Fleas and Ticks

Beyond the irritation that fleas and ticks cause to our dogs and cats, they carry parasites such as tapeworms and Ehrlichia that affect people. We have the task and challenge of finding the right products to help with flea and tick control.

Fleas and ticks love living in Paradise with us, as our weather is conducive to their life cycles. The moisture and warmth of our climate promotes a year round population. Summers are still the most prevalent time for problems.

Flea and tick products that kill the adults are the original means of treatment. Shampoos and most monthly spot-on products work very well on the adult fleas and ticks. The monthly applied products that paralyze insects and not the dogs and cats are the newest approaches to flea control. These include Frontline Plus or Advantix for dogs and Revolution or Advantage Multi for cats.

Store bought products including flea collars are inferior and dangerous. These products are attractive because of their low price; unfortunately veterinarians see poisonings from some of their ingredients. They have older ingredients that affect the nervous system of the dogs and cats as well as the fleas and ticks.

A new generation of flea and tick products are emerging that provide added killing power by affecting the larval immature stages in addition to the adults. As convenience is also an important factor to treating our pets, there are two oral products that will kill adult fleas in dogs. Capstar is one that kills adult fleas within minutes of administration and continues killing them for up to 24 hours. A newer pill called Comfortis is now available by prescription that will kill adult fleas for up to one month.

The products we have today are more effective than ever in our war against fleas and ticks. In addition, it is also important to focus on the source and circumstance of infestation and treat these areas as well. It is best to consult a veterinarian who can help decipher the multitude of options available in developing a SUCCESSFUL control plan for ridding our homes and pets of these irritating bugs.