The days are starting to be cooler now that it is fall. Most of the summer bugs are gone. Fleas, however, are still around. 

Fleas survive by drinking your pet's blood. They will also bite people and drink their blood.

 

Fleas have four stages of development. The adult fleas are often the only life stage found on your pet. The adult flea lives on your pet and will lay eggs. One female flea can lay 30 eggs a day. The eggs fall off onto the floor, bed, blanket or anything your pet lays on. The eggs will hatch into larva in one to ten days, depending on the temperature and humidity. The larva crawl around and eat "flea dirt". Flea dirt is the undigested blood and stool of the adult fleas that has dropped off of your pet. The larva will grow and build a cocoon. This stage is called the pupa stage. This stage can last a week or as long as 6 months. While the flea is in the cocoon, it is protected and can not be killed by any chemical sprays. The pupa will hatch when it senses pressure from you or your pet's feet, carbon dioxide exhaled by you or your pet or you or your pet's body heat. The adult fleas will live for three to four months. 

 

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 is "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 the pupa lifestage of the flea can not be killed by any chemical. This stage will usually hatch in about two weeks, so it will be killed by the second treatment.

 

Protect your pets from fleas by using Frontline or Revolution. These products will protect your pet for 1 month.

 

1) Nuts - Trees are dropping their nuts. Your pet can eat the nuts and shells and become sick. He or she may get an upset stomach. The shells can scrape the digestive tract or cause a blockage.

 

2) Rodent poisons - Rat and mouse poisons have flavoring added to entice the rodents to eat it. Your dog or cat may also like the flavor and eat the poison. Rodent poisons can cause your pet to become sick, even if he or she ate a small amount. Keep all poisons out of your pet's reach. Dogs and cats can also become poisoned by eating a mouse or rat that died from rodent poisoning. If your pet has eaten rodent poison or a rodent that may have eaten poison, call a veterinary clinic. You will probably need to induce vomiting to get the poison out of your pet's stomach.

 

3) Cold weather - Do not leave your pet outside for long periods. Your pet can suffer from frost bite and wind burn, just like people. If your pet is small or does not have much hair, consider purchasing a sweater or jacket for your pet to wear. Younger pets, older pets and pets who have an illness are more susceptible to the cold. If your pet lives outside, provide a warm shelter with bedding. Also feed your pet more food during the cooler weather. Provide clean fresh water for your pet. Change it frequently during freezing weather, or purchase a heated bowl.

 

4) Mushrooms - Don't let your pet eat mushrooms. Most mushrooms are safe for your pet to eat, but there are some that are very poisonous. If your dog or cat did eat some, grab any of the left over mushrooms. Take your dog to the house and call a veterinary clinic. You will probably need to induce vomiting to get the mushrooms out of your pet's stomach. Put the mushrooms them in a plastic bag with a damp towel and then put them in the refrigerator. You may need to have them identified, if your pet becomes sick.

 

For more Autumn Hazards, visit the ASPCA's website.

 

Bring your pets for pictures with Santa Claws. He will be in Tuscola on the afternoons of Saturday December 5 and December 12th. We will have more information in the next newsletter. Pictures will be a donation of $5.00. All donations will go to Hands 4 Paws, a humane group raising money to build a new dog and cat shelter in Douglas County.