flea control ED

[Gina Heitz <brier@oregonsbest.com>]

From Auntie Ellen,

Good info.  We use Frontline

Gina


FLEA CONTROL

I can probably quite safely say that the majority of us have had to
battle fleas at one time or another.  Fleas are, in this
geographical area, one of the biggest problems when taking care of our
hounds.  They are everywhere.  They can survive under huge
varieties of environmental conditions and they reproduce at an
astonishing rate.  They can cause huge headaches for many pet
owners, including tapeworms, skin problems, ear problems, and flea
anemia.  Thankfully, fighting fleas has become significantly easier
in the past few years and it is much simpler to keep our dogs flea free
and happy.  I am going to discuss several of the name brand products
available.  Please note, I am not associated in any way with any of
the companies that produce and market these products.  There are
many other methods of flea control, space only allows me to cover a few,
so I have chosen to discuss the most popular products.

Flea products come in two major categories, those that control the
environment and those that kill adult fleas.  A truly effective flea
control program utilizes both of these types of products.

Environmental control.  The most effective of these are the “Insect
Growth Regulators”, or IGR’s.  These include premise and yard sprays
such as VetKem™ or Zodiac ™ brands that contain pyrethrins or
permethrins, as well as the oral product Program™.  These products
are important because the vast majority of a flea problem does not
actually exist on the pet, but rather in your yard, carpets, pet bedding,
and upholstery.  Some studies show that for every 1 flea you see on
your pet, you can add 1000 in your environment.  These products work
by halting the development of fleas, and since only the adult fleas cause
a problem for your pets, it is recommended that we use one of these
products year round.  

Most of the sprays are effective for several months after the initial
kill and in some cases may be good for up to 6 months.  They are
also effective against adult fleas.  The disadvantage of the sprays
is that they also kill other types of insects, including beneficial ones
such as ladybugs and spiders.  You must also take great care while
applying these products, however once dry they are very safe. 
Sprays are more cost effective for households with many dogs. 
Sprays vary in price, depending on manufacturer.

Program™ is a pill given to your dog with a meal once per month.  It
is taken up into the fatty tissues of your dog where it is stored. 
When a flea bites your dog, the active ingredient (lufenuron) is ingested
along with the blood meal and any eggs it may have will be unable to
hatch, thus effectively halting the flea population from growing. 
However, any adult fleas will not be affected and will have to die
naturally which can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. 
Program is safe in puppies as young as 6 weeks.  At around $30-40
for a 6 month supply, this is a good product in households with fewer
numbers of dogs.

Adulticides.  These products are insecticides designed to kill adult
fleas and include such products as Advantage™ and Frontline
TopSpot™.  Both of these products are very similar, however they do
contain different insecticides.  They are both applied directly to
the dog’s skin, usually in the shoulder area.  Over a period of
12-24 hours, they spread via fluid wave over the dog’s body and remain in
the hair follicles and will continue to kill fleas for 30-90 days
depending on the product and the level of flea infestation.  Both
products will leave an oily looking spot where applied for 1-3
days.  These types of products are extremely helpful to dogs who
have flea allergy dermatitis (FAD.)  FAD dogs can erupt with
horrible skin problems from even one fleabite, so it is important to keep
any fleas from biting at all.

Advantage™ contains imidacloprid and is safe in puppies as young as 7
weeks.  While it is effective after one or two baths, it is not as
effective in cases where dogs are frequently bathed or swim a great
deal.  However, it can be safely reapplied more frequently if
needed.  Package directions indicate that it should be applied every
4 weeks, but with good environmental control, many owners find they are
able to apply it less often and still have effective flea control. 
At about $30 for a 4 month supply, it is reasonably cost effective,
especially if needed less frequently.

Frontline TopSpot™ contains fipronil and is safe in puppies older than 10
weeks.  This product works very well for dogs who are bathed
frequently or who swim often.  Frontline also kills ticks, an added
bonus if you live in a tick area.  However, this product is more
toxic and greater care must be taken when applying it for both you and
your pet’s safety.  While it may last longer than 30 days, it cannot
be applied more frequently.  Cost is $30-40 for a 3 month
supply.

As you can see, there are many different options now for effective
control of fleas, there are many other types of products and many other
methods available and you need to work with your veterinarian to find one
that works for you and your household.  You and your dog will be
much happier without fleas, and now that the days of dipping dogs in
noxious chemicals are over, you and your dog can be happy about your flea
control.