Are Your Pets Ready for the Flea Circus?

The Flea Circus cartoon was a cute, funny cartoon from the 1950's but I also remember watching it in the 70's. As cute as the cartoon was, it's not at all cute for there to be a flea circus on your pet. Fleas are little blood sucking nuisances that can not only make your pet itch, but they can cause more issues like allergic reactions to flea dirt, hot spots, and hair loss. Fleas can also transmit tapeworms and other parasites that can affect your pet even more. Just talking about them makes you want to itch, but imagine them being on you and biting you.

A few years ago, I am ashamed to say, I had a flea infestation. I applied preventatives...uh-hum...when I remembered but had never really had an issue aside from sitings of a few here and there. But, this year, I had just taken in a Great Pyrenees that came to me in poor condition. She brought the fleas in with her. With four cats and four other dogs, the flea circus had more than enough to act on, so they multiplied. I fought so hard to get them under control on my own, but finally had to call an exterminator. Here's what I learned in during that process along with some products that I recommend:

• There is a flea treatment that you can purchase over the counter that will kill fleas within 30 minutes for up to 4 hours. It is called Capstar. The product works amazingly well, EXCEPT, it just kills the adult fleas. It does not kill the thousands of eggs that those adult fleas left behind. It provides quick relief while longer-term preventatives are implemented.

• There are SO MANY long-term preventatives available. There are prescription treatments that your veterinarian will recommend. Some treatments specialize in Flea and Tick prevention only, and some add in prevention for Heartworms and other parasites. These options are usual in tablet or chewable form. Other options are topical treatments that you can buy over-the-counter at Chewy's, Amazon or your local pet supply stores. One that I have found that is fairly cost competitive is Onguard. It is a topical treatment that should be applied once a month. There are many options out there in the topical application treatments. I believe Onguard is a Chewy's brand. It's important to ensure you are buying the right treatment for the size of your pet and treatments are different between dogs and cats, so be sure you are getting the one that is specific to the type of pet. The key is consistency in applying it to your pets.

• Cleaning all bedding regularly is a good practice to have to help keep these pests at bay. If you do notice the circus is in town, it is very important to wash all bedding and blankets.

• Bathe your pet in shampoos that are specific to flea and tick treatment. Vet's Best is a brand of shampoo that I have had good success with. Vet's Best uses all natural products and also has other amazing products for your home and pet. You can find Vet's Best at Chewy's, Amazon and your local pet supply stores.

• The biggest tip I got during my fight with the fleas was from the exterminator. I have never been a fan of flea and tick collars, but the exterminator recommended Seresto flea and tick collars for all of my pets. Upon their suggestion, I purchased one for all 9 of my pets. Between that and having my yard and house exterminated, I finally got the situation under more manageable control. Now, my cats where the collar year round. With the flea and tick collars, it is important that you purchase the right collar for the type of pet and the size of the pet. Seresto has them available for small, medium and large dogs as well as for cats. There is a little bit of an investment with these flea and tick collars, but when I was in the heat of the infestation, it was worth every penny for me to give it a try. I was so thankful that the collars helped.

After dealing with that nasty challenge, I have been a little better about applying preventatives. I have my yard treated regularly and try to stay on top of things if I see any of my pets itching.

The biggest takeaway is that the preventatives only work if you are diligent in applying them. Your pets can't do it without your help.

It is always good to consult with your veterinarian if your pet is showing signs of there being a flea or tick circus on them. They are nasty little varmints, but they can also cause more than a little itch.

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