If Fido and you are itching to get rid of fleas, read on

Recently, a stray dog came to the shelter that was so covered in fleas it looked as though his skin was moving. This dog was extremely uncomfortable and, in addition to rolling around on the paved road trying to scratch his back, he would nibble so furiously at his itchy body that he was causing hair loss and sores. Amazingly, this flea-covered dog had not been on the run for days, weeks, or even months. His grand total of time spent as a stray dog amounted to just two hours!

How, then, had a dog that lived in a home become so infested with fleas?

As it turns out, this dog’s owner was providing his pet with a monthly flea bath and assumed that was a good enough flea preventative. Obviously, that wasn’t the case. Fleas are actually easy enough to prevent, but once your pet has them it can be a little more difficult to get rid of them. On top of that, many owners do not realize the dangers involved in their pet being coated with fleas. At this time of year, when fleas are most prevalent, keep in mind some of these flea facts to keep your pet safe and healthy.

Prevention

Simply put, a flea bath is not going to cut it. For the best protection, your pet needs more. Most flea products are applied to the skin on the back of your pet’s neck, but there are oral options as well. Flea products are only effective if used consistently. Remember to reapply the flea product every month so your pet is always protected.

Symptoms

Fleas are really small so, until there are a lot of them on your pet, you’re probably not going to notice them. What you’ll likely notice first is that your pet is itchy and uncomfortable. If your pet is itching excessively, you may also notice hair loss. If you suspect your pet has fleas, comb through their hair and look for flea dirt, or flea feces. Flea dirt is a result of the fleas eating your pet’s blood. The flea dirt looks very similar to regular dirt and you’ll find it in clumps in your dog’s fur.

Side Effects

Most people realize that fleas cause your pet to itch, but they are unaware of all the other side effects that come with them. Because fleas eat your pet’s blood, young animals are especially susceptible to anemia which, if untreated, can lead to death. Fleas are also carriers of tapeworm so, as your pet licks at the fleas, he is also ingesting tapeworm. Tapeworms are long, flat worms that latch on to the inside of your pet’s intestines. Tapeworms can cause your pet to lose weight, but it’s more likely you’ll notice your pet is infected by discovering pieces of the tapeworm in your pet’s feces. A tapeworm’s body is made up of segments and, when they break off, they look like grains of rice either in your pet’s feces or stuck to their fur. While tapeworm is easily treated by your veterinarian, if you do not keep your pet on a regular flea preventative, your pet will likely become infected all over again.

Treatment

Talk to your veterinarian about the best way to treat your pet’s fleas. Depending on the severity of their fleas, your vet may suggest a topical treatment or a stronger oral treatment. The most important thing to remember is that treating your pet is not enough on its own. Be sure to wash all of your pet’s bedding - and don’t forget your own sheets and blankets, too. If you have a large flea problem, you may need to use a cleaner that requires you and your pets to evacuate the house for a few hours. Remember: if your pet has fleas, your house does, too! If you treat your pet but don’t clean your house, your pet will simply contract fleas all over again as soon as their preventative wears off.

Bottom line: save yourself lots of time and money, and save your pet lots of discomfort, by treating your pet every month with a flea preventative!

Alaina Goodnough is the Promotions Coordinator at Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, NH. She lives in Sanford, ME with two parrots, a cat, and two dachshunds. She can be reached at CVHS at devassist@cvhsonline.org.To learn more about Cocheco Valley Humane Society, go to www.cvhsonline.org or call 603-749-5322.