What to Do About Fleas and Ticks in Your Home

Frontline Plus for flea and tick control and prevention are tools that a responsible pet owner can use to stay on top of pest problems. Puppies and dogs are a common carrier of the tiny pests. Something that everyone should know about dog flea control and puppy flea control is that fleas can come into the home in many different ways. Fleas can come in on the soles of your shoes, on your clothing, or anything else that you may bring from outside the house to the inside. Fleas are parasitic in nature, and they hitch a ride on the skin of mammals and bite and feed on their host's fluids.

Fleas can carry different diseases that are harmful to their hosts. Because fleas feed on blood and due to a particularly harmful disease carried by fleas, they can cause anemia in your puppy or dog. Anemia is especially dangerous in puppies, as it can be fatal. It is important to note that fleas can live year round and so year round protection and prevention is important.

There are many different types of flea control products from powders to pills, collars, washes and sprays. You need to be careful though, it is not recommended that you bathe puppies under a certain age and some flea and tick prevention chemicals can be very toxic. Consult with your veterinarian for help in solving the flea problem in your puppy or dog. Remember, when you purchase flea control products like Frontline for Dogs from a veterinarian, they'll usually come with some kind of guarantee.

Some things you should do around your home if you have had a flea infestation include a deep cleaning of all surfaces. Vacuum the rugs and carpets thoroughly to suck up any larvae or eggs that have lodged deep into the pile of the carpet. Then steam clean to kill any that may have remained behind after vacuuming. Make sure to change and dispose of the vacuum bag properly. Vacuuming and steam cleaning should be performed on your dog's bedding as well as your own. Any surface where fleas in their different stages of life could have infested should be treated in the same manner.

Ticks are another problem for dogs and puppies. Ticks are parasitic insects that bite and live off of the fluids of their hosts. Ticks carry many diseases including Lyme disease. Deer commonly carry ticks, but they can be carried by dogs and humans as well. You should always do a "tick check," by inspecting yourself and your dog or puppy after spending time outdoors. You can perform tick control and prevention in your environment by removing piles of leaves and debris from around your yard. There are varied topical products that you can use on dogs, but use extra caution when treating puppies with tick control products. You should wash your dog or cat's bedding on a regular basis to keep any ticks from gaining easy access to your pet. It is best to consult with a veterinarian in using products to control ticks. As with fleas, ticks are a year round problem for cats and dogs. Frontline for Cats and Frontline for Dogs could help you to keep your cat or dog safe from pests. The best prevention will require vigilance by you the pet owner to control ticks from harming your pet, but Frontline Plus can make the job a lot easier.

Ticks are another problem for dogs and puppies. Ticks are parasitic insects that bite and live off of the fluids of their hosts. Ticks carry many diseases including Lyme disease. Deer commonly carry ticks, but they can be carried by dogs and humans as well. You should always do a "tick check," by inspecting yourself and your dog or puppy after spending time outdoors. You can perform tick control and prevention in your environment by removing piles of leaves and debris from around your yard.

There are varied topical products that you can use on dogs, but use extra caution when treating puppies with tick control products. You should wash your dog or cat's bedding on a regular basis to keep any ticks from gaining easy access to your pet. It is best to consult with a veterinarian in using products to control ticks. As with fleas ticks are a year round problem for cats and dogs. Frontline for Cats and Frontline for Dogs could help you to keep your cat or dog safe from pests. The best prevention will require vigilance by you the pet owner to control ticks from harming your pet, but Frontline Plus can make the job a lot easier.

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Top 3 Pet Meds For Flea And Tick Prevention

When fleas and ticks attack, it becomes a real pain for both the pets and their owners. Fleas should be taken seriously as this might lead to complications which could affect your pet's overall health and even threaten your pet's life. There are a number of diseases that can develop due to flea infestations, one of which is flea allergy dermatitis (FAD). FAD is the pet's allergic reaction to the flea's saliva when it feeds from its host (which is your pet). Since fleas are blood-sucking parasites, anemia is another health problem brought about by heavy infestation of fleas. I am quite sure nobody wants to see his or her pet suffer due to these bloodsucking menaces. We must find a way to control and prevent these fleas from infesting our pets.

One way to control fleas and ticks is by using pet medications. Among the many pet meds available in the market, the best products that have been getting positive reviews include Frontline Plus, K9 Advantix, and Advantage.

Frontline Plus. Fronline plus is a once-a-month topical medication for controlling fleas and ticks that guarantees to kill 100% of fleas within 12 hours of application. It works mainly through its active ingredient, fipronil, which is deposited into your pet's oil glands when the Frontline Plus is applied. The medication spreads all throughout the pet's skin and hair through the hair follicles. It doesn't only kill fleas, ticks, and lice, but also breaks the flea life cycle, by killing their eggs, giving your pet a month's worth of protection.

K9 Advantix. Another pet medication that one can use is K9 Advantix which combines two active ingredients, imidacloprid and permethrin, working interactively to kill fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes, as well as repel mosquito bites and ticks before they could attach. It also attacks flea larvae before they develop into adult fleas, breaking their lifecycle. K9 Advantix's active ingredients work by paralyzing the central nervous system of these parasites that leads to their death. K9 Advantix is said to be the only product that effectively kills more pests than other topical medications. However, since K9 Advantix contains permethrin, it should not be used on cats.

Advantage. Advantage is said to be the most gentle of all flea-control treatments which makes it ideal for puppies and kittens. It is also safe for weekly use. Its active ingredient, imidacloprid, attacks the flea's nervous system which leads to its paralysis and death. Although advantage is proven safe and effective in killing fleas, it doesn't kill ticks.

Spare your pets from irritation and discomfort by using only the best topical flea-treatment products, Frontline Plus, K9 Advantix, and Advantage. They are very easy to use and proven effective to kill pests within a 12-24 hour period while protecting your pet from future infestations for a month. And oh, don't worry if your pet loves to swim or take a bath, because these topical treatments are waterproof. They are very safe to use with the right dose, and are relatively cheap compared to other pet meds available. But as with any medication, these pet meds may have side effects, so it is always best to consult your veterinarian.

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Pet Shampoo - Choosing the Right One

Choosing the right pet shampoo from the variety of formulations available depends upon what you hope to achieve with its use, and what type of animal you own. Rather than using human shampoo, choose a product that is specific to the animal you will use it on, as some human formulas can be harsh on animals, and cause skin irritation.

You veterinarian is the best source for products that are medicinal in nature. You should always have any pet condition checked by your vet, as they can suggest the right product to help remedy the ailment. Over the counter products that treat skin conditions can be unsafe, or diluted, essentially ineffective, and therefore a waste of money. The best option is to speak to a professional, get the right product and ensure you are not aggravating the issue with an inappropriate product.

For treating fleas, ensure you treat your home as well, as removing them from your pet is not enough to stop the cycle. Without using a product to kill eggs and fleas in your home, and vehicle if your pet spends time there, they will quickly re-infest. Be careful with flea products, and follow the label directions at all times. What is safe for one type of pet may not be for another, and can cause serious health problems.

If you are looking to reduce your pets shedding, there are formulations that claim they can help cut down on hair loss. For lighter colored or white animals, there are specialized types of shampoo that can help whiten the coat and remove stains around the eyes and on the face. Be careful not to use too frequently or you can cause skin problems, and be careful not to get it in ears and eyes.

Shampoos that are environmentally friendly and can biodegrade may appeal to you. Some have herbal or naturally medicinal ingredients. It is smart to test these products on a small patch of skin before washing the entire animal to be sure there will not be a reaction or allergy. If you like, you can find recipes and create your own shampoos at home.

An array of fragrances gives you the choice of what you would like your pet to smell like. Fruity, flowery or fresh, and everything in between, the decision is yours. Always rinse copiously after shampooing to ensure there is no shampoo remaining on your pets skin, and use sparingly to avoid irritation.

After shampooing, you can apply conditioner to make the coat smooth, shiny, tangle free and easy to brush. There are even pet perfumes and colognes available, and these can help keep your pet fresh and smelling their best between shampoos.

Find a product that works best for your pet, and smells and performs the way you want it to. Don't use human products on pets, and ensure that whatever you buy, it is meant for the animal you want to use it on. Grooming your pet is fun and easy, especially with so many options.

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Feline Leukemia

There is nothing more dangerous for cats are coming down with feline leukemia and it is usually deadly and a very sad way to die. It basically causes cancer in the lymph nodes of cats and can spread rapidly, somewhat like cancer in humans. So far reports indicate that feline leukemia can not be transmitted to humans or other cats, but some say it can be given to other cats, the jury is still out on that one.

Cats will catch feline leukemia when they are exposed for a long time to infected feces or saliva and it thrives in cold and damp places. Drinking water with other cats that are infected can cause the disease to spread to a normal healthy cat. Fleas and mosquitoes is another way that a cat can get it. Some cats will catch feline leukemia others will not. Strong healthy vaccinated cats usually will not get it while the weaker ones might.

Some cats will carry the virus and no one will know it, and end up giving it to other cats in the home. This why it is so important to have your cat or cats vaccinated. This prevents the leukemia from spreading as well as preventing the disease to get to the cats. If you let your cats out try to keep the stray cats in the neighborhood from coming around the house, as they might be carriers. Always keep fresh water handy for your cats, change it every day. They like fresh water and not stale just like us humans do. Watch what they eat, as cats are natural hunters they can bring home some awful prizes for their masters.

You can spot feline leukemia in your cat or others by watching them closely; if they start to vomit and have a fever or their lymph nodes are swollen they might have leukemia. Take them to your vet as soon as you can. The vet will be able to determine if your pal has it or not. By preventing feline leukemia will surely allow your buddy to live a long and playful life, just like you intended them to do. Your cat is your buddy and your friend and you must take care of him as he depends on you to help him live out their years in harmony and grace. They will love you forever and will give you hours of fun and love.

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Cat Health Questions - Dealing With Cat Worms

Roundworms and tapeworms are the most common types of cat worms affecting domesticated cats.

Roundworm

The good news is that roundworm can't be passed from a cat to a human as easily as it can in dogs. The cat version of roundworms just don't survive well in the human body. They can be spread very easily, usually through the cat's poo. There, they can transfer to the ground and remain there for a long time, until another unsuspecting animal comes along. Roundworms can even be transferred to your cat by an infected mouse or rat they catch. If you have a nursing cat, she can also transfer the worms through the milk. That's usually how kittens are infected by roundworms and why they should be wormed. Left untreated, roundworms can damage your kitten's still developing digestive tract.

Tapeworms

Tapeworms look like a long ribbon or piece of tape, sometimes growing as long as 4 feet long. Once inside the intestinal wall they attach their heads to the wall liner. They can then grow in segments and each segment can contain thousands of eggs. Eventually the segments break off and are removed from the body through the fecal matter. If your cat's poo has little grains of rice that are moving, those are tapeworms.

Fleas which seem to come up a lot with cat health questions are the usual method of transfer. Immature fleas can pick up the tapeworms and then deliver them to the cat.

One of the major problems with either type of worms is that it can seriously interfere with your cat's ability to get the proper nutrition they require. Left untreated, the worms can also seriously damage the intestinal walls, causing internal bleeding.

If your cat is losing weight, appears anemic or is getting an unkempt coat or pot belly, they may have worms.

Prevention is the best medicine when it comes to cat worms as well as all other cat health questions. Kittens up to 4 months should get worm treatments every three weeks. An older cat should be treated every 2 to 6 months. The frequency largely depends on your cat's lifestyle (are they an indoor or outdoor cat?). Healthy sanitation habits can also reduce the chance of a worm infestation. Scooping the litter tray daily and cleaning it thoroughly once a week can keep the eggs at bay, as can promptly disposing of feces out in the yard.

Being aware of the presence of any sign of worms is an important first step. Thankfully, there are many products out there today that are designed to remove and even prevent worms in your cat.

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