VET-KEM Flea and Tick Shampoo or Mycodex Sensicare
Shampoo: To kill existing adult fleas
we recommend regular bathing with VET-KEM Flea and Tick Shampoo
or Mycodex Sensicare Shampoo. These shampoos are very safe as
their active ingredient is pyrethrin which comes from chrysanthemum
flowers. For best results leave the lather on the pet for 5-10
minutes. This will kill most or all of the fleas on the pet at
the time of the bath. Shampoo will not prevent new fleas from
jumping onto your pet, however.
VET-KEM Pyretherin Dip: For
short term protection from new fleas. Pour dip (which has been
diluted as directed on label) on the head (carefully avoiding
eyes and nose) and work back toward tail. Rub down to skin. Allow
to dry on the pet (Do not rinse off). Repeat weekly after
bathing.
Ovitrol Plus Spray: Use
as a flea and tick repellent prior to exposure to high infestation
areas or to kill new fleas that attack your pet between baths.
This product also prevents flea eggs from hatching for 30 days
even if the pet gets wet or is bathed. Apply to pet by spraying,
wiping on with a cloth, or combing in with a flea comb.
Program: A once a month
medication which prevents flea eggs from hatching because they
lack an essential ingredient for healthy shell formation. This
prescription medication has been in use outside of the United
States for several years and has a proven record of safety and
effectiveness. For maximum effectiveness, be certain medication
is given with a full meal and that it is given on time once a
month. It is also important that all pets in a household be on
Program so that all of the female fleas lay defective eggs.
Ovitrol Flea-Control Collars: These
collars kill flea eggs for 9 months on dogs and 12 months on cats.
All pets in a household should be wearing one of these collars
for maximum control of the flea population.
Siphotrol Plus Area Treatment: Can
be applied to both carpeted and uncarpeted floors as well as upholstered
furniture. Kills adult fleas as well as providing 30 weeks of
insect growth regulator to eliminate flea larva. Studies have
shown that adult fleas emerge from the pupae sooner when subjected
to vibration. Since Siphotrol Plus Area Treatment, like most flea
control products, is ineffective against the pupae, we suggest
vacuuming 12 to 24 hours before applying Siphotrol
Plus Area Treatment. The vibration caused by vacuuming should
activate many of the pupae in your home so that when the spray
is applied more adult fleas will be killed. You only need to spray
a fine mist on the surfaces that you wish to treat. We recommend
that you spray all carpeted areas (don't forget under the furniture),
baseboards, and furniture (under cushions, too - Look for the
typical "salt and pepper" flea debris). Focus especially
on areas where pets spend much time. For a more thorough elimination
of adult fleas, we recommend repeating the vacuuming and spraying
sequence again in 7 to 10 days. After that the insect growth regulator
will kill any flea larva that may hatch from unaffected eggs thus
preventing a new infestation of adult fleas.
FleaBusters or Flea-X-Perts Service: These
services treat your carpets or hardwood floors by the applying
an orthoboric acid product. A salt like substance, orthoboric
acid dehydrates adult fleas and flea larva that ingest the salt
as they move around the floor of your home. These services are
guaranteed for one year providing you do not have the carpet shampooed
within that time. If flea problems occur during the year, the
treatment is redone at no charge. Both companies will give a free
estimate of cost for their services.
FleaBusters Rx for Fleas Powder: A
do-it-yourself orthoboric acid powder. A salt like substance,
orthoboric acid dehydrates adult fleas and
flea larva that ingest the substance as the move around the floor.
As long as the instructions for use are followed, the powder
is guaranteed for one year. You can purchase this powder at Kensington
Veterinary Hospital. Because this powder is distributed
into your carpet by a means that will cause some vibration which
will cause new adult fleas to emerge from the pupae, you may see
a temporary increase in adult fleas before the process becomes
fully effective about 6 weeks after application.
It is helpful if you throw away the bag from your
vacuum clean each time you vacuum (at least until fleas are under
control).
Interrupt Biological Outdoor Flea Control: A
safe and effective method of controlling fleas in a yard with
grass or other ground cover. Interrupt is purchased as a canister
containing granules. When these granules are dissolved in water,
microscopic worms called nematodes are activated. Nematodes exist
in the environment naturally; by applying Interrupt to your yard,
you are increasing the nematode population to many millions. These
nematodes, which are harmless to humans, animals
and plants, eat the flea larva and flea pupae in our yards.
They also eat other types of insect larva, many of which are detrimental
to the plants in the yard, but do not eat the "good"
garden bugs. To get maximum duration from this product, yard should
be moist enough to keep the grass green. After 4 to 6 weeks
it is necessary to re-apply Interrupt because the nematode population
will have died off and new flea larva and pupae will be deposited
in the yard. If you have used any chemical treatment to kill adult
fleas and other insects in the yard, you should wait 30 days before
applying Interrupt, as chemicals that kill adult fleas will also
kill the nematodes.
Siphotrol Yard and Kennel Spray: Use
in a yard already infested with adult biting
fleas or in a yard without grass or other ground cover. This chemical
spray kills adult fleas as well as many other detrimental insects.
As with the Siphotrol Plus Area Treatment for the home, it may
be beneficial to create some vibration by mowing the lawn or sweeping
decks and patios 12 to 24 hours before applying the spray.
The flea life cycle consists of 4 distinct stages:
the adult stage, the egg stage, the larva stage, and the pupa
stage. Each adult female is capable of laying 50-60 eggs daily.
These eggs hatch into flea larva, a none biting, caterpillar-like
stage. These larva eventually wrap themselves in a cocoon called
a pupa. This final pre-adult stage is very rugged, resistant to
most flea control substances and may remain dormant for up to
2 years. Eventually, an adult flea emerges from the pupa and the
cycle starts again. An adult flea normally lives for 60-90 days.
A quick calculation will show that each adult female can of lay
thousands of eggs in her lifetime.
Fleas can also carry the larva of a tapeworm. When
your pet chews itself to relieve itching it may ingest a flea
that has a tapeworm larva inside it. The pet then becomes infected
with tapeworms, which they shed into their environment. While
tapeworms are easily treated, flea prevention is the most effective
method of preventing tapeworms in your pets.
We must fight fleas on our pets, in our homes and in our yards. Each of these battlegrounds requires different weapons and strategies. A successful campaign includes two steps:
1. The elimination of existing biting adult fleas, and
2. Controlling the flea population by preventing pre-adult fleas from reaching maturity.
Many of the products we recommend or offer are effective against multiple life stages.