Fleas Are No Small Problem
We were on the BART train, underground in a tunnel, in San Francisco, when the dreaded “call missed” message appeared on the cell phone.
It was dreaded because the number indicated that the call was from our friends down the block at home, who were taking care of our dog, Anna, while we were away for a long weekend wedding.
As it turned out, the host dog had just been diagnosed and treated for fleas and the Vet had suggested that we needed to treat Anna as well.
All in all, a bad call, but not life threatening.
Or was it?
While not all areas of the country are faced with this tiny problem, we soon found that fleas feed on animal blood, more frequently in cats and dogs and can trigger problems including skin irritation, tapeworm, allergic reactions, anemia, the plague, typhus and in rare cases, death.
Jean Sanders of whowhatwherewhenwhy.com explains the basic problem with fleas and the inability to stop them…
"Fleas are probably the most successful creatures on the planet in terms of reproduction. There are over 2,400 species and they are difficult to control for a variety of reasons: One female flea will produce 25,000 offspring in one month. An unfed adult can live for several months. The chemicals used to eradicate adult dog fleas have no effect on the eggs. Fleas are very good at mutating to resist new pesticides.
Fleas are a menace to dogs! They cause allergic dermatitis, tapeworms, and anemia. Most of the eggs are not laid on the dog but in the dog's bedding, in the rug, and on the furniture. It is extremely difficult to eradicate fleas completely. The most you can hope for is to control them and to keep your dog reasonably comfortable during the warm, moist flea season."
There are numerous commercial products sold to pet owners to control fleas.
Generally speaking, these products may or may not be effective to control these insects.
Many pet owners use garlic or brewers yeast to attempt a more natural approach to the problem of infestation. Although again, their success rate is merely antidotal.
More frequent doggie baths are also recommended.
In any case, a seemingly mild case of irritation can eventually turn deadly if not properly and quickly treated.
In this case, estate planning for your pets includes seeking the necessary medical treatment plan from your Vet at the first sign of any flea problem.
Do not assume that the issue will simply resolve itself.
Remember, you are responsible for your pet.
Plan accordingly…
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