Ah, the smell of flowers, sounds of birds and the sight of your best friend scratching his fleas … spring is upon us! Below are Dr. Browns Top 10 Reasons to use flea prevention:
#10 They’re gross.
#9 They can bite humans as well.
#8 They lurk in your bedding, furniture and carpets.
#7 They carry diseases.
#6 Tapeworms, need I say more?
#5 Treatment is more costly than prevention. Do your pet (& yourself) a favor.
#4 One female flea has the ability to lay 50 eggs/day. That equates to over 1,000 eggs in just 3 weeks.
#3 The Flea Life Cycle. All of those eggs begin the life cycle and in 3 short weeks, they turn into adult fleas. Which, you guessed, lay their own eggs! That means in a mere 6 weeks, you could have as much as 1 million fleas invading your home. Talk about a party!
#2 They can cause anemia. Fleas can consume up to 15 times their body weight in blood each day. Imagine a 40 lb preschooler consuming 600 lbs of candy!
and Dr. Browns Number 1 Reason is…
#1 FAD. No, I’m not talking about the latest craze or trend. FAD is a skin disease that stands for flea allergy dermatitis. This means your pet has an allergy to the saliva from the fleas bite. Symptoms include: severe itching, hair loss & scabbing. It is important to note that your pet does not have to be infested with these pests. Sometimes, a single flea bite can cause itching for days! More information on FAD can be found here: FAD Q&A.
If your pet is not on a preventive, now is the time to start! Our clinic offers both oral and topical medications. As always, please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have.