Tips to Protect your Dog—and your Home—from Fleas this Summer

Fleas…the ever persistent and pesky, barely-there biters, that are plaguing you and your family dog with itchy skin this summer.  

A recent report by The Banfield Pet Hospital found that flea infestations increased in dogs by 16 percent, and 12 percent in cats since 2006.  Fleas are most prevalent during the months of spring and summer, as humidity and warmth speeds their lifecycle. 

Whether you’ve already been ambushed by the little critters, or just want to arm yourself with a few defensive strategies, I have some tips and information to help you fight and fend off fleas:

1. Consult with your veterinarian about flea prevention and treatment.
Your vet has the expertise to assess your pet and recommend the most effective preventative treatment and control program to ensure you and your pet remain flea-free this summer. Ask your veterinarian for a preventative that is stronger, longer-acting and safer than many over the counter treatments. Some flea topical medications will only fend off fleas for a few days, others can be effective for 30 plus days.

2.   Know that there is no one-size-fits-all flea treatment for pets. 
The duration of treatment can be variable in individual pets, and can also depend on the magnitude of the flea problem. Some pets need to have the preventative applied every 2-3 weeks, others can go as long a 6 weeks between doses. Only your veterinarian can advise you on the safety and efficacy of the length of time between treatments for your pet.

3.   Be aware of and prepared for “hitch-hiker” fleas. 
“Hitch-hiker” fleas are the adult bugs that have hitched a ride home with your pup from the park, beach or even your own backyard.  They also hitch rides on your clothes, especially pants cuffs, socks and any folds in your clothing, as well as on your body. You may not even see these fleas, or feel their presence. Hitch-hiker fleas that bite your dog after it has already been treated with a flea preventative will likely be killed before they even have a chance at laying eggs. For untreated dogs, these fleas pose a much higher risk of not only affecting your dog, but also your home setting as well. 

4.   Avoid getting your flea preventative on the Internet. 
While flea preventative sold on the Internet may look like the quick and convenient solution, you should know there is risk—the Food & Drug Administration has even warned consumers against purchasing pet medications online due to some online retailers selling counterfeit medications.  

Most of the problems veterinarians see from flea preventive treatments relate to pet owners unknowingly using the wrong product (a dog product on a cat, the wrong dose (too much or too little), treating a pet that has an underlying illness, or using a product that is rarely used by veterinarians because it can be toxic to some pets).

Preventative care is the best way to avoid an infestation, so it’s important to make sure to work with your veterinarian to stay vigilant with your dog’s flea control program—and identify a program that’s best suited for your individual pet to ensure your pet is helped rather than harmed. Prevention equals comfort for your dog, safety for your family and home, and peace of mind for you!

Dr. Linda Randall, DVM, ABVP, is a companion animal veterinarian and owner of Cloverleaf Animal Hospital in Cleveland Park, Ohio. Dr. Randall is board-certified with the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in Canine and Feline Medicine and Surgery (ABVP), and is one of the few to hold this prestigious position in northeast Ohio.  Dr. Randall also stars in Veterinarians on Call, an online YouTube series that gives people an inside look at veterinarians in action.

For more information on fleas and your pets, please contact the Cloverleaf Animal Hospital at 330-948-2002.