Flea and tick infestations happen FAST. So, when you have an infestation on your hands, you need to act even FASTER. You need to know the enemy to beat the enemy and that’s why we’ve gathered some quick facts about fleas & ticks as well as ways to treat them, so they won’t know your next move.
Quick Flea Facts
- Adult female fleas can lay up to 5,000 eggs in a lifetime. That is 40-50 eggs per day!
- Flea bites can cause allergic reactions, hair loss, hot spots, and even infect your pets with tapeworms.
- Fleas reproduce quickly on your pet and in your home.
- Getting rid of fleas in your home can take up to 3 months.
- If you have other cats and dogs in your house, treat them with preventive solutions like topicals or sprays.
- 95% of all environmental flea infestations are the eggs, larvae, and pupae we can’t see, which cause new infestations.
Quick Tick Facts
- Female ticks can lay 100 up to 2000 eggs at a time.
- Ticks can transmit diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
- Ticks can be difficult to see on pets with long hair. Part the fur to check for ticks regularly.
- Ticks will feed anywhere from 3-10 days on average, depending on the species.
- Not all ticks carry the same diseases. Some flea and tick preventives are only effective for certain species, so be sure to find out which ticks live in your location.
Treatment Choices:
F&T Shampoos:
Dog and cat flea and tick shampoos are available over the counter and can stop an active infestation on your pet. In the case where you are faced with a flea & tick infestation, consider having a flea & tick shampoo handy so you have everything you need to act fast.
While flea & tick shampoos do a good job in handling pests on your pet, it’s not for everyday use. Make sure to read the label each time to confirm if this is the best thing for your pet. Using flea and tick shampoo frequently can dry out your pet’s skin, with other downsides being:
- Not being able to wash body parts that fleas and ticks like to hide around, such as ears.
- They typically don’t prevent new infestations
F&T Oral Tablets Containing Nitenpyram
Got an active flea infestation?
Oral medications have a need for speed. They are a fast, effective way to kill adult fleas on your pet that start working in just 30 minutes. Check the product label or talk with your veterinarian to find the correct dosage for your pet and actively prevent new infestations with a monthly preventive.
Monthly F&T Topical Treatments
But wait there’s more! Squeeze-on topical solutions also offer effective flea and tick protection. Products with formulas that include an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) kill flea eggs, larvae, and pupae and can typically help prevent future infestations for up to 30 days.
And because we can’t say this enough, always read the product label before use! When using a squeeze-on topical, fleas and ticks don’t have to bite your pet to die; they are eliminated through contact with the product, which may also help prevent potential diseases from spreading.
[Shadow Box Text: IMPORTANT: Do not use a dog topical on a cat or a cat topical on a dog, and do not split the dosage between multiple pets. Keep the treated pet separate from other pets in the household until the topical application is completely dry. Refer to the package for information about baths/water exposure as these can decrease the effectiveness of these products.]
There are several over-the-counter topical options available without a prescription, so it’s a good idea to talk with your vet about the best choice for your pet. When you find the right one, choose the correct dosage for your pet’s age and weight.
F&T Collars
Just when you thought we were done offering solutions, another over-the-counter option for flea and tick protection is a collar. If you choose this route, make sure the collar you pick is of the appropriate size to be effective.
And one more time for the people in the back, make sure to read all the details on the label to make you’re your pet is safe at all times.Got more questions? Talk with veterinarian about the different flea and tick prevention available for your area to learn more.