Fleas make your pet very uncomfortable. Imagine them running all over you, biting you and sucking your blood. Apart from the constant scratching and chewing, fleas can cause FLEA ALLERGY DERMATITIS (FAD)- the most common skin allergy in dogs and cats as well as transmitting tapeworm to dogs.

 

Pets can pick up the odd one or two fleas while out walking or eggs introduced by visiting pets. Possums, humans, cats, foxes can all have fleas and spread flea eggs into the environment.

 

Eggs, Pupae and Larvae account for 95% of the flea population, the other 5% are the fleas you see on your pet. Fleas produce up to 50 eggs per day and around 2000 in their lifetime of 100 days. The majority of eggs are laid on the pet, not in the environment. Fleas are such prolific breeders that 4 fleas can lead to a flea "plague" in a matter of a few weeks.

 

Unless you break the life cycle, fleas will plague you and your pets forever. Remembering that nothing can effectively kill the flea in the pupae/cocoon stage where they can remain dormant for up to 6 months.

 

 

If your pet has less than 5 fleas use a residual insecticide/adulticide like Frontline or Advantage, or use a short acting insecticide like shampoo, rinses for 6 weeks.

 

The fleas are starting to get out of control, you have 5 or more fleas on your pet but the family aren't being bitten yet. We would recommend using a Capstar Tablet to give your pet instant relief by killing all adult fleas within 30 minutes. Bathing and grooming your pet. Then use Frontline or Advantage

 

You are experiencing a flea plague. The family is being bitten and there are possibly hundreds of fleas around. We would recommend using a Capstar Tablet, bathing and grooming your pet, applying Frontline or Advantage. Use insecticidal sprays on yard or lawns especially for outdoor dogs. Treat the house with a flea bomb or fogger and spot treat affected areas with an environmental spray, being sure to treat under furniture. Bombs or foggers don't kill the pupae at the base of the carpet pile therefore repeated control applications may be needed for 12 months.

 

 

Puppies need to be wormed against roundworm, hookworm, whipworm and tapeworm every 2 weeks until they are 3 months old and every month until they are 6 months old. They then require worming every 3 months for life.

 

Kittens need to be wormed against roundworm, hookworm and tapeworm every 2 weeks until they are 3 months old and every month until they are 6 months old. They then require worming every 3 months for life.

 

Heartworm prevention needs to start before a puppy is 6 months