No Fleas, Please
We’ve been itching to take on this topic for some time—okay, we’re sorry. But, summer or winter, rain or shine, it’s always flea time in Southern California, and we wanted to exterminate some of the myths about them as well as put a bug in your ear about some of the products available. This may be an extensive article, even for us, but we wanted to do more than just scratch the surface of this important topic.
Feeling up to scratch?
Know first that there’s no “flea season” here. Back east, we both used to get the powders and potions out as soon as hot weather came upon us, and some of the pet owners and product manufacturers we spoke to said that they put repellent on their dogs and cats during “flea-heavy” months and don’t treat indoor-only animals at all. But the veterinarians we spoke to said that fleas are year-round residents of California—they like the weather, too—and that there’s a good chance that your pet has them even if you can’t see them. The little buggers travel on your clothes or shoes or hop in uninvited, looking for a warm place with lots of nice, fresh blood. Even if you named your dog Bella Swan, it’s still parasite hell for both of you; fleas not only cause itchy welts but also transmit disease. According to Dr. Catherine Anne Outerbridge, DVM. MVSc, assistant professor of clinical dermatology at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, fatal anemia from blood loss can occur in both cats and dogs if the infestation is severe enough. If you don’t see any fleas on your pet, run a comb through his or her fur. You’ll see more small black dots that don’t move. That’s because what you’ve combed out are flea feces, and they’re all over your precious baby.
Scabs, scratching, skin infections, bald patches and “hot spots,” can signal a problem called flea-allergy dermatitis, the most common allergic skin disease in dogs and cats. It’s caused by sensitivity to substances in the flea’s saliva.
“I’m not sure which cat flea product I was using, but my Jan would jump like he was on fire, and then he had scabs,” said Merrilee Adler of San Pedro. “I thought it was from fighting, but when I started taking him to the vet to get the injectable flea product, his condition cleared up.”
Adler now uses topical, or “spot-on,” products now and says that Jan hasn’t had any more scabbing, but that the cat runs when he smells the stuff.
Fleas furthermore are prolific, laying eggs all over the animal’s body, from where they fall off and are distributed in areas where the pet spends the most time. This can result in infestation and a miserable struggle with welts and sores and misery.
“For one adult flea found on your pet, there are at least one hundred immature fleas in the animal’s environment,” Dr. Outerbridge said. “It may seem confusing to you to be told that your dog or cat has flea allergy dermatitis if you never see fleas. This is mainly due to the fact that your pet has a remarkable capacity to chase and subsequently eat the fleas.” Yum.
So, fleas are nasty parasitical grungy disease-bearing pests that multiply faster than Albert Einstein and are considerably more annoying. Now, we’ll tell you how to get rid of them. There are a number of products on the market that have varying degrees of effectiveness and risk. Some involve chemicals, others are composed of sweet-scented herbs and flowers, and some combine both. None of them, not even the most delicate floweret, should be administered without the advice of a vet or doing considerable research. And if your pet is ill, call your vet before giving him or her any flea treatment.
“There is no universal flea control product!” Dr. Outerbridge said. “Flea control programs need to be custom-tailored to each patient.”
Whatever you use, give your home and your pet’s bedding (especially if it’s also your bedding) a good cleaning before and after the flea treatment. Vacuum the carpets and toss the bag, and apply a vet-approved pet-safe insecticide indoor and outdoors. Follow your vet’s instructions for application, and keep your pet away while using the insecticide. As long as all the animals in the household are kept on a continuous, effective flea program, the pets will no longer be reproducing and you’ll see an immediate improvement.
Spot-on
Topical insecticides have seen an increase in popularity since the development of such products as Frontline, K9Advantix and Advantage. Advantage is the trade name for Bayer’s insecticide Imidacloprid and is classified as a neonicotinoid, a class of neuroactive insecticides modeled after nicotine that work by paralyzing the insect’s nervous system, which is different from that of mammals. The biggest side effect may be running into the cat in a cigar lounge after repeated use of the product; however, all the vets we spoke to assured us that the products will not harm animals if used correctly.
“My friend Madeline, who tends multiple stray cats as well as her personal—now elderly—cat, lives in Brooklyn, and her neighborhood is afflicted with fleas,” Ellen Cannel said. “She and her tenant use Frontline on all of them. Madeline’s daughter, who lives in southern Florida, has used Advantage on her cats and big dog—no side effects from anyone.” Cannel said that the preferences of the two spot-ons vary because the Brooklyn resident said that Frontline also takes care of ticks, and the woman who lives in Florida feels that the beneficial effects of Advantage seem to last longer than those of Frontline.
Advantix has repellant properties as well as insecticides and is safe, although unnecessary, to use weekly, but it should be used only on dogs. None of the products mentioned have been tested safe for use on rabbits; if you own rabbits, consult with your vet before doing anything. And, despite the safety of the new products, Dr. Outerbridge says that because cats are much more sensitive to the chemicals in flea preparations, many insecticides cannot be used on them. For felines, she recommends Revolution, Frontline Plus, and Advantage. Capstar, an oral product, may be administered as a “quick kill” in the event that fleas are seen on the cat.
“Always remember to read the label—if it says dog on it, do not put it on your cats,” said Dr. John Kuttel of Huntington Harbour Veterinary Clinic [disclosure: Dr. Kuttel tends to Kate’s cats]. “I have people coming in saying, I bought this at Wal-Mart and it worked on the dog so I put a couple of drops on the cat.”
Flea market
Knowing what’s in any flea product and how it will affect your pet is extremely important, which is why we repeat that a veterinarian should always be consulted before using any product. Former Long Beach resident Kevin Downey began using Advantage on his dog, Pogo, with no ill effects after a bad experience with a store-bought product.
“Some of the inexpensive store brands are extremely harsh,” Downey said. “We put a tube on Pogo a year or so ago, and it was a nightmare. It was so strong. We couldn’t breathe well—Pogo was being tortured, and I’m not exaggerating. He was salivating; he couldn’t sleep. It was as if he and we were being poisoned. We couldn’t wash that stuff off him fast enough. It was a horror story. Back to vet-issued brands!”
In most of the big-box pet stores, you’ll find all the artillery: herbal sprays, carpet cleaner for your vacuum, bedding spray, carpet spray (with and without poison warning), foggers. A vast array of “natural” products flanks the old-school Hartz label that’s been around since the 1930; there’s green tea, lime, citronella, clove, peppermint, cinnamon, cedar, lauryl sulfate (which is actually a foaming chemical), parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. The buzzword green is omnipresent whether the product consists only of herbs or has a listing of unpronounceable chemicals at the end of the ingredients label. There are a few flea collars, which we don’t recommend because children may chew or suck on them and because they pretty much don’t work—we once knew a cat that had several little buggers nestled under the collar when it was removed. Pet owner Carol Cornwall further noted that she cannot keep a collar on her dog because his head’s smaller than his neck.
“Some OTC [over-the-counter] products do not kill fleas, some do, and some are toxic if applied to the wrong species or wrong aged animal,” Dr. Outerbridge said. “This latter statement is also true of some of the veterinary prescription products as well. Flea control is an important part of preventative veterinary health, and owners should discuss it with their veterinarian to be sure that what they are using is both safe and effective for their particular pet.”
Nettle fleas, and they’ll rue the day
Indeed, reports about the safety of chemical solutions can seem to be at odds with the label warnings. This brings us to the category of naturopathic remedies. A good number of pet owners will not put anything chemical on their pets. The fumes are noisome, and statements such as “not for use on…” and caveats from veterinarians will understandably put some people off.
“Since Sebastian is indoor only, he’s had fleas once, when I brought them in from outside on my shoes or socks,” said cat owner Gaye Funk. “I got rid of them the old-fashioned way—with a pair of tweezers and my fingernails. I wouldn’t think of using a product like those poisons you put between their shoulder blades.”
Dog owner Stacie Cardena also does not want to put any chemicals on her pets. She bathes her boys weekly, lets them dry, and sprays on Neem “Protect” Spray from Ark Naturals http://www.arknaturals.com natural products for pets, available at Mothers Market. Neem is a tree native to Southeast Asia, India and Africa that has many medicinal uses, much like the tea tree, except that every part of the neem is used to cure something—the Ark Naturals folks use it in all their flea products. According to Ark Naturals founder and owner Susan Weiss, the leaves of the neem are not palatable to biting insects and have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Cardena highly recommends neem products for pet parents who also want to avoid chemical flea treatments, saying that her two canines have not been bothered with fleas since using it. She also concocts a lovely sounding, heavenly smelling mixture of apple cider vinegar, essential oils of lavender, peppermint and oregano, utilizing pure oils from Mountain Rose Herbs http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/animal/animal.html, generally insect-repelling citronella, lemongrass and rosemary. As always, if you decide to put together any herbal concoction, do your research first and then test a small area of your pet for reaction.
“Using organic herbs to help heal and nourish animals and keep pests away is wonderfully empowering for pet owners and beneficial to our critters,” said Erin McIntosh, communications manager for the aforementioned Mountain Rose Herbs. “If it’s possible to treat common health problems with organic herbs and oils, then it is definitely my preferred method over toxic commercial products that are hard for our pets’ bodies to process and [that] have a negative impact on the earth.”
But even proponents of naturopathic remedies admit that there are times that stronger methods may be called for in extreme cases.
“Sometimes, heroic pharmaceutical medicines are necessary, but often we can strengthen our own natural defenses and encourage health with the medicinal plants that grow around us,” McIntosh said. She recommends echinacea as an example.
As a caveat, brewer’s yeast and garlic are often used in flea preparations, but the vets we spoke to said that laboratory tests on brewer’s yeast show no flea-toxic or-repellent properties that garlic may cause blood problems in pets.
A question of balance
Dr. Michelle Baccaro, DVM, practices holistic veterinary medicine at Long Beach Animal Hospital. Her practice comprises Eastern and Western medicine, which includes a form of chiropractic, and sees flea treatment as balancing peace of mind and comfort with effective treatment.
“I try to decide for myself what can do no harm,” Dr. Baccaro said. “And I don’t tell people ‘Don’t.’” She said that if people want to start with natural, that’s fine, but she has seen no problem with any of the topical products.
“The Western products we sell are fine,” Dr. Baccaro said. “Advantage works on fatty layer and doesn’t internalize into the bloodstream. Things [you read] on the Internet are opinions, not facts.”
Dr. Baccaro directed anyone wanting to check out natural flea remedies and information to visit the Earth Animal Web site. Besides the topical products, she recommends Sentinel as an effective oral product, and warns against using any product on rabbits, guinea pigs and other small animals without consulting a veterinarian. For treating the environment, she prefers Fleabuster powder, which is also available at the vet, and as for flea collars—again, forget it.
Final flea lines
Naturally, none of the medicines should be ingested; they need to be applied to areas of the animals that are impossible for them to lick, i.e., the back of the neck. If you have multiple pets, separate them for a few hours after applying spot-on remedies. As with any flea treatment, check with your vet before using it and be sure to test it on a small section of your pet’s fur as well as any bedding or material you wish to treat. If you do your own research on herbs and have questions about whether they will harm your animal companion, visit the plants section of the ASPCA’s poison control page. And, of course, if your pet has an adverse reaction to any remedy, stop using it and contact your vet immediately.
As for us, Kate has used Advantage on her cats for years, with no ill effects, and Judy uses only natural products and will not use chemicals. We should probably close with some expected saw about fleas being part of the eternal Circle of Life and without them we’d have no birdies or flowers and so on. Saved and printed—but no fleas on our pets—or us—please.
-German proverb
Pet Projects
Pet Responsibility Act Short of Votes
According to the latest news blast regarding SB 250 for 2010 from Social Compassion In Legislation (SCIL), the bill received 34 yes votes from the Assembly floor—not enough to move it to the next committee and then to the governor’s desk for his signature. Mancuso stated in the blast, “With a limited amount of time to reeducate the lawmakers on the newly amended version of the bill in August, the opposition succeeded in delivering misinformation and alarming legislators into believing that SB 250 was a mandatory sterilization bill for all pet owners.” In the text of the bill, SB 250 would only apply to pets that are not properly licensed and not in compliance with existing laws.
Mancuso in her closing statement promised to keep everyone updated on SCIL’s legislative goals for 2011. And we know she will!
$6 Rabies Shots at MLK Jr. Park
It just got a lot easier to vaccinate and license Long Beach cats and dogs. This month, Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) is providing a low-cost vaccination and licensing clinic to residents and pets at the Martin Luther King Jr. Park Community Center, 1950 Lemon Ave. (562) 570-7387. No reservation is necessary, but only cash is accepted for vaccinations!
A State Licensed Veterinarian from the Southern California Veterinary Vaccine Clinic (SCVVC) will be onsite to provide the shots, and residents can process their license renewals onsite. Click here for a full listing of prices. Services available include:
- Dog Rabies: $6
- Cat Rabies: $6 (or if preferred, “Purevax” Rabies @ $20)
- DHPP (DA2PP): $15 (dogs)
- Bordetella: $12 (dogs)
- Lyme: $22 (dogs)
- FVRCP: $15 (cats)
- FELV: $17 (cats)
- AVID Microchips: $28 (cats and dogs)
- Altered Dog License: $20 (half-price for seniors)
- Unaltered Dog License: $90
- Altered Cat License: Free
Low-cost pet clinics are scheduled for the 2nd Saturday and 3rd Wednesday of every month in Long Beach to provide residents with a one-stop shop for vaccination, microchipping and licensing services. Click here for more information about upcoming pet clinics online.
SBACC Wag ’n’ Walk, Sept. 25
Walk with the Seal Beach Animal Care Center (SBACC) and Grand Marshalls Justin Rudd and his dog Riley as they take to the Seal Beach Pier to help raise funds for and awareness of homeless animals! Enjoy a bake sale, a barbecue sponsored by the Lions Club, a silent auction and opportunity drawings and, of course, the Walk! Enter your pet (and yourself!) in lookalike, best-dressed-dog, and best-trick contests. Seal Beach Pier, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Click here for information.
Interfaith Blessing of the Animals, Oct. 3
Whether you believe that pets need blessing or that they’re already blessed, the sense of fellowship, peaceful coexistence among species and love for animals is wonderfully shared at Haute Dogs’s Interfaith Blessing of the Animals. Bring your beloved companion (or, if your animal prefers to worship at home, a photo of him or her) to the north side of Marine Stadium, 5225 E. Paoli St. at E. Eliot Street at noon. Join presenters Justin Rudd and Gary DeLong along with members of the faith community and more than 300 animals for this spiritually bonding event. A moment of blessing, silence and vigil at the beginning of the service will be observed for pets who are unfortunately involved with sport dog fighting and other inhumane, unethical treatment. Click here for information.
FOLBA Walk & Run for the Animals, Oct. 10
Friends of Long Beach Animals presents the 10-10-2010 WALK & RUN for the Animals from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Marina Green, off Shoreline Drive and Linden in Long Beach. A 2K/5K walk and a 5K/10K run support animal welfare and the theme of Life Safety for Pets and People. Enjoy pet demonstrations, multicultural entertainment, PETCO booth with featured dog adoption, vendor samples, dog yoga specialist, raffles, prizes, costume contest, and more. All proceeds fund low-cost spay/neutering, humane education and medical bills for shelter animals. Take advantage of free downtown transportation and limited $1 event parking at Marina Green. Registration begins at 7 a.m. and includes a T-shirt and doggie bag while supplies last. Register, volunteer, and donate at this site. Volunteers are needed now–we could use a helping paw! For more information, call (562) 988-7647. Visit us on Facebook!