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Related Reading
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The
Dog Owners Home Veterinary Handbook
Open the front cover and the first two pages you see contain
the Index of Signs and Symptoms, from Abdomen (painful,
swollen, distended, and tucked up) to Weight loss, Wheezing,
and Whining (continual). There's a comprehensive index
in back, of course, running the gamut from Abortion to
Zinc-Responsive Dermatosis, which is all very useful,
but when your pooch is in pain, it's great to be able
to turn, with the minimum of folderol, to the page that
says to relax, it's nothing a bit of extra grooming won't
fix, or alternatively to hightail it over to the vet hospital.
It's a wonderful reference for any dog owner, with chapters
on emergencies ..., as well as worms, infectious diseases,
skin care, and canine eyes, ears, and nose. There are
chapters on the digestive, respiratory, and circulatory
systems, the nervous, musculoskeletal, and urinary systems
.... In short, it covers every health dimension a dog
owner might want to know more about, identifies the possible
causes, helps you determine the severity of the condition,
and indicates what treatments or actions to take to best
insure your dog's good health. — Stephanie Gold
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Flea Control:
A Pet's Next Best Friend
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As a veterinary assistant at Cypress
Wood Animal Hospital in Coral Springs, Fla., I once
had to bathe two black labs who were bloody and raw from
flea bites. On that day I vowed to spread the word about
flea control so I'd never have to see a pet suffer like
that again.
And now, the days of stinky flea collars and messy baths
are over. Fido can find relief in a vial or pill. Ask your
vet to help you pick the flea prevention method best
for your pet.
Topical Prevention
• How it works. If your pet has fleas, topical
may be the way to go. Get these medications from your veterinarian
because the ones sold in pet stores don't seem to work as
well due to lower amounts of chemicals and a failure to
remain effective after your pet's skin is exposed to water.
• How to apply it. Bring your pet into a well-ventilated
room. Separate the fur between the shoulder blades to expose
the skin. Apply the entire vial. Don't pet your furry friend
in that area for 24 hours. During this time, the oil spreads
to the sebaceous
glands. The treatment will release from these glands
for one month, giving your pet protection from the inside
out.
• Some brands to choose from:
Advantage.
You may have seen their commercial with the singing dogs
and cats begging their owners to "please kill the fleas."
The main ingredient in Advantage is Imidaclorpid, a chemical
safe enough for puppies older than 7 weeks, and kittens
8 weeks and up.
Revolution.
This topical preventive kills fleas while protecting
your pet against internal parasites like heartworms. Once
applied, Revolution is absorbed into your pet's bloodstream
where it sits to attack heartworms. Then it is distributed
from the blood to the sebaceous glands to kill the external
critters, fleas.
Frontline.
Besides preventing and killing fleas for both cats and
dogs, Frontline's the only product to kill ticks. It breaks
the flea life cycle by killing the adults before they can
lay their eggs and provides continuous protection with monthly
applications. To stretch your dollar and protect your dog
only against fleas, use Frontline once every three months.
Since it works under the skin, it provides protection against
fleas and ticks even if your pet gets wet.
Oral Prevention
• How it works. If your pet doesn't currently have
fleas, consider an oral medication as a preventative measure.You
can still use the oral products if your furry friend does
have fleas because orals sterilize existing female fleas
on your pet leaving them unable to reproduce, thus ending
the flea cycle. However, you'll need another flea control
product such as a shampoo or topical preventive as backup
since the fleas can still bite, irritate, and live off your
pet.
•How to administer. The easiest way is to place
the pill in some canned pet food, roll into a ball, and
treat the pill as a reward. Or try the direct approach.
Apply gentle pressure to the sides of your pet's mouth to
force it open. place the pill in the back of your pet's
throat, close its mouth and gently rub its neck to stimulate
swallowing. Some owners also use a pill-popper.
• Some brands to choose from:
Program.
Give your pet this pill, safe for both dogs and cats,
once a month and your flea worries will disappear.
Sentinel.
Just one pill a month prevents fleas as well as heart-,
whip-, round- and hookworms, and sets your pet on
its way to itch-free living. Sentinel is even safe enough
for puppies as young as four weeks that weigh at least two
pounds.
Keep your furry friend's skin healthy, and you'll be glad
to cuddle up to those wagging tails and loud purrs.
Written by Jaclyn Sherman
What kind of flea-control do you use on your pet? E-mail us! |
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On the Web
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Flea Control.com
Fleadrops.com
Petmed
Clinic
Pet Supermarket
PETsMART.com
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Other Problems
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All it takes is one flea to start a problem.
Flea allergy dermatitis, a condition that causes infection
and hair loss, is the most common skin allergy in pets. It
is caused when flea saliva irritates the skin.
Other complications such as tapeworms, which are internal
parasites, can also arise from just one bite from a flea that
carries tapeworm eggs. These eggs are deposited in fecal matter,
and some of them may cling to the hair of the primary host.
Fleas swallow the eggs, which then undergo some development
in the flea. If your pet swallows an infected flea, an adult
tapeworm will develop in the new host — your pet.
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What About My House?
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Once you have your pet's skin and comfort
taken care of, it's time to think of your home. Most likely,
fleas have made their home in your carpet and furniture.
Flea foggers or "bombers" can be purchased at pet superstores,
supermarkets, and hardware stores for about $7 - $10, depending
on the size of the fogger.
Some precautions before you use the fogger:
• Make sure all pets and children are out of the room
before you set off the fogger.
• Have a towel handy to place over your nose and
mouth when you set off the fogger.
• Open the can away from your body, especially
your face.
• Place the can on the floor in the middle
of the room.
• If you plan on only "bombing" one room at a time, close
the door to the room where the fogger is and stuff
a towel under the door to prevent the chemicals from infiltrating
the rest of your home.
• The fogger usually takes a couple hours to complete.
Do not enter the room until you are positive that the
process has finished.
• Be cautious when using these products. You
can't be near these chemicals once you release them.
If your pet, is flea-free it is almost a guarantee that once
you have fogged, your flea problems will come to an end. |
UC
Davis Book of Dogs: The Complete Medical Reference Guide
for Dogs and Puppies