It's the middle of the summer, which means Columbia's flea season is in full effect. Keeping your pets and your environment flea free is a constant battle, but we are here to help you sort things out! First, we recommend that all households maintain a consistent flea control program in both the external and internal environments as well as on the pet year round. Our local climate doesn't offer much of a reduction in the flea population during the cooler months.
In the external environment there are several options available. If you have the time and inclination, local external environmental control can be accomplished through the use of a product such as Bayer Advanced Lawn and Garden care (active ingredient cyfluthrin). Older products such as Diazinon and Sevin are not as effective as they once were. Initial application with the liquid formulation will result in a quick knockdown of adult fleas, but this does not provide much long term control. This is why subsequent follow up applications of the granular product should be applied every 2 weeks for 3 applications, and then repeated monthly thereafter. Within the home itself, it is recommended that you consult a professional pest control company. The bombs and foggers that are available over the counter are minimally effective.
Primary flea control, of course, hinges upon control on the pet itself. The advent of topical, spot-on formulations of flea control (such as Frontline and Advantage) revolutionized flea control, but our practice noted a distinct decline in their efficacy and have since changed our recommendations for flea control. For owners wishing to provide for both flea and tick control, we carry an excellent topical product, Vectra 3 D, which is applied monthly. For clients that only have to focus on flea control, we carry an oral flea pill, Comfortis, which once again is administered monthly. The newest product available (and the one many of our clients are transitioning to) is Trifexis, provides complete heartworm, hookworm, roundworm, and whipworm protection combined with the adulticide flea activity of Comfortis in a single monthly pill. Dogs must have a current negative heartworm test prior to starting Trifexis. For our cat population we carry two excellent topical formulations. Vectra for cats is strictly for flea control, and is applied once monthly. For clients looking for a more inclusive product, we carry Revolution, which provides protection against heartworms, hookworms, roundworms, fleas, and ear mites. It is applied monthly.
We strongly recommend our clients purchase clinically proven flea control products through our veterinary facility as they have a proven record of safety and efficacy.
No comments:
Post a Comment