Tick and Flea Control

Ticks and fleas are nuisances that seem to be frustrating for both pets and their owners. Aside from the obvious need to eradicate them based on their unsightly nature, there are a number of reasons to address tick and flea infestations.

Often times, the first indication of an infestation is the incessant itching it causes. Dogs and cats alike would start to spend the majority of time scratching and in severe cases biting at their skin. More careful inspection would reveal the presence of ticks, fleas or both. They would even be seen in the environment, thriving in cracks in walls, floors and even in bedding.

Once an infestation is detected there are a number of reasons to consider eradication. Both ticks and fleas suck blood and in high numbers they can cause anaemia.  They also cause great discomfort to pets,  transmit diseases, fleas transmit intestinal tapeworms that cause pets to not thrive & cause scooting  (rubbing the anus on the ground to relieve itching) and pet owners can get flea and tick bites, resulting in skin rashes.

Ticks and fleas spend time on their hosts,  our cats and dogs,  drinking blood. Engorged females then drop off and lay their eggs in the environment. Once hatched they seek a host to start the cycle all over again.  It is therefore crucial that eradication efforts target not only our pets but their environment as well. 

It is recommended that your pet be treated,  and at the same time your yard,  kennel and environs be treated once weekly for a month.  The chemicals that are used for the environment do not kill eggs.  By repeat spraying over the period of a month, newly hatched larvae will be killed and the cycle will be broken.

When treating pets,  a number of options exist which must be considered before you can make the right decision for your situation. 

Flea collars may be used which gradually release pesticides to kill adult ticks and fleas on the animal. They are economical but not very effective against heavy infestations.

Shampoos and soaps are used by some owners, but they seem totally ineffective.  Physical removal of the ticks and fleas is not practical for fast moving fleas and cause skin damage for ticks whose mouthparts are embedded in the hosts' flesh.

Chemical concentrates to be added to water and applied topically are effective and affordable.  However they are poisonous and may cause toxic effects and even death in animals if mixed too strongly and have no residual effect when used correctly,  meaning the parasites present on the host at the time of application are killed but new parasites are not prevented.

The safest treatment is the application of commercial preparations of Fipronil (found in Frontline, Proline and a couple other brands).  It is a bit more costly but worth the investment since it provides residual protection against the parasites once used correctly.  It may be purchased in one of two forms: a spray to be applied to the entire body or a "topspot" presented as a vial of liquid to be emptied on the skin between the animal's shoulder blades.

In households with more than one animal, it is recommended to treat all animals once an infestation is present, even if one animal appears to be more affected than the others. Also, if both dogs and cats are present it is important to note that dogs can transfer ticks to cats and that cats an transmit fleas to dogs.

It is important to note that the chemicals used to treat ticks and fleas on your pet and in the environment are poisonous and some precautions must be taken:

(1) Do not use chemicals meant for the environment alone on your pet.

(2) Do not mix chemicals for your pet or the environment any stronger than recommended. 

(3) Ensure that chemicals are stored away from children and pets in clearly labeled containers. 

(4) Do not use chemicals more frequently than recommended. 

(5) Do not use chemicals in powder form on pets or in their environment as it is much harder to uniformly dilute or apply.

(6) Do not use chemicals meant for a particular species of animal in one that it was not cleared for use on. (A chemical meant for dogs may be harmful to cats).

(7) If any adverse reactions to chemicals are observed (increased salivation or frothing, seizures,  vomiting, lethargy) contact your vet immediately. 

For further information or advice on tick and flea control please contact us at Aminalz Vet Clinic by sending us a private Facebook message or by calling us at 474-9750 or 693-1721