Flea Control Means Itch Control

August and September are typically are the worst months for skin allergies and flea infestations, and this past month showed no change from the norm! Allergic contact dermatitis, Hot Spots, and Flea bite Dermatitis are all allergic skin conditions that can cause intense itchiness, skin infections, hair loss and excessive grooming. This year has been particularly bad for flea issues, so they have earned the dubious honor of being the subject of our September newsletter.

Typically, signs start earlier in the Summer, when the allergy season is gearing up. This is especially true for flea bite allergies. Often, pets that are allergic to flea saliva will begin to scratch and get skin infections from the scratching, long before you will see the fleas. It takes several weeks for a flea population to build up enough to actually see fleas on the pet. This is especially true in cats, that initially can groom faster than the fleas can reproduce.

Once you can see fleas, there is an infestation somewhere in your house or yard. The most popular places for fleas to live are in damp cellars, in damp ground under bushes or porches where dogs like to dig or hang out to cool off, and in old decomposing leaves. Because we had such a rainy and hot Spring and Summer, the flea populations in the environment are significantly higher than in years past. Once the population outside is high enough for several fleas to jump up on your pet and ride inside, they will start to lay eggs in the house. One flea can lay 20,000 eggs in three days, so the problem becomes an infestation rapidly. By August, you will start to see fleas in the house and consistently on your pet.

For this reason, it is important to use flea prevention on your pets throughout the Summer EVEN IF YOU DON'T SEE THEM ON YOUR PET. Again, once you see them, it is too late and you are looking at several months of getting the population under control. If you are just trying to prevent a problem, any of the topical products that are sold through a veterinarian will kill fleas within 24 hours of exposure to the product. A flea has to feed before it can lay viable eggs, so the medication will kill them off before a population can establish itself in your house.

If you ALREADY have fleas in the house, and again, if you can see them, you have an infestation, then you must use a product that also has an Insect Growth Regulator. An IGR is birth control for fleas. It prevents the fleas from laying viable eggs, and stops them from being able to replace themselves as the flea preventative kills the adults off. IGR's are available in may house sprays, flea bombs, some oral medications, and in certain topical medications. Remember, once you see a few fleas on your pet, you have several thousand larvae somewhere in your house or yard that are waiting to hatch and feed, so applying one dose won't take care of your problem. It may take up to 4 months to eradicate a flea population from a home depending on how bad the initial population was. If you are still seeing fleas, after applying the preventative, you should consult your veterinarian for appropriate medical advice. This consultation is likely to require a scheduled appointment.

It is always BEST to purchase your initial supply of medications from your veterinarian as they will be able to council you appropriately on proper application, treatment regimens and house treatment, to get the problem under control as soon as possible. They will also be able to make recommendations for other medications that may be needed to treat any secondary skin infection or parasite transmission that occurs as a result of the flea bites. Many products are only guaranteed by the manufacturer if they are purchased at a veterinary clinic. Always consult your veterinarian before applying these products, as some can be toxic to cats, or to pets that are ill as a result of their infestations. Most products sold through veterinary clinics have been tested to be safe for use in short term studies. There is a relatively low report of adverse reactions to these products, and most that are reported are the result of IMPROPER application, or application to anemic pets. For this reason, it is the policy of our clinic not to sell these products to patients we have never seen. Long term side effect have NOT been evaluated in pets, but are probably no different than us using OFF^R to protect ourselves from mosquito bites.

If you are having an issue with a pet that has fleas, is excessively grooming or scratching, or has chronic skin infections in the late Summer and Early Fall, it is likely that there is an underlying flea bite allergy and you should schedule an examination with your veterinarian.