How To Keep Your Home Flea Free

If you have pets, fleas are undoubtedly a concern you have, even if your pet is currently flea-free. Keeping pets indoors is a great way to alleviate the flea problem, but even indoor animals are occasionally at risk. In some cases, like with most dogs, they have to go outside eventually, and just a few seconds in the yard can lead to a flea problem. The best way to reduce the risk of fleas is to understand where pets face the most danger for contracting the itchy little insects and avoiding those situations. If your pet is exposed to a risky flea situation, keep an eye on them in the days following, so if a flea problem does occur, you can treat it immediately.

Your first defense against fleas is keeping pets indoors. This is easier said than done for dogs, but cats have no problem settling into indoor domestic life. If your feline is perfectly comfortable surrounded by four walls, there is no sense putting them at risk by forcing the issues of outside play. Give them window space so they can occasionally enjoy fresh air and allow them to live life without a serious threat of fleas. Since dogs almost always have to go out a few times each day, take them to areas that are at less risk for fleas. Most of the time, fleas will not be a problem if you are just walking Fido around the block so he can do his business.

If your animals must be in areas where fleas are a risk, arm them with protection. Flea collars offer a few months worth of defense against an attack. The collars are comfortable for the pet and protect their entire body, even though they only encircle a small part of the animal.

Collars are a bit old-fashioned though, and today, most people utilize preventative bathing treatments to keep fleas at bay. If you are concerned about applying chemicals directly to your pets coat, there are natural alternatives made with essential oils that will repel fleas. The medicinal treatments are considered safe and they can be purchased from a veterinarian. In most cases, only one bath is needed every six months and fleas that are currently living on your pet are killed.

Another preventative method is to not expose your home and pet to fleas. Keeping other animals out of your house reduces the risk of fleas spreading. If you have a friend or family member who asks to bring their pet to your home, tell them no or ask them about their flea prevention. You may feel awkward bringing it up, but it will save you a lot of money and headaches in the future.You are protecting your pet and if they are a responsible pet owner themselves, they will understand. Finally, remember that fleas can travel on humans too. While this is rare, if someone who has fleas in their home enters your house and leaves a few friends behind, it can create a problem in your house. After you have had house guests, be they human or otherwise, keep an eye on your pet to ensure nothing has changed.

Stewart Wrighter is an expert in the field of exterminating and contributes articles about the benefits of using a Sentricon system or Sentricon for eliminating termites from a structure.

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Understanding The Most Common Cat Health Problems

Cats, like people also suffer various health problems with most common ailments. Likewise, some are easily prevented and cured while a few are hereditary to the feline. One of the most common health issues that a cat can have are hairballs. Since cats groom themselves by licking their bodies, they tend to swallow their fur in the process. And as they continue to do so, they eventually accumulate enough which forms into a ball that builds in their stomachs.

Another common ailment would be parasitic worms. Roundworms, tapeworms and hookworms and even heartworms are but a few that usually infest these felines. Usual symptoms include but are not limited to, loss of weight, overgrown bellies, a degenerated fur appearance and vomiting. These can easily be treated through the use of proper medication, though it has the potential to cause a serious condition in cats if not dealt with immediately. Cats also experience occasional vomiting.

This can be due to an illness or food that is not digested well by the cat. Diarrhea, on the other hand, is not an ailment in itself but a sign that there is something wrong with the cat which could potentially lead to worse kind of health condition. Urinary Tract-Infections are also included in the list. Bladder ailments are always a possibility to both genders though male felines usually incur a higher percentage of having their life endangered due to the condition.

Fleas on the other hand, which may not be a disease in itself is an ailment which all cats suffer. They feed on a cat's blood which causes the poor feline to constantly scratch itself eventually leading to self-mutilation or harm. Fleas also are capable of spreading parasites like tapeworm from one cat to another. Furthermore, this will cause a cat to become anemic and more susceptible to other diseases. Ear mites are also a few pests which can endanger a cat's health since they can irritate a cat enough to have it disfigure its ear due to constant scratching. Older cats on the other hand usually die of kidney diseases. Some studies show that constant feeding of dry meals are potential factors to these poor felines. An increased liquid intake is one of the symptoms.

In addition to the aforementioned cat medical conditions, there is also conjunctivitis which is an inflammation of the eye membranes which tend to hit cats once in a while. Upper respiratory sickness is referred to as cat flue which can be fatal to kittens and immunosuppressed older cats.

FIP or Feline Infectious Peritonities is a kind of corona virus mutation which lies dormant in the intestine of a cat for the whole duration of its lifetime. Cats having this disease usually show symptoms of sneezing, teary eyes, nasal discharge, and occasional diarrhea, loss of weight or malnutrition or even lethargy. Though some recover from its initial infection, a number become carriers.

Based on past studies, this kind of ailment is contracted in environments where there is a huge domestication of cats or an area simply filled with felines. Unusual as it may be, cats also occasionally get a Feline Immunodeficiency Virus or simply Cat AIDS. Like human AIDS, the cat's immune system is gradually weakened by this virus which increases the chances of chronic diseases to afflict the cat. This is usually transmitted through cat saliva such as one gotten through a cat fight or with any other animal infected with a similar virus. Unfortunately, there is no existing remedy for the disease.

But perhaps one of the most dangerous or fatal disease a feline may contract is the Feline Leukemia Virus. Like human leukemia, it is a cancer in white blood cells. The good news is that there is already a vaccine against it and immunization can greatly lessen the chances of a cat incurring such a virus. It is important however to quarantine the cat and keep other cats from interacting with the afflicted cat.

In addition, there is also what is referred to as "abscess". This is caused by bacteria which are pressed deep underneath a cat's thick fur deep into the muscle surfaces through another cat's bite or scratch. Due to the warm and moist environment enclosed within, abscess develops causing the cat extreme pain and may eventually cause a cat to fall ill. Last but not the least would be tooth decay.

Like humans, cats also suffer tooth decay or toothache and symptoms that a cat is suffering from such may include reluctance to feed or the tendency to drop the food once it tries to eat. This is due to the extreme pain that it experience. At the worse, the cat will stop eating and become malnourished and may eventually die.

These are just few common ailments which cats suffer from and having knowledge about them is really helpful especially if you are a cat lover and determined to maintain the wellness of your pet cat.

Learn more about cat health & training and how to give proper cat care by visiting our website today!

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Feline Leukemia: How Does It Affect Cats?

Like humans, cats experience various diseases but perhaps the most dangerous or fatal of them all is what is referred to as Feline Leukemia Virus or FeLV. Though similar to the virus which causes the immunodeficiency virus or what is commonly referred to as FIV and human AIDS, Feline Leukemia cannot be contracted by another animal nor could it be transmitted to a human.

Feline Leukemia is one of the most common reasons for cat's death. In fact, a 21% of these cats bought to health experts of veterinarians report that such cats are afflicted with it while thirty percent have developed malignant tumors already. This is usually contracted by other cats through exchanges of fluids like saliva, urine, feces of afflicted cats and or tears. Heating however neutralizes the virus. It can also be passed through bites, grooming and sharing of foods or liquids between cats with either one having the virus. Fleas and mosquitoes are also carriers of the said ailment since they suck the blood of carriers then transmit it to others cats.

The good news is that seventy percent of these cats having contracted the virus for a long period of time eventually recover. Some even show no signs at all that they had contracted such a disease. However, weaker cats or kittens in particular have difficulty fighting of the ailment. This can be dangerous or fatal when an afflicted cat resides in a cat-filled residence.

Conducting medical tests at kittens is a reliable preventive measure. Cats establishing a resistance or the antibodies against the said virus through vaccines do not get sick though it does not signify that the disease has been totally eradicated. Cats experiencing stress or suffering from lack of immunity due to incorrect medication can fall ill again from FeLV.

Feline Leukemia usually starts with the mough tissues being infected which gradually spreads through the lymph glands. At this point, the cat can still do something about it but if spreads the bone marrow then the cat is doomed for life. It will eventually spread through blood circulation which eventually infects the tear glands, salivary glands and urinary bladder. Because of the widespread, the cat becomes an effective carrier of the virus. Other related conditions can include but not limited to the following; blood in stool, immune system failure, bleeding, increased in fluid intake and urination ulcers and many more.

With all these said, perhaps the best way to prevent the virus from spreading is to quarantine the infected cat. Vaccinations can also be a solution though some disagree in conducting such an approach especially to those already afflicted since it tends to weaken the immune system of the feline, which makes it more susceptible to the disease. And even though the cat is already injected with a vaccine, it is still not recommended to have it mingle with other cats.

It is always advisable to have a cat undergo a ELISA or kit test or IFA, a slide test before it is introduced to a new cat environment or before it is even bred with another. ELISE being conducted in a veterinarian's clinic can potentially detect the initial and secondary stages of the disease after it has reached the bone marrow. The IFA on the other hand can find the virus in its secondary stage.

And even if the results are negative, it does not immediately mean that the cat is free from it since the virus has a long time incubation period. And such cats can still potentially infect other virus-free cats. Blood counting, blood chemistry, x-rays are but a few diagnostic tests which a cat may undergo.

Unfortunately, with all this information, there is still no reliable cure for Feline Leukemia. It can only be controlled. Other than a stream-lined diet and high-doses or vitamin Cs and other standard treatments, a cure is still yet to be discovered. The best approach would probably to prevent any possibility for a cat to contract such a disease through the aforementioned means.

Get the cat supplies you need to treat your cat. Learn about different cat breeds by visiting our website today!

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Three Major Risks With Using Artificial Flea Repellents for Pets

To deal with this flea problem, many people resort to using artificial chemical treatments for their pets so that fleas will go away. However, with the use of these synthetic materials come a few considerable risks.

First, these materials are not only toxic to fleas, but also to pets too. On the cover of every flea repellent box is a clear warning that states the minimum age that a dog (or cat) should have so that using the product will not kill the pet. Usually, a pet should typically be aged one to two months before performing any of these procedures.

This just goes to show that the toxins that will kill fleas hurt not only fleas but also our pets. These chemicals are usually so potent that a full does requires only a single drop for it to work. Now, imagine if you dropped it onto the wrong body part.

Second, since these potent chemicals are heavily concentrated, it takes quite a while for them to spread all over the pet's scalp. This means that a pet needs to be quarantined for extra periods of time to prevent untoward accidents. Sadly, this can prove to be agonizing for pets and can be a big source of frustration for these cute innocent animals.

Lastly, there is always that risk that quarantined pets may get on the loose, roaming around the house with a considerable amount of deadly chemicals lumped onto their napes. Adults in the home will know that it is not wise to cuddle with pets at that particular time. However, the same does not apply for very vulnerable infants and toddlers.

Infants may smell or ingest the chemicals, both of which could result into fatal consequences. These children do not yet have a fully developed immune system, making them very vulnerable to the supposedly harmless effects of the neurotoxins present in flea repellents.

Thus, before using expensive and dangerous synthetic flea repellents, make sure that you have exhausted every other option.

Joseph believes in using organic pest control whenever he can. He gets that and his other gardening supplies from Garden Harvest Supply. They have everything from wall o water plant supports to pepper plants for sale!

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Remove and Control Fleas in the House

Fleas can be irritating pests in your house. They can be hard to eradicate too if you do not take the necessary precautions and considerations of their life cycle. But there are many ways to remove and control fleas in the house.

Fleas are small insects usually dark in color, such as brown to almost black, that have specialized mouth part that can pierce the skin of its host and suck blood. It is from the hosts' blood that they get the nutrients that they need to survive. They also have long hind legs that are ideal for taking ling jumps, making them more difficult to catch and making it easier for them to move about from one area or host to another.

Fleas are usually found in pet dogs and cats but can easily be transferred to humans. They can make their hosts uncomfortable. Some may also be allergic to the fleas' saliva which gets mixed in when they pierce the skin and suck their hosts' blood. The constant itchy feeling and scratching that can lead to breaking the skin and getting wounds and scrapes that may get infected when left untreated.

The most common ways to remove and control fleas in the house are by using foggers and flea bombs that release insecticides that targets these pests. These are generally designed to be placed in the middle of the room for maximum dispersion of the insecticide. Here are a few reminders when using foggers and flea bombs:

1. To remove and control fleas in the house, choose products that have IGR or Insect Growth Regulators. These contain a certain protein that can halt the growth of flea eggs as well as those in the larvae stage. Through this, you are controlling the recurrence of the flea infestation after a few weeks when they would have grown to maturity.

2. Before releasing the insecticide, vacuum inside your house. Fleas love to stay in dark areas so make sure to vacuum the corners of the room and under the furniture and beds. Fleas in the pupae stage will be well protected from insecticides since their cocoon is water tight. That is why vacuuming is an important step to tackle fleas' eggs and pupae.

3. Remove bed or furniture covers and wash them thoroughly in soap and warm water to remove any eggs, larvae or pupae that may be clinging to them. Make sure to dry them under the sun since the light is aversive to fleas.

4. Remove other small pets and even plants that may be inside the room before releasing the insecticide since there may be unpleasant side effects to them. Also, do not allow anyone, especially small children to be exposed to the insecticides.

In order to further remove and control fleas in the house, remove them from the source - your pet dogs and/or cats. Most people would know that flea powders, collars and dips can remove fleas from pets. However, responsible pet owners would know that there are other more effective and safer ways of treating fleas in pets.

Top spots are products that are applied to the skin of the host to address flea issues. There are also chewable tablets for dogs available in the market that presumable assures total flea eradication within 4 hours of ingestion. Natural methods of removing and controlling fleas in your pets are also available. Spray a fine mist of a mixture of lemon and water on your pets' fur and this will act as a natural flea repellent. The same is true if you mix lemongrass or peppermint with water.

Treat your pets and house on the same day. This will relatively assure you that you have control over the resurgence of fleas in your house. Moreover, you can expect that within 2 weeks, fleas may be back in your house. These may come from the eggs that have hatched since the treatment or the maturity of those in the pupae stage. In this case, repeat treatment and keep pets healthy and clean.

Fleas usually only infest pets that are unhealthy and unclean. So keeping pets healthy and clean is an assurance of a fleas-free house.

Please click these links if you want to read about fleas in house or if you need more information about how to control fleas in the house.

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