ALWAYS TRY TO AVOID HARMFUL AND TOXIC PRODUCTS

 GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT FLEAS

     Warm weather heralds the arrival of those frustrating creatures called fleas. They are a normal part of our outdoor environment from mid-spring to the first hard frost. They are hardy little creatures that jump on dogs and cats, take nourishment from the blood of their hosts, lay eggs, and deposit feces (called "flea dirt") into their coats. The flea eggs then fall off of the animal and hatch into larvae. The larvae survive in dark hiding places such as carpets, floor cracks and corners. The flea dirt falls off along with the eggs and nourishes the larvae. The larvae then build cocoons and become pupae. The pupae hatch into adults, jump back onto the animal, and, of course, the whole cycle starts over again.

A HEALTHY PET IS LESS VULNERABLE

     Not every pet will get fleas. Some animals are more appealing to fleas than others, and your goal is to make yours one of the unappealing ones. First, feed your pet the highest quality diet that you can. If you have the time and inclination the best option is to prepare home cooked food, as it eliminates preservatives and raises the quality of the ingredients. If you can’t do this, purchase the highest quality pet food you can find. Make sure that fresh water is available at all times, and that your pet gets plenty of exercise each day.

GROOM FREQUENTLY

     Bathe your animal every week or two during flea season. It’s not necessary to use a flea shampoo, any mild pet or baby shampoo will do. We do carry mild flea shampoos for use if fleas are already present. Brush or comb regularly, preferably outdoors, and have a jar of soapy water available to put any fleas you remove into. If you can comb your pet right after the bath fleas that may be present are usually stunned and easier to remove. (If your pet has shorter fur, a fine-tooth flea comb is an especially useful tool to catch and remove fleas.) Basically, the goal is to keep your pet’s skin as free as possible of fleas, flea eggs and flea dirt.

CAREFUL INDOOR CLEANING

     Concentrate your main cleaning efforts in the immediate area of your pet’s favorite resting places. Wash pet bedding regularly and vacuum sleeping areas to remove any eggs, emerging fleas, or larvae. Put mothballs or flea powder in the vacuum bag to kill any fleas that you do vacuum up. If your pet has a regular outdoor area where he rests, rake up any debris in that area to remove hiding places for flea eggs. Keep the grass cut short to allow the sun to penetrate. Clear debris from under decks, porches, etc., so fleas do not have a chance to establish in those desirable environments.

FLEA REPELLENTS

     There are many non-toxic repellents available. It will take some experimenting to find what works for your animal. None of them will produce the same results as heavy chemicals but they are much better for you and your pet.

1. Try mixing some garlic into their food beginning early in the season.
2. Make a simple lemon mixture by slicing a lemon into boiling water and letting it stand for a day. Spray the liquid onto the coat two or three times a week.
3. Avon Skin-So-Soft works well mixed with water and used as a spray.
4. There are many herbal products available to try such as Quantum Skin Conditioner, (which we carry).
5. Any non-toxic bug repellent that you are using on yourself can be tried on your pet as well.
6. Please avoid products with DEET.

ARE FLEAS PRESENT?

     Not all dogs and cats that scratch have fleas. If you suspect a problem but have not actually identified fleas, try this test. Take a wet paper towel and place it under the belly and rub their belly gently. If the dirt that comes off turns a reddish color it is probably from fleas. Or, if you notice black specks around the base of the tail or around the neck, place a few of those specks on a paper towel and sprinkle water on them. If they dissolve into red spots, you most likely have fleas present. Not to panic! A few fleas are not a major problem.

IF YOU DO HAVE A MAJOR FLEA INFESTATION