Bleh - fleas! 'Tis the season - are you prepared? It's not just at home where you need to be ready either. Different geographical areas have different climate conditions so the flea season varies depending on where you are - keep that in mind whether you are at home or traveling. Something else to be aware of is that fleas, in various stages of their disgusting lives, can survive indoors even during the cold weather. Following are some helpful facts about fleas and information on how you can prevent them from infesting your pets and your home.

Even though there are more than 2,000 known species and subspecies of fleas, only one class of flea called the 'cat flea' is to blame for almost all the fleas found on cats and dogs in the United States. What is really daunting is that there is evidence of fleas dating all the way back to the dinosaur era which means they obviously aren't going away by themselves - all the more reason to do something to protect your pets and family.

Most fleas can survive for an average of two to three months without 'food' which is actually the blood they suck from their 'hosts'.  A female flea consumes 15 times her own body weight in blood daily! You should also know that while adult fleas suck blood from a cat, dog or other mammal, their larvae live and feed on organic debris in the host animal's environment - that's your home! Be aware that some fleas can jump 150 times their own length - that compares to a human jumping 1,000 feet. So if you happen to see one flea, there may be more than 100 offspring or adults looming nearby in furniture, carpeting or on your pet.

Now let's talk about how to prevent these gross little parasites from getting into your life and how to get rid of them if they do. As a pet owner, one of your main responsibilities is to keep your pet healthy. Taking them to the vet for their annual check ups is very important. While you're there, be sure to talk to your veterinarian about a flea prevention method for your furry friends such as Advantage, Advantix or Frontline. Certain products can also help to prevent ticks in addition to fleas.

If you see fleas on your pets or in your home, take action immediately. Not only are fleas a huge annoyance, but they can also transmit diseases and tapeworm. If your home becomes infested, you will probably need to purchase flea bombs - make sure read and adhere to the directions carefully and contact your vet to get further advice and relief for your pet and family.

Bleh - fleas! 'Tis the season - are you prepared? It's not just at home where you need to be ready either. Different geographical areas have different climate conditions so the flea season varies depending on where you are - keep that in mind whether you are at home or traveling. Something else to be aware of is that fleas, in various stages of their disgusting lives, can survive indoors even during the cold weather. Following are some helpful facts about fleas and information on how you can prevent them from infesting your pets and your home.

Even though there are more than 2,000 known species and subspecies of fleas, only one class of flea called the 'cat flea' is to blame for almost all the fleas found on cats and dogs in the United States. What is really daunting is that there is evidence of fleas dating all the way back to the dinosaur era which means they obviously aren't going away by themselves - all the more reason to do something to protect your pets and family.

Most fleas can survive for an average of two to three months without 'food' which is actually the blood they suck from their 'hosts'.  A female flea consumes 15 times her own body weight in blood daily! You should also know that while adult fleas suck blood from a cat, dog or other mammal, their larvae live and feed on organic debris in the host animal's environment - that's your home! Be aware that some fleas can jump 150 times their own length - that compares to a human jumping 1,000 feet. So if you happen to see one flea, there may be more than 100 offspring or adults looming nearby in furniture, carpeting or on your pet.

Now let's talk about how to prevent these gross little parasites from getting into your life and how to get rid of them if they do. As a pet owner, one of your main responsibilities is to keep your pet healthy. Taking them to the vet for their annual check ups is very important. While you're there, be sure to talk to your veterinarian about a flea prevention method for your furry friends such as Advantage, Advantix or Frontline. Certain products can also help to prevent ticks in addition to fleas.

If you see fleas on your pets or in your home, take action immediately. Not only are fleas a huge annoyance, but they can also transmit diseases and tapeworm. If your home becomes infested, you will probably need to purchase flea bombs - make sure read and adhere to the directions carefully and contact your vet to get further advice and relief for your pet and family.

There are several different types of flea, but by far the most common is Ctenocephalides felis felis, also known as the cat flea. Though it is called the cat flea, it is the species most often found on dogs as well. Unless your pet has a severe infestation, he/she is probably not bothered by the odd flea, unless he/she has a flea allergy. However, since these unpleasant insects also bite humans we are, not surprisingly, somewhat intolerant of them. This article discusses how to tell whether your pet has fleas and, if they do, how to eliminate them from your house.

It is not always obvious when your pet has a flea problem. You may see an adult flea crawling around on your pets skin, especially if they have a pale coat. However, the easiest way to check for the presence of these pesky critters is to look for flea dirt. This is actually flea feces, and appears as tiny black specs near the base of hairs on certain parts of your pets coat, particularly around the rump (on the back, in front of the tail). Since fleas feed on blood, their feces is basically dried blood. When these little black specs come into contact with water, they turn reddish brown. So, try this: moisten a piece of white paper kitchen roll thoroughly and place it on a hard surface. Then, lift your pet above the paper and vigorously rub and scratch his/her back, going against the direction of hair growth, so that as much scurf and debris falls off you pet as possible. Afterwards, examine the wet paper closely. If your pet has fleas, the dried black flea dirt will have fallen onto the wet paper and turned into little red spots.

If you have seen a flea on your pet, or have found flea dirt as described above, then you have a flea infestation to deal with. Do not fear, the problem can be easily resolved by following these simple steps.

1. All pets in the house must be treated with an effective flea treatment.
2. The house must be sprayed to kill any fleas and flea eggs in the environment.

It sounds simple. However, I have lost count of the number of times clients say to me that they have done that already, when in fact they did not do it quite properly and so their flea infestation continued.

1. If one of your pets has fleas, you need to treat them all simultaneously. Your goal is to wipe out every flea in the house, so make sure there is no safe host for them to live on. Remember dogs and cats require different doses of flea treatment products.

Many owners believe that applying a flea product they have bought in a pet shop or supermarket will kill all the fleas in their house, or that a flea collar will provide adequate protection for their pet. Wrong. Purchasing these products is certainly better than doing nothing, but they are nowhere near 100% effective. They are comparatively weak compared to the products you can get from your veterinarian. There are many veterinary recommended products, here is a list of some of the best: Frontline®, Advantage®, Advocate®, K9 Advantix®, Program®, Revolution®, Stronghold®. Most of these are prescription only medicines, meaning they can only be obtained from your veterinarian or with a prescription from your veterinarian. However, Frontline® has recently been granted a general sales license and so can be bought over the counter, or ordered via an internet store.

Once you have purchased one of these recommended products, it is important to apply it correctly. Part the fur on the back of your pets neck and empty the contents of the pipette onto the skin, to form a small puddle of liquid. Applying it to the back of the neck prevents your pet from ingesting it as this is the one place they cannot lick at whilst grooming themselves. Once it is applied, do not wash or bathe your pet for several days and do not let your pet go out in the rain or go swimming, or the product will wash off and be wasted. The liquid is absorbed through the skin and distributed around the body.

Generally these products provide protection for 1 month from the time of application. Frontline® for cats provides 1 month protection vs fleas whilst Frontline® for dogs provides 2 months protection vs fleas, but only 1 month protection vs ticks and so is often applied monthly nevertheless.

2. Spraying the house. This is equally as important as treating your pet, as the major part of the flea life cycle develops off the host, in the environment. Though adult fleas will spend most of their time on your pet, the flea eggs and flea larvae live in the environment, often being concentrated in or near pet sleeping areas. To eliminate the next generation of fleas, the environment must be sprayed thoroughly with an effective spray.

The commercial introduction of Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) represented a major breakthrough in flea control. These chemicals are highly effective at destroying flea eggs and larvae, and so complement the spot on treatments very well. They are readily available over the counter in many forms, and do not wash off the floor with water so have considerable residual activity; application is required only once every 6-12 months.

So, where and how should you use this household flea spray? The various stages of the flea life cycle are not found on tiled floors, or floors covered with linoleum. They are mainly found in carpets and in cracks of wooden floors. First of all, shut all of the windows in the house. Make sure the house is empty, if this is difficult then shut all of the pets in a room where they seldom go, which you can spray separately later. If you have an aquarium, move it outside or make it airtight as the flea spray can get into the water and kill the fish. Then, go round the whole house spraying anywhere where your pet(s) spend time, concentrating on where they sleep and their favorite lying spots. Remember to move furniture and spray underneath too. Hold the aerosol about 30cm from the surface you are spraying. Once you have sprayed everywhere, leave the house, with the windows closed, for 3 hours. On your return, open all the windows and leave again for a further 30 minutes. Then go back and vacuum clean the entire house thoroughly. Remove the vacuum cleaner bag or empty the container immediately.

Following this technique will ensure swift eradiation of the fleas both on your pet and in your house. Good luck!

If you have a pet, no doubt you are concerned about its welfare. One major topic that many pet owners and pet lovers are concerned with is controlling the infestation of pests like fleas and ticks. Fleas and ticks can be a bothersome nuisance to both you and your pet dog or pet cat, and in turn this can negatively affect you and your family also.

Fleas

Fleas are an irritant because their bites form itchy and irritating sores on humans. Fleas are blood-sucking insects that bite both humans and animals and. They can jump lengths of over a foot, and have a lifespan as long as several months. If you have children, especially babies, this can be an even bigger concern as the rashes and sores developed from flea bites can potentially be harmful and affect their health adversely.

Ticks

Ticks can be harmful to humans as they can potentially transmit the very serious disease called Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that may very well prove to be fatal if not treated properly and in time.

Although you may love your pet cats and/or dogs, the welfare of yourself and your family should be of the utmost priority. How can you prevent and remedy the infestation of fleas and ticks on your most loves pets? Well, there are many medications and solutions that are created for pet dogs and cats and designed especially for this purpose.

Flea and Tick Control Medication

There are special pet medications to control the infestation of flea and ticks on your beloved pet. These remedies are often made and formulated for cats and dogs of all sizes.

One such pet medication called Frontline even makes special formulas for cats and dogs of all sizes, and they also formulate their remedies for baby cats and baby dogs. This means that puppies and kittens that are at least 8 weeks, or 2 months old, are able to be given Frontline flea and tick control.

Frontline is not the only company that makes these pet medications. There are several companies that produce these types of pet meds. Another such brand of pest control medication for your pet is K9 Advantix. This specific brand protects against fleas, ticks, and also misquitoes. However, like the name of the medication kind of tells you, these formulas are made for dogs only.

You do not have to seek the advice of a trained professional or get a prescription from a veterinarian in order to obtain most flea and tick control pet meds. However, this is recommended as veterinarians are very well-equipped to answer any questions you might have as to if this is a suitable treatment for your pet, if there are any side effects for both pet and humans.

Whatever method and route of flea and tick control you choose to go, it is always best to be safe than sorry. Although a consultation with a veterinarian is not required, it is often strongly recommended.

When it comes to keeping your dog or cat free from prolific scads of blood-sucking parasites like fleas and ticks, a proven flea killer like K-9 Advantix or Frontline Medication is not only warranted, it's recommended by veterinarians.

In fact, many veterinarians sell these flea and tick products through their offices. But, the truth is you don't need a prescription. You can get K-9 Advantix, Advantage for cats, or Frontline medication online at a discounted price and with free shipping. It can be a much cheaper way to go.

How do these flea medications work?

Let's take the example of the Frontline Medication. The active ingredient is a nerve paralytic for fleas and ticks. You simply take the applicator and apply a few flea drops to the back of your pet's head and along his spine (read package instructions carefully, as this may vary by product and animal type and size). The medicine can stop fleas biting within three to five minutes, and 98-100% of the adult flea population is killed within 12-24 hours.

However, it's not enough to just kill the fleas once. We all know that fleas, ticks and other parasites lay eggs that pay already be in your carpet or furniture, your back yard, or just in the outdoor areas you and your pet frequent. That's why one-time application products like flea dips or shampoos work once, but the fleas don't "stay gone" for long...

With a product like Frontline medication, the active ingredient will actually stay in the pet's skin (stored in the subcutaneous layer of fat) and will continue to kill these biting insects for up to one month per application. That's why it's important to reapply the Advatage, Frontline, etc. (whatever flea meds you're using) monthly, according to package instructions. This will help break the flea and tick life cycle and keep your pet parasite free, permanently (or as long as you use the product and/or your pet does not get reinfected).

The proper dosage is important.

Also, when you are buying the flea medication, make sure you choose the right dosage for your pet. For example, for cats, some products have a size-break at nine pounds... you get one product for cats under that weight, and another product for cats over that weight.

With the Frontline medication, you can get:

Frontline Plus Orange - For dogs up to 22 lbs.
Frontline Plus Blue - For dogs 23-44 lbs.
Frontline Plus Purple - For dogs 45-88 lbs.
Frontline Plus Red - For dogs 89-132 lbs.

With all these options, it's important to make sure that you get the right type for your pet.

Expect Great Results, Even If You Have to Be Persistent.

As with any topical medication, keep an eye on your pet after you use it the first time and call your vet if you notice any adverse reactions at the application site, or on the skin. Try to avoid your pet licking the area or bathing within the first 24 hours after the product is applied. That's why the medicine is applied to the back of the head and/or spine - these are areas that are difficult for the pet to reach with his mouth. After 24 hours normal licking or grooming behaviors won't harm your pet.

If you do experience a problem, talk to your pet's doctor, and consider switching to a product with a different active ingredient. Some pets are more sensitive than others, and you can still get great flea relief in another flea and tick spray, so your pet won't have to suffer.  Frontline medication has different active ingredients than Advantage and K-9 Advantix so if your pet has a bad response to one, it might be a good idea to test using another.

Trying to decide whether to buy Frontline pet meds this flea season? Here is my experience with this product on my guide dog puppy, Kera.

My Frontline Pet Medicine Experience:

When the weather starts to warm up, many pet owners recognize that it's time to start keeping an eye out for fleas and ticks on your dog or cat. Living in North Carolina, I learned the hard way that you can't necessarily hope to avoid flea problems all together just by keeping your pet indoors or grooming her on a regular basis. I found that we needed to use a flea and tick spray of some kind in order to be safe from the fleas our dog would bring home when out on walks and hikes.

Since I was raising a guide dog puppy, I decided to ask the trainers who were supporting us, and ultimately responsible for Kera's health and medical decisions, what flea control product they recommended. They had several name brands that they thought were both effective, and safe. They suggested I try Advantage flea products, K-9 Advantix, or Frontline pet meds. I just happened to go with Frontline because it was what I could find at the store when I went shopping for flea control products.

I am happy to report that we had great results with it. We got rid of the fleas and ticks, despite our frequent walks in forested areas, it was MUCH easier than trying to catch all the fleas by hand (seriously, that's what I had been doing before - it was super frustrating and time-consuming.)

After we had such great results with Frontline pet meds, I thought I would try another product from the grocery store. I don't remember what it was called, but it was cheaper. We tried it, but it did not work as well and the fleas quickly came back. We went back to Frontline and didn't have any problems after that.

The only "downside" of the Frontline for us was that it made our dog's hair look a little permanently wet or greasy at the point where we applied it. I think if you focus on applying the flea medicine to the dog's SKIN and not to the HAIR (as recommended in the instructions) then you will avoid this problem.

When your dog or cat engages fleas or ticks in battle, give your pet the advantage! Flea control products are a safe, fast and effective means of eliminating flea and tick problems the right way the first time.

It's tempting to try to take the easy way out - just cross your fingers and hope that fleas and ticks don't happen to your pet. Unfortunately, if you live in parts of the country where fleas and ticks are prevalent, you could be putting your other pets and family members at risk for uncomfortable flea and tick bites, as well as the dangerous diseases these parasites carry, if you let your pet go "au natural."

Spot applications of flea drops such as Advantage flea control, Frontline for dog or cat fleas, and K-9 Advantix are a good way to apply a small, targeted flea treatment that will go right where it's needed without "spraying" or "dipping" your dog - processes that uses more medication than really necessary, and without using a flea collar which may be ineffective at the tail end of your dog, anyway.

You can supplement your efforts with natural flea control methods including cedar shavings in the pet's bedding area, regular vacuuming, and combing your dog to inspect for and remove fleas and ticks by hand.

These processes can be time consuming, though, and if you're not going to have time to keep up with them, fleas and ticks can easily get the better of you because they are hard to detect when they arrive and can multiply quickly.

Break the flea life cycle and keep flea eggs already in your home from re-starting the infestation cycle, with an easy monthly application of Advantage flea control products, Frontline, or K-9 Advantix for dogs.

Whichever product you use, be sure to read the directions and follow them closely.

Emily J. Cressey loves comparison shopping to find great deals!

Fleas are the tiny things that live on pets and animals, in carpets, in sofas as well as other household items. Typically, most fleas will be found on pets. The other 10 percent are flea cocoons in the carpets, 35 percent flea larvae and 50 percent flea eggs (again in the carpet).

A flea’s life span is very similar to that of a butterfly. The female lays eggs that then turn into larvae. The larva develops into pupae and settles inside a cocoon. They wait for a host (normally a cat or dog) to start their life and suck blood.

Fleas feed on blood. They can live without a blood meal for up to 100 days. These little creatures can cause serious diseases, such as Plague, Murine Typhus and Tungiasis.

There are many flea preventing medicines and procedures that you can invest in to better protect your pet. These flea preventers include:

Frontline Dog Flea Medicine
Program Flavor Tabs Dog and Cat Flea Control
Merial Frontline Pus for Dogs
K9 Advantix Flea Control
Biospot Flea and Tick Repellent
Adams Flea Tick Spot Control for Cats
Farnam Carpet Flea Spray
Biospot  Flea Control for Cats and Ferrets

If your pet comes into contact with fleas, it is best to take him or her straight to the Vet. Be sure to conduct thorough research on how to prevent flea problems.

About Queen City Petsitting

Serving the Charlotte area, Queen City Pet Sitting offers an array of services worthy of any pet owners respect. Jump onboard the Pet Taxi for a ride to the veterinarian, order a quick grooming, or even ask for an errand run to return your late movie rentals. Whatever the case may be, these pet care sitters promise to get it done!

To learn more about Queen City Petsitting, visit us at www.queencitypetsitting.com

Spring is in the air again. The birds are singing. The rain is falling. The flowers are blooming, and – if you own a dog or a cat – flea and tick season is in full effect. These pests can make the summer months a pain in the neck – and the wallet – for beleaguered pet owners. But, if it's a bad time of year for you, imagine how your fuzzy companion feels? Luckily, for every problem there is a solution, and with a little education, this is a battle you can win. What's the first step? Know your enemy!

The life cycle of fleas includes four separate stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. The life cycle can last from as little as two weeks up to a full year. Fleas prefer humidity and high temperatures. For this reason, their numbers tend to expand during the warm summer months.

Fleas are wingless, parasitic insects. These vampiric little guys live off of the nutrients they find in the blood of any number of mammals and birds. Clearly, any encounter with a flea is bound to bother you pet, but a certain kind of allergic reaction to the flea's saliva can lead to irritation, rash, and a significant loss of fur from excessive itching, scratching and biting at the infected area. This reaction is called “flea allergy dermatitis.” These irritated sore spots are prime targets for secondary infections, complicating an already messy problem. Even if your pet isn't prone to this irritation, fleas can also carry Lyme disease and tapeworms.

Ticks are also parasites, but they infect every class of terrestrial vertebrate from mammals and birds, to reptiles and amphibians. Unlike fleas, ticks are not insects. From the class Arachnidia, the tick is more closely related to the spider, and the scorpion than it is to the ant. Despite their numbers – and number of possible hosts – there are only a few varieties of ticks should worry people and their pets. If you live in an area that is populated with ticks, you must take precautions for you and your family. Ticks can transmit serious diseases like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever to pets and owners alike.

The first step in protecting your family and your pets from fleas and ticks is some solid research – so far so good – and the advice of your veterinarian. Make sure you inform your vet about the kind of neighborhood you live in. Are you an apartment dweller in the city, or do you make your homestead on a wooded country road? Your location as well as your pet's habits and characteristics will help determine the level of protection your furry friend will require.

In order to prevent fleas and ticks from becoming a problem in the first place, your vet will probably recommend a prevention product like K9 Advantix. Products like Advantix - or the Dog or Cat versions of Advantage - are topical flea treatments that are used just once a month. They stop fleas from biting in less than five minutes, and can kill 98 to 100 percent of the fleas on pets within 12 hours. These products will keep on fighting fleas for a full 30 days. Applied before the start of flea season, these products can keep your dog from becoming infested in the first place. Used year-round, it prevents fleas from wintering in your home.

When you are first learning the ugly truth about fleas and ticks it can seem like a horror movie: blood-sucking monsters attacking my pets? Of course, it's not quite that serious. With a little common sense, the advice of your vet, and a proven product that deliver results, it looks like this is shaping up to be a great summer!

There are a number of good flea and tick control pet supplies out there. With the number of products available, it is sometimes hard to tell which products do what. We are going to examine some of the most popular pet supplies available to control fleas and ticks.

There are a wide range of methods available in pet supplies to control these pests. Some of the methods include once a month topical treatments, sprays and mists, collars that are treated, shampoos and rinses, and oral medication that the animal swallows.

First let's take a look at the shampoos and rinses. These are liquids and powders that are either shampooed into the fur and then rinsed out, or they are put on wet fur after a bath and left on with no rinsing. There are numerous brands of these pet supplies available on the market. The main ingredients may differ depending on the brand name, but all these products are intended to kill fleas and ticks. Some of these pet supplies even treat Sarcoptic and Demodectic mange in dogs.

Next we will examine the once a month treatments available for dogs. These treatments are given once a month by rubbing the small amount of liquid into the skin at the nape of the dog's neck. Some of the more popular brands of this pet supply are Advantix, Frontline Plus, and Advantage. There is also a pet supply treatment called Revolution that is given once a month. However, this medication only controls fleas, mange, and ear mites without controlling ticks. It is used to prevent heartworms as well as control certain pests.

An oral medication that is available to control fleas only is called Proban. Flea and tick collars are also great pet supplies to get rid of these pests. These collars are treated with various chemicals that will not hurt the animal, but they are deadly to fleas and ticks. This method, however, is not as effective as others.

Sprays and mists are the last pet supplies we will look at to control fleas and ticks. A lot of these products have Permethrin, or a similar chemical, as the main ingredient in the product. This ingredient kills the pests and may even leave a lingering protection in the bloodstream of the animal. These pet supplies are intended to be left on the fur and skin of the dog to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Any flea or tick that bites and swallows the blood will be poisoned and die.