Fleas are a risk that any pet owner runs. These tiny insects attack any warm-blooded creature and can quickly overwhelm a household. Although there are many choices for treating fleas on pets, flea medication is one of the most successful and popular.
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Fleas
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Fleas are tiny, biting insects that infest dogs and cats to suck their blood and lay eggs. Fleas can also live in furniture, grass, dirt and carpet, and reproduce quickly through a gestation period that lasts only day. They are generally treatable only with pesticide.
Flea Medicine
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Flea medicine is a gentle liquid treatment that kills fleas and their eggs on contact. It is sold in pet stores in prearranged dosages based on a dog or cat's weight and age. Flea medication is safe for puppies and kittens aged three months and up.
Appliation and Reapplication
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Apply flea medicine by opening the tube, placing the tip against the dog or cat's skin between its shoulder blades, and squeezing the tube to empty it. Although many pet owners choose to distribute the flea medication along a dog or cat's spine, it's not necessary. The flea medicine self-distributes around the animal's body. You must reapply flea medicine once a month or any time it's washed off.
Considerations
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Flea medicine is a pesticide, albeit a gentle one, and is therefore highly toxic if consumed. The liquid should never come into contact with food or water for the pet or any people. Wash your hands with soap after applying flea medicine. People with very young children, who might come into close contact with the medicine, are advised to use an alternate form of flea control.
Alternatives
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Alternatives are available for those who don't want to use flea medicine. Flea shampoos poison fleas during a bath, while flea powder sprinkled onto pets, carpet and furniture will kill fleas on contact. Flea collars also provide long-term flea control on pets.
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