August 13th, 2008
Flea Information
Fleas are a very common problem in dogs and cats, especially during the spring and summer months. In addition to being an annoyance, flea bites can cause a condition known as “flea allergy dermatitis “, in which the saliva from the flea acts as an allergen and causes a severe dermatitis, requiring medical therapy. Fleas also act as vectors (carriers) of tapeworms, an intestinal parasite. Flea control is best achieved by having a thorough understanding of the life cycle and formulating a plan to disrupt it.
Flea Life Cycle
The flea life cycle is made up of the egg, larvae, pupa, and adult stages. The first 3 stages represent 95% of the fleas life. These 3 stages take place primarily in your house and yard. The adult flea represents only 5% of the life span. However, that 5% is spent entirely on the pet. Adult fleas bite your pet and receive a blood meal. The female fleas lay eggs (up to 60 eggs daily). The eggs fall of the pet into the environment and hatch over the next 2-12 days. The hatchlings (larvae) molt during the next 10-21 days (up to 200 days), to form a cocoon or pupa. The cocoon stage may last more than one year but is usually complete within 16-21 days.
The young adult flea that emerges from the cocoon then jumps on the pet where it can live 3-4 months. When a female receives a blood meal and lays eggs the life cycle is complete. One female flea can lay several hundred to several thousands of eggs in her lifetime .
Posted in fleas | No Comments »
August 13th, 2008
| Product |
Advantage? |
Frontline? |
| Active Ingredients |
Imidacloprid |
Fipronil |
|
Do not apply to dogs under
|
Four months of age |
Ten weeks of age |
| Dosage |
Once a month. |
One dose can last up to three months. |
| Application |
Topical - apply drops between shoulders |
Topical Spray or drops (Top Spot) |
| Mechanism |
Kills adult fleas on contact; works on the fleas nervous system before they have a chance to bite. |
Kills adult fleas and ticks; disrupts activity in the central nervous system of fleas before fleas have a chance to lay eggs or bite; kills ticks before they attach. |
| Claim |
Kills adult fleas; prevents further infestation for one month. |
Kills adult fleas and ticks; prevents further infestation for up to three months |
| Kills Adult Fleas? |
Yes |
Yes |
| Kills Ticks? |
No |
Yes |
| Fleas must bite pet? |
No |
No |
| Can pet be bathed? |
No |
Yes |
| Efficacy |
Breaks flea life cycle by killing adult fleas; kills 98-100% of existing fleas in 24 hours; prevents re-infestation for at least 4 weeks. |
Kills 96% of adult fleas within 2 hours of application, 100% within 24 hours; all parasitic stages of ticks killed within 48 hours of application. |
Posted in OTC products, flea control | No Comments »
April 28th, 2008
Some widely used Flea control products are:
1. Advantage (available in tube form)
2. Frontline
3. Revolution
These products are available at a vet clinic
Posted in OTC products, flea control | No Comments »
April 20th, 2008
About fleas and controlling them
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »