Don't Let This Spring and Summer Become a 
"Flea for All" for Your Pet

Flea "Bytes"

Flea infestations of pets can be a continual problem for both them and their owners. Flea bites can cause severe reactions in both animals and humans alike, and can also cause anemia in heavily infested young and old animals. Fleas are much more of a problem during the warmer months of the year, however animals kept inside in a warm environment during winter can still harbor these nasty bloodsuckers.

We recommend that flea and tick prevention be started prior to flea season and continued until after the season has ended. For Indiana residents flea season begins in May and continues for approximately five months so we recommend using a flea and tick prevention from Easter to Thanksgiving.

Distinguishing Characteristics of Fleas: Average 2 to 4 mm in length. Body is flattened vertically, and is covered with backward-projecting spines. Wingless Long powerful legs for jumping great distances

 

Fleas can affect your pet's health in the following ways:

• FLEA ALLERGY DERMATITIS (FAD) -- when a flea bites your pet, it deposits a small amount of saliva in the skin. Your pet can develop a reaction to this saliva, which causes severe itching. In addition to your pet scratching or biting excessively around the tail, groin or backside, scabs or bumps may also appear on your pet's neck or back.
  
• ANEMIA -- occurs in young, older or ill pets if too many fleas suck their blood. The symptoms of anemia include pale gums, weakness and lethargy in your pet. 

Warning Signs

Be aware of the following warning signs that indicate the existence of fleas on your pet:

• BLACK SPECKS -- black specks on your pet or in your pet's bed could be flea dirt, which is feces from the adult fleas. There are two easy ways to check for black specks: 

1. Flea Comb -- Run the comb over your pet, making sure the comb reaches the skin through the coat. If black specks are on the comb when you pull it off, they may be flea dirt. If fleas are on the comb, drown them in a bowl of soapy water before they can get away or jump back on your pet.
2. White paper towel -- place a white paper towel beneath your pet and rub your hands across its fur. If black specks appear on the towel, they may be flea dirt. 

• AGITATION/SCRATCHING -- your pet may become very nervous, annoyed and will scratch excessively if infested with fleas. 

Ticks

Ticks are small rounded arachnids (spiders) that cling to one spot on an animal and do not move. They have inserted their head under the skin and are engorging themselves on blood from the animal.  Diseases carried by ticks means that you should have yourself or your pets checked after you find ticks. On the one hand, ticks are a little easier to deal with than fleas since they remain outdoors, and do not infest houses the way fleas do; on the other hand, they carry more dangerous diseases and are harder to find.

Tick bites can affect your pet's health in the following ways:

• LYME DISEASE -- A bacterial infection that is usually carried by the Deer tick. Symptoms include lameness, fever, loss of appetite, fatigue and an abnormal enlargement of the lymph nodes. Often treatable with antibiotics.
• BABESIOSIS -- In the dog, acute symptoms may include fever, loss of appetite, and general deterioration. Puppies 4 -12 weeks old are probably most susceptible. Shock, coma or death after less than a day of lethargy and loss of appetite can occur. Responds to a variety of treatments if caught early, although blood transfusion may be necessary in later stages of the disease.
• EHRLICHIOSIS -- An infectious blood disease that attacks your pet's white blood cells, crippling the immune system. Symptoms include fever, depression, weight loss, and loss of appetite. Treatable with antibiotics.
• ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER -- Often transmitted by the American dog tick. Symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, coughing, lameness, depression, vomiting and diarrhea. If untreated it can result in the more acute symptoms or even death.
• CYTAUXZOONOSIS -- An acute, usually fatal disease in cats. Symptoms include loss of appetite and depression, followed by one to three days of fever. Death may follow in one to three days after that. 

Your pet's risk of contracting these diseases can be reduced by regularly using an appropriate flea and tick prevention.  We offer a variety of flea and tick control products for dogs and cats including Frontline Plus (for fleas and ticks) and Advantage (for fleas).  We also offer a product called Revolution for Cats which is a heartworm and flea preventative in one.  Call us at (765) 886-5191 or (765) 962-4389 to find out which product will best suit your pet.

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