Fleas are insects and ticks are spider-like acarids. Both of these parasites have a common goal, to feed on your dog or cat's blood. They can cause serious discomfort as well as health issues. Flea bites go unnoticed on some pets, but cause severe irritation in others. They produce extensive itching, red lesions, hair loss and even ulcers in pet's that have allergic dermatitis. Severe flea infestations can cause anemia, especially in puppies and kittens. fleas can also be transmitters of several types of diseases, as well as tapeworms. Ticks (vectorborne disease carriers) also contribute too several diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, which also can be transmitted to humans.

Fleas are very small wingless insects who feed off the blood of animals. Their enlarged back pair of legs gives them remarkable jumping ability. As they hang onto the pet's fur with their claws, their needle-like mouth parts bite through the skin to suck the blood. They suck quantities of up to 15 times their own body weight daily in the case of female cat fleas. one flea can mate and lay up to 30-50 eggs per day. The eggs will drop to the ground within 8 hours and within 2 days the flea larvae will hatch and hide in dark places on the ground, carpet or in upholstery. After around a week of feeding on adult flea droppings, crumbs, flakes of skin, etc., the larvae spins a cocoon to become a pupae. The pupae can remain in this stage for a very long time. As early as one week later, the pupae develops into adult flea and then emerges from their cocoon when they sense that an animal host is nearby. The cycle ranges from 12 days to 180 days.

Ticks are also wingless creatures that live entirely on the blood of animals for three of the four stages of their life cycle. ''the have an organ called the "Haller's organ," which, senses heat, carbon dioxide and other stimuli which in turn allows the tick to locate the presence of an animal food source. After finding a host they crawl on and embed their mouth parts into the skin and suck the blood. Responsible pet owners should inspect their pet's regularly for ticks, especially if they are outside in areas of woods, brush or tall grasses. usually a through combing of the pet within 4-6 hours after exposure to these environment will help prevent ticks from attaching themselves. Should you find a tick, you should remove it immediately, the longer the tick is on the host the greater the probability that it can transmit diseases. Do not touch the tick. Wear Gloves and use tweezers to carefully grasp the exposed section of the tick's body near the pet's skin. Gently pull until the tick lets go. Be sure to get the entire body and head of tick removed from the skin. To dispose of the tick, wrap it in tissue paper and flush down toilet. DO not crush, burn or suffocate it, as any one of these actions may spread the infectious organisms that it may contain.

Controlling Fleas and Ticks

The best control for flea problems is prevention. Over the years veterinary parasite control methods have helped prevent infestations by a two fold process, one eliminating the fleas on pets and eliminating the offspring and fleas before they get on the pet. There are available pesticides and insect growth regulators safe for use on both dogs and cats that come in topical and oral forms. These not only eliminate any existing fleas, but also work long term to prevent future infestations. This is either by killing the parasites before they can reproduce or by preventing the eggs from hatching and developing into adult fleas. Ask our Veterinarians at Klima Small Animal Clinic for advice on the proper product for your pet. Nevertheless, daily vacuuming and frequent washing of pet's bedding will go a long way in prevention and reducing the flea population in and around your home.

Many of the same forms of topical and oral products used to control fleas are also effective against ticks. Treatments should be in combination with daily brushing and examinations (tick removal) of your pet, especially dogs. Keeping your outdoor (yard) environment free from ticks can be as easy as cleaning up the old brush pile, keeping the weeds and grasses mowed down, removing leaves and other organic debris.

Many different type treatments are available, ask the Veterinarians at Klima Small Animal Clinic for the best treatment for your pet. Among the treatments are shampoos, sprays, powders, collars, and topicals.