Its Summer and all the nasty bugs are out. Protect your pets from fleas, ticks and mosquitos. Frontline protects against fleas and ticks. Revolution protects against fleas, heartworm and one type of tick. Interceptor protects against heartworm and intestinal parasites. Each of these products will protect your pet for 1 month.

 

Does your pet have fleas? You may or may not see the adult fleas on your pet. If you think your pet may have fleas, use a flea comb or fine toothed comb, and comb your pet several times all the way down the back. Then use a wet paper towel to wipe off the comb. Check for dark specks that look like dirt. If you see them, try rolling them a bit on the towel. If it leaves a rusty colored trail, your pet has fleas. This "dirt" is called flea dirt and is actually the stool of adult fleas.

 

Treating fleas requires a few steps. You must treat all the pets in your home. You also need to treat the home twice, approximately two weeks apart. This second treatment is necessary because one lifestage of the flea can not be killed by any chemical. This stage will hatch in about two weeks so it will be killed by the second treatment.

 

Does your pet have ticks? Immature and adult ticks will attach to your pet and ingest their blood. Sometimes the ticks are hard to find, until they are engorged with blood. Immature ticks can range in size from less than 1 - 3 mm. The adult ticks, when not engorged, range in size from 1/2 - 1 cm. If you find a tick on your pet, the tick needs to be removed. You can bring your pet to our office or remove the tick at home. Soak a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and place it on the tick for a minute. Then grasp the tick with a pair of tweezers and pull gently and steadily away from your pet. This will help keep the head attached when you remove the tick. Then place the tick in a jar of alcohol or flush it down the toilet. Look to see if there is any dark spot left in your pet's skin. If you see one, or if a bump develops, please call us and bring in your pet.