In South Florida we battle fleas 12-months out of the year, that’s because flea season is largely influenced by temperature (heat) and humidity, and right now we are all brutally aware of the heat and humidity.
As you know fleas are common parasites found on puppies and dogs and while these insects are a nuisance, fleas also create skin irritation, cause anemia, and carry tapeworms, so it is important to your dog’s health and well being to make sure he or she is on a regular monthly preventative to remain flea free. All dogs are susceptible to flea infestations, except for some dogs that live in high elevations or in extremely dry environments.
Eradicating fleas requires patience and perseverance. The life cycle of a flea is three to four weeks, and in general it takes that long to completely rid your pet and its environment of fleas. When a flea finds a ‘host’ ie: your puppy or dog, it feeds and mates. Female fleas start laying eggs 24-hours later, some 40 to 50 eggs a day. Different flea control products work in different ways and have varying levels of effectiveness and kill different flea stages including eggs, larvae and/or adults.
If you have an infestation, you will need to use a combination of products at the same time to be effective. You may want to consult your veterinarian to determine your plan of attack to ensure your pet’s health and safety. Some of the most common preventatives include: Frontline, FrontlinePlus, Advantage, Advantix, Sentinel, Comfortis and Revolution.
Very Important Paws requires all clients administer a monthly flea preventative to their dog to ensure our facility and our guests remain flea free.
