Many pets are allergic to fleas and their bites cause FAD - Flea Allergy Dermatitis. For pets with FAD, a single flea bit can mean severe itching for a few weeks. That's why it's important to use a good form of flea prevention on your pet, especially if they have FAD.
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| Photo via Sandy Schultz |
One thing I heard a lot from clients at the veterinary hospital was "Oh, he doesn't have fleas so we don't need any flea prevention" or "The dog only goes out to use the bathroom" or "The cat is indoor only". Let me just say that it's OK to admit that you saw a flea on your pet the other day. It's normal, it happens. You don't have to be in flea denial. And if you aren't in flea denial, have you ever actually looked for fleas on your pet?
When I was a vet tech, one of the clients nicknamed me "The Flea Girl". It's not exactly a name I was really proud of, but I got the name because about 80% (just guessing, it might actually be higher) of the pets that I saw at the hospital I would find a flea on.
Many clients' excuse was "Oh, he must of got that one single flea while he was here". Possible I suppose, but still unlikely. Especially since I just found another one.
Many pet parents these days like to try more natural solutions to the pesky flea problem. Which is fine, but you just need to be more diligent in using them. In many cases, natural flea products need to be used on a daily basis. You should probably be checking your dog or cat for fleas daily if you are using natural flea repellent products to make sure they are working. I do it with my own dog, especially when it warms up outside.
In fact, I was just checking her today and found 2 fleas. Uh oh! Time to get that flea prevention out. Here's what I do and where I look during Shiner's routine flea inspection. Fleas like to live in certain places on a dog or cat's body.
- First, check the back of the neck. Pull back the fur and look for moving black fleas or "flea dirt" which is flea poop. Check behind the base of the ears too.
- Next, check the base of your dog or cat's tail. Another popular spot for fleas on pets.
- Lastly, check the back of your pet's hind legs.
- Feel free to look all over your pet's body after checking these places, but just remember that these spots are favorites for fleas.
- Flea combs are a great tool to use, especially for cats.
Stay healthy and NOT itchy this Spring! If you're pro-active, you can nip the problem in the bud before it gets out of hand. Let us know what kinds of flea prevention you like to use for your dog or cat in the comments!
Yikes no fleas here as she is religious when it comes to our Frontline. Have a super Saturday.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes Molly
Glad to hear that Molly!
DeleteWe are waiting for my flea treatment and I hope it comes in time. We will see many doggies next weekend, so I think we better use frontline before I turn into a Flea-Hotel :o) Have a great satuirday!
ReplyDeleteFlea hotels are not fun Easy! I hope it comes in time too.
DeleteInteresting as always. Fortunately we have been a flea free house!
ReplyDeleteNo spring here, this morning it is in the single digits again, but we are scheduled for our flea treatment in a couple days. Paws crossed, but Mom has never had a flea problem and we want to keep it that way.
ReplyDeleteThe fleas down here in Texas can get pretty bad unfortunately =/ Especially this time of year it seems.
DeleteMum is very careful about fleas and she never forgets our flea treatment, even if it's each time a nightmare for Loupi (yes, he's stressed by a spot-on flea treatment, no comment...)... and for her to catch Loupi ! Purrs
ReplyDeleteAw Loupi! There are lots of other dogs and kitties who hate it too.
DeleteFleas are the worst with huskies! they have SO much fur, so we really need to make sure we prevent those little buggers!
ReplyDeleteღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
More fur to hide under I suppose.
DeleteKamana has had fleas before. I always give him the one monthly treatment of the liquid flea treatment, but I may switch over and try a tablet. The liquid gets all over the place and is messier on him because he doesn't have long hair.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. The tablets seem to be becoming more and more popular. But it's no wonder why.
DeleteBentley acts like those drops burn his skin. My Golden was allergic to them, his hair fell out and it was horrible. I have tried different kinds, but I'm just not sold on one in particular. We have mosquitoes so I usually look for one that supposedly repels those little blood suckers! BOL! Do you recommend a particular kind? I really want to use something. Bark More, Growl Less Barking from the Bayou!
ReplyDeleteWell, my favorite is Advantix. Although Bentley might act the same if you used those, or you may have used them already. If you want a natural repellent, I've found that neem oil works good. I have a neem oil spray from Wondercide that I like, but you will have to re-apply very often.
Deletegot to do Speedy soon,Thank you Ann by the way,you really helped me.but I thought if was going to get accused of something I might as well go the whole hog...hahaha I'm waiting for the next lot of nasties,xx Rachel
ReplyDeleteI just can't imagine anyone sending you nasty letters?! Just seems crazy to me. Doesn't seem like anyone's place for all that nonsense anyways.
DeleteFleas are bad here too, and ticks depending on where you go (Wisconsin). I use Frontline also but can recommend a natural shampoo that repel fleas and ticks, for longer than a day. I think I already told you about it, Charlie Dog Flea & Tick Shampoo by Bobbi Panter uses clover, cedar wood & other natural oils. Love dolly
ReplyDeleteOh yes I remember! I've heard that cedar wood works pretty good. I think we have a spray with that in it. A natural remedy that works for a few days is pretty good! Thankfully I don't have many ticks here which is good because I can't stand them! I have found a total of 3 on Shiner in her lifetime.
DeleteWe have been real lucky here too and we hope it stays that way!
ReplyDeletegreat post and good reminder!
ReplyDeletea friend once told me that reptiles also have a kind of fleas, but when I look it up in google, it said that turtles have no fleas because they aren't mammals.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think, as you work in vet?
Hmmm your friend must be talking about something completely different. They definitely don't get these kinds of fleas, but I guess it's possible for them to get some other kind of external parasite. Of course, I don't know of any or have never heard of any before.
DeleteI can't thank you enough for this post! We have three indoor cats who have not come in contact with any other animals. In the last few days, all three are acting like they have fleas! Thank you for the great information - gotta go. I am on the case!
ReplyDeleteUsually for indoor cats, it's the dogs that bring fleas in. But since you don't have any, that's not the case. It is always possible for you to bring them in though. Hope you don't find anything in your search.
DeleteWhat a CUTE cat photo. Our friends dealt with fleas last year and it was good that they caught it right away. Will share this info to them. Golden Woofs
ReplyDeleteHi Ann,Don't know if you can help me but I seem to be having a spot of bother puting my Blogpaws members badge on my blog...in that in won't go on.driving me nuts now...hehehe,xx Rachel
ReplyDeleteSure I'll send you an email in just a minute.
DeleteThankfully, fleas don't thrive here in Denver. I have no idea why, but they don't. Back in Indiana, it wasn't uncommon for pets to get fleas, though.
ReplyDeleteThey really do like certain areas more than others. Seems like warm humid places are there favorites I think. They are bad here in the Spring and Fall, but not during our super hot summers usually.
DeleteI have to have yucky flea stuff squirted on me once a month, but seems to do the job
ReplyDeleteGood post flea girl lol sorry I mean Ann, What do you know about garlic being used as a preventive, also our main flea killer Frontline doesn't seem to be as effective anymore apperently the fleas are becoming immune to the it. Time for us to find a new prouct.
ReplyDeleteSheba.
LOL you're not being mean... you're right about Frontline as we have the same issues with it here. One thing these companies don't talk about much is that sometimes, these products need to be applied every 3 weeks instead of each month. I like Advantix, but not sure if it's available in the UK?
DeleteWe are still frozen her so not fleas yet...lol. Good advice though.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great tips! Will be checking them out as spring moves into full swing in the coming weeks.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely taking notes of this. I have a cat and I'm starting to get paranoid because he's been scratching his head unusually a lot lately. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHey May, another thing that comes to mind when you mention him scratching his head is an ear infection or ear mites. You might want to take a peak in there and see if they are dirty too.
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