also put pet bedding on a very hot wash in the washing machine.

Control on the animal

A number of products are available and can be used in conjunction with Indorex.

Please note several of these products are spot ons ~ not all spot ons are anything like the same & most pet shop & supermarket products are weak & ineffective

A spot on - Frontline Combo - is very effective, easy to apply and very safe and can be used from 10 weeks of age. This is our product of choice for basic flea control. Every 2 months on dogs, 5 weeks on cats.

A topical spray - Frontline - is applied to the coat and remains active for up to 3 months. This may be used on puppies from 2 days old and kittens from 2 weeks old.

Program, a liquid preparation for cats or tablet for dogs is added to the food once a month. This may be used as soon as your pet is on solid food. An injectable version is now available for cats only and lasts 6 months.

Stronghold, another spot-on is also easy to apply, safe and effective. It also kills roundworms and ear mites in cats and scabies in dogs and can be used from 6 weeks of age.

Advocate another spot on  ~ for dogs only ~ is the top of the range & has the widest range of efficacy combining flea control with prevention of scabies & demodex mites,lungworm,ear mites, lice, hookworms & whip worms all by a simple once monthly application.Combined with Drontal tablets this combination covers everything that can be covered in dogs.Recent cases of lungworm in the West Midlands make this the optimum  dog choice .It can be used from 7 weeks of age.

Please note that Advocate Program Frontline-Combo and Stronghold are controlled by medical legislation and can only be prescribed to animals registered with the Practice and examined within the last 12 months.