Tag Archives: dogs

A Look at Fleas

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Suddenly your dog is itching and your cat is scratching.  Your home is infested with fleas.  What exactly are fleas?  What is their life span?  How can we prevent them?  Read on for an up-close and personal look at fleas.

What are fleas?

Fleas are small, brown or black wingless insects with flattened bodies that are often seen scurrying or jumping abruptly on the hair or skin of a host animal (your pet).  Their bodies are compressed laterally and are covered with posteriorly-directed bristles which aid in their mobility.  Despite the belief that fleas fly, they, in fact, move from site to site by jumping.  Using highly developed hind legs, they have been observed to jump from eighteen to thirty-six inches.

The Cycle of Fleas

Fleas feed by siphoning blood through piercing mouth parts which contain salivary and mouth tubes.  A blood meal is needed for egg production.  Once they have fed, fleas generally drop off the host animal and lay their eggs.  The bedding or area around a favorite resting place of a cat or dog is frequently littered with eggs, as are cracks, crevices, and carpeting.  A single breeding pair of fleas may produce 20,000 fleas in 3 months.  Eggs hatch after 2-12 days into larvae that feed in the environment.  After a week or more in the pupal stage in the cocoon, adults emerge to begin another generation of bloodsucking parasites. The life cycle is usually completed in 30 days.

Flea Producing Diseases

The most common effect of fleas is flea allergy dermatitis.  This is a disease caused by an allergy to flea bites.  The offending substance is carried by the flea’s saliva and causes redness, swelling, and itchiness.  An effected animal scratches, licks, and bites its skin, especially around the rump, lower back, and tail where fleas most commonly live and breed.  The pet may also scratch around the neck and ears.  Flea bites appear as tiny red bumps; hair loss, crusts, and inflamed broken skin may result from extended scratching, although sometimes no fleas or evidence of flea bites are found.  To define the problem as fleas, look for tiny, black granules that resemble black pepper.  This material is flea “dirt” or feces and consists of digested blood.

The other major flea-related disease is tapeworms.  This is an intestinal parasite transmitted solely by an ingested flea.  Tapeworms usually produce few symptoms byt large numbers may cause digestive upsets, variation in appetite, poor haircoat and skin, weight loss, and vague symptoms or abdominal distress.  Diagnosis of tapeworm is made by finding the segments in your pet’s feces or clinging to the hair around the anal area.  Segments will be white, and 1\4-inch long, and may expand and contract.  Dry segments will resemble cucumber seeds or rice grains.

Flea Prevention

The best cure for fleas is to prevent your dog or cat from being infested in the first place.  There are several different products available, but Animal General only recommends two: Revolution® and Frontline®.  Revolution is the first-ever FDA-approved topically-applied medication for cats and dogs that kills adult fleas and prevents flea eggs from hatching.  Revolution enters the bloodstream through the skin.  Revolution selectively redistributes from the blood to the skin and other tissues, where it provides protection against fleas, flea eggs, and ear mites.  Frontline is an EPA-approved topical parasiticide that kills adult fleas and kills flea larvae and eggs.  Frontline works by its active ingredient, fipronil. Fipronil is absorbed through your pet’s skin and into its oil glands. This allows Frontline to be released to your pet’s hair follicles and skin every time the oil glands are activated.  Both of these products are applied topically, monthly, year-round, lifelong.  Your veterinarian will make the best recommendation based on your pet’s lifestyle.

 

Choosing a New Pet

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So you’re thinking about a new addition to the family?  It’s an exciting decision, and sometimes it’s hard not to act on impulse.  Before you do, however, here’s the who, what, where, when, and why of choosing a new family member.

WHO and WHAT

A Great Dane in a small New York studio probably wouldn’t be a great idea; nor would a ten-week old kitten if you’re working full-time.  A Jack Russell terrier wouldn’t be appropriate if you don’t like to exercise regularly.  The bottom line?  Breed, size, and age are all essential considerations.  Find out if the pet you have your heart set on is right for you; make a list of your lifestyle habits, and compare it with the needs and habits of the new pet.

Another important factor is the outward appearance of the animal.  You don’t have to be a veterinarian to be able to tell pretty quickly if the pet you’re choosing is healthy.  The eyes should be clear and free of any discharge, and the ears should be clean and odor-free.  The mouth and gums ought to be pink, and the hair coat should be glossy with no evidence of baldness, dry skin, or external parasites.  Moreover, the pet should be active, bright, and responsive.  Puppies and kittens love to play, so beware of animals that hide or appear to be sleeping too much.

WHERE

Perhaps one of the most important considerations is where to get your new pet.  Pet stores, for instance, are not the best bet, even though the puppies and kittens staring at your through the glass are often hard to resist.  The dogs and cats from these stores are usually imported from “puppy mills”.  These mills are usually overcrowded – and overcrowded quarters are a breeding ground for disease.  Parents are also over-bred, which means any genetic disorder is passed on from one generation to the next.

Other, safer options are reputable breeders for pure bred animals, breed rescue groups, and shelters like the ASPCA, Humane Society, and Bide-A-Wee.  Animal General also always has cats and adoption and sometimes dogs.  Check out our adoption page and read about our adoption process.  We always have wonderful kitties available either at the practice or in foster homes.  Stop by to meet the crew!

WHEN

When you should get a new pet is actually two-fold.  First, you should be ready for the responsibility.  Even the infamously aloof adult cat requires attention and care.  Dogs need to  be walked several times daily, and many breeds need at least one good run a day to be healthy and happy.  Don’t forget about training classes for new puppies, too.

Pets can also be financially draining.  Vaccinations must be given every three to four weeks for the first four months, and no later than 6 months the pet ought to be spayed or neutered.   Puppies and kittens can also have an array of other minor problems, such as intestinal parasites, and as dogs and cats age, geriatric problems can crop up, such as thyroid disease and diabetes.  Everything adds up.  To see lifelong healthcare recommendations for a pet, read our Pet Owner’s Manual.

Secondly, the pet should be the appropriate age.  The kitten or puppy should be with mom until at least 8 weeks of age.  Any animal that is younger is susceptible to health problems and may not develop as well.

WHY

Why do we get a new pet?  Well, this is the hopefully the easiest question to answer, since anyone who’s ever had a pet understands the love, joy, and companionship they bring to our lives.  But don’t forget, it’s a big responsibility to bring a new animal into your home.  And be ready for the responsibility to span the approximate 15 years of the life of the pet.  Remember the who, what, where, and when before you go out and get this new friend.  When you find the right animal for you, you’ll know why day after day.