| Flea Treatment |
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Fleas are a year around threat to our pets here in Florida, the unofficial flea capital of the world. All pets should be on a monthly flea preventive, both cats and dogs. Do not wait to see fleas to apply a flea preventative: once you are seeing fleas, there are thousands if not millions of eggs, larvae and pupae in the environment. There are many effective options for flea preventives, and we can help you to select the best flea preventive for your pet(s).
There are several ways in which fleas cause problems for our pets: · Flea bites cause discomfort and irritation for pets, just like any other insect bite. · Chewing at and swallowing fleas causes dogs and cats to get a common type of tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum) . These are the short rice-like worms sometimes seen in the stools of dogs and cats. · Flea saliva from flea bites can cause allergies in many pets, resulting in persistent rashes, itching and skin infections. · Fleas are capable of transmitting certain serious infections, including a blood borne infection in cats called Mycoplasma haemofelis, which causes anemia in cats. · Because fleas suck blood from animals, heavy flea loads can actually cause severe anemia, especially in very young, very old or debilitated pets.
If you are seeing fleas on your pet, we recommend treating your house and yard in addition to treating your pet. Please contact our veterinarians at Animal Medical Hospital in Saint Petersburg, Florida (FL) at 727-896-7127 for more information. |
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