The flea has long been the bane of animals and animal owners alike, and it can indeed prove to be a formidable and challenging foe. With their almost freakish jumping abilities, determination to procreate, acuity for camouflage and tortuously itchy bites, keeping fleas at bay may seem challenging or even overwhelming. You can, however, employ a variety of different treatment methods to relieve your pets of these menacing parasites and prevent future flea assaults.
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Prescriptions
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One of the most common approaches to treating fleas on animals is simply to ask your veterinarian to prescribe or recommend a treatment product for your pet. These types of products aim to kill any fleas still living on the animal, prevent subsequent bites and oftentimes --- when used as indicated --- prevent fleas from returning. Furthermore, many flea-control brands also offer additional protection from other nasty critters such as ticks, ear mites and heartworms. Depending on the animal's needs, your vet may recommend a topical treatment regimen, such as "Frontline," "Advantage," "Revolution" or the obviously dog-focused "K9 Advantix." On the other hand, she may opt for an oral treatment, such as "Program," "Sentinel" or the fast-acting "Capstar." The dosage frequency will vary among products and species needs.
Some animal owners strongly oppose the use of these chemical-based treatments, including everything from flea collars to creams; instead, they focus largely on keeping animals healthy via nutrition, vaccinations and exercise. They favor natural, preventive alternatives that help to maintain a clean living environment that discourages visits from fleas.
Combing
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A good flea comb can be extremely helpful in ridding your pet of any remaining fleas or any tiny pupae that may hatch before a treatment starts working, or it can be used in lieu of prescription or over-the-counter treatments. This admittedly labor-intensive method requires daily thorough combing of the entire animal (it may take as many as three to four weeks to completely vanquish these parasites), although it is very effective --- particularly if combing becomes a daily habit. The technique is fairly easy: as you comb your animal, keep a glass of water with simple hand soap nearby. When the comb collects fleas or their larvae, just dip the comb into the glass for a few moments to drown any offenders, shake the remnants free and resume combing your pet.
Bathing
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Fleas are easily drowned, so if you're desperate, head for the tub with any shampoo at hand (although the milder the better) and lather your pet up. Keep the suds on for five minutes, and the chemicals in the shampoo will have killed any living fleas. Be sure to follow up with a good rinse. Some experts even advise adding a few drops of essential oils, such as lavender or eucalyptus, to the mix to discourage fleas from returning in the short term. Naturally, this is not an appealing treatment for cats (who have an innate aversion to water), and furthermore, as cats tend to cleanse themselves regularly, any essential oils you may have added to their bath can sicken them. Remember that this treatment should not be used frequently, as too much bathing can strip your animal's fur of its natural, protective oils that prevent dry and irritated skin.
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