If you have pets, you will eventually have to deal with fleas and ticks. Not only will these pests infest your dog or cat, they will also get into your home where they will breed and become a greater nuisance.
A Little About Fleas
When your pets go outside, fleas love to latch on to them. Once they settle in they won’t go. When your dog or cat comes inside, the fleas will burrow into your comforters, blankets, area rug, or carpet. In other words, your home becomes the ideal place for fleas to breed and thrive.
A Little About Ticks
Ticks are not only a threat to your pets, but they carry diseases that can affect you and your family. Babeiosis are microscopic parasites that infect the red blood cells; Powassan disease attacks the central nervous system and is known to cause encephalitis and meningitis. Ticks can also spread Lyme disease which causes fever, headaches and skin rashes.
How to Deal with Fleas and Ticks
When dealing with fleas and ticks in dogs and cats, it is best to think of ways to prevent your pet from getting infested. Luckily, there are oral medications as well as spray treatments and shampoos especially formulated to protect your pet against fleas and ticks. In addition, yard and area sprays offer a great first line of defense.
1. Oral Flea and Tick Control for Dogs and Cats
Advantus Oral Flea Treatment Soft Chews for Dogs
is a fast-acting, easy-to-administer solution to your dog’s flea problem. Advantus over the counter soft chews contain Imidacloprid, an insect neurotoxin that works to paralyze and kill fleas within an hour of administration and can be used daily if needed.
Comfortis Chewable Tablets for Dogs and Cats
kills fleas and are indicated for the prevention and treatment of flea infestations (Ctenocephalides felis) on dogs and cats. One dose lasts for one month. Comforits starts killing fleas within 30 minutes. Comfortis’ tasty beef flavor will have your pet thinking it is getting a treat.
2. Flea and Tick Spray Treatments for Dogs and Cats
Advantage Treatment Spray for Dogs
kills and repels fleas, ticks and lice. It also kills flea larvae, and stops their eggs from hatching into biting adult fleas for up to 100 days. Advantage Treatment Spray is available for cats too.
NaturVet Herbal Flea Spray is a safe natural spray that can be used on your pets and their bedding to repel fleas, while leaving a fresh natural scent. NaturVet Herbal flea spray does not interfere with other spot-on products.
3. Flea and Tick Shampoo for Dogs and Cats
Adams Flea & Tick Spray is a fast-acting flea and tick spray for dogs and cats. It kills adult fleas and ticks and controls immature fleas for 18 weeks. It also repels gnats, flies and mosquitoes.
Frontline Spray Fast-Acting Frontline Spray kills Fleas for Up to 30 Days. This spray-on topical flea control formula can be applied directly to pets to provide fast-acting control of fleas and ticks for up to 30 days.
4. Flea and Tick Treatment for Yards and Areas
Adams Carpet Spray contains Nylar insect growth regulator, and the botanically-derived insecticide Linalool. It is formulated to kill all four stages of the flea life cycle: adults, eggs, larvae and pupae. Adams carpet spry is formulated to control re-infestation for up to 210 days.
Siphotrol Yard Spray kills and repels mosquitoes, tick, fleas, and other insects that can damage yards. For use on lawns, trees, shrubs, and flowers. Provides up to 4 weeks of control and treats up to 5,000 square feet.
In conclusion, prevention is the best way to treat a flea and tick problem on your pets and in your home. Oral and topical medications are effective in fighting flea and tick infestations as well as preventing a recurrence. Shampoos can help rid fleas from dogs and cats. Yard and area sprays can help keep your home and yard flea and tick free.
Do you have a solution to the flea and tick problem?
Let us know in the comments.
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