There are some topics with regards to pets and their health that pet owners never seem to get enough of. External pet parasites such as fleas and ticks happen to be one of those topics of concern. One reason for the constant need to discuss fleas and ticks is the simple fact that these pesky little creatures continue to thrive despite wonderful advances in medical technology.
Basically, our present technology allows us to send men into space, land on the moon, and live for months in a space station, but we can’t eradicate fleas and ticks from our planet. However, I have personally seen miraculous advances in technology specifically pertaining to treating our pets for fleas and ticks.
Every year, a new product becomes available to veterinarians to help us combat the most common problem seen in dogs and cats. Fleas and ticks continue to cause more skin health issues for pets than any other skin problem.
It was not that long ago when there were hardly any real effective means of flea and tick control for our pets. The flea and tick dip required pet owners to soak their pet, for several minutes, in a powerful chemically-rank pesticide. The putrid pesticide was very effective in its immediate kill of fleas and ticks, but it left our pets smelling horrible and it had very little residual effect. That means just as soon as our pets were exposed to more fleas and ticks, the pesticide dips did not prevent them from jumping right back on.
The uncontrollable changes of weather patterns have a lot to do with the increase of pets’ exposure to insects such as mosquitoes, fleas and ticks. Just like last winter, the extremely mild weather this past winter has set the stage for a miserable summer filled with an extraordinary number of insects including those pesky little critters that get on our pets.
However, just a few years ago, the biggest breakthrough in pet parasite medical research was uncovered. The parasite control research brought about a flea and tick medication that was easy to apply, nearly odorless, very effective and only needed to be used once a month. The new product would kill fleas and ticks as they contracted them. This was absolutely the most amazing product in veterinarian medicine since the development of antibiotics, in my opinion.
Then, even more advanced research brought about technologically advanced flea and tick products that combined flea control with other external and internal parasites. Products arose that could combine flea control with heartworm prevention. In addition, there were already products available that combined heartworm prevention with treatment of intestinal parasites such as round worms, hook worms and whip worms.
We have multiple products that are effective treating external and internal parasites. Many of these products treat several different types of parasites with one monthly dose.
But, none of the products treat all of the types of parasites that pets are exposed to. Therefore, it often depends on your particular pet’s surroundings and activities as to which combination best suits your pet. It is extremely important to discuss your pet’s needs with regards to parasite exposure with your veterinarian.
Researchers have actually improved the products that already seemed amazing compared to just a few short years ago. Until only recently, the once a month topical flea and tick medications would not prevent fleas and ticks from getting on your dog or cat. As a matter of fact, it took a couple of hours for the medicine to kill fleas and it allowed ticks to bite and attach for several hours before killing them.
Fortunately, now we have products that not only kills fleas, flea larva and ticks if they get on your pet, but they also repel them. Additionally, these products repel mosquitoes which are responsible for carrying heart worms.
The newest products help control several parasitic conditions and several diseases that are carried by fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. Fleas can cause anemia, or low blood count. They can cause your pet to contract tapeworms, cause flea allergy dermatitis and severe skin infections.
Ticks are notorious for transmitting diseases. They can transmit Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, ehrilichiosis, babesiosis, tick paralysis, and hepatozoonosis. It’s pretty easy to see how important it is to prevent your pet from contracting ticks. As scientific research continues to produce better and better parasite control medicines for pets, pet owners are faced with the decision of which product best suits their pets. With so many products available, it can certainly be very confusing as to which product treats which parasites.
Additionally, the safety of such products is even more important than how well they work. It doesn’t matter if a product works great if it also causes your pet to become sick. I can certainly say, without question, that I often see pets that have become ill, even have seizures, from many products sold over the counter at local stores. Flea and tick products sold exclusively by veterinarians are much safer products.
Therefore, with flea and tick season right around the corner, see your veterinarian for advice about parasite control so that your pet lives a long, healthy and happy life.
Basically, our present technology allows us to send men into space, land on the moon, and live for months in a space station, but we can’t eradicate fleas and ticks from our planet. However, I have personally seen miraculous advances in technology specifically pertaining to treating our pets for fleas and ticks.
Every year, a new product becomes available to veterinarians to help us combat the most common problem seen in dogs and cats. Fleas and ticks continue to cause more skin health issues for pets than any other skin problem.
It was not that long ago when there were hardly any real effective means of flea and tick control for our pets. The flea and tick dip required pet owners to soak their pet, for several minutes, in a powerful chemically-rank pesticide. The putrid pesticide was very effective in its immediate kill of fleas and ticks, but it left our pets smelling horrible and it had very little residual effect. That means just as soon as our pets were exposed to more fleas and ticks, the pesticide dips did not prevent them from jumping right back on.
The uncontrollable changes of weather patterns have a lot to do with the increase of pets’ exposure to insects such as mosquitoes, fleas and ticks. Just like last winter, the extremely mild weather this past winter has set the stage for a miserable summer filled with an extraordinary number of insects including those pesky little critters that get on our pets.
However, just a few years ago, the biggest breakthrough in pet parasite medical research was uncovered. The parasite control research brought about a flea and tick medication that was easy to apply, nearly odorless, very effective and only needed to be used once a month. The new product would kill fleas and ticks as they contracted them. This was absolutely the most amazing product in veterinarian medicine since the development of antibiotics, in my opinion.
Then, even more advanced research brought about technologically advanced flea and tick products that combined flea control with other external and internal parasites. Products arose that could combine flea control with heartworm prevention. In addition, there were already products available that combined heartworm prevention with treatment of intestinal parasites such as round worms, hook worms and whip worms.
We have multiple products that are effective treating external and internal parasites. Many of these products treat several different types of parasites with one monthly dose.
But, none of the products treat all of the types of parasites that pets are exposed to. Therefore, it often depends on your particular pet’s surroundings and activities as to which combination best suits your pet. It is extremely important to discuss your pet’s needs with regards to parasite exposure with your veterinarian.
Researchers have actually improved the products that already seemed amazing compared to just a few short years ago. Until only recently, the once a month topical flea and tick medications would not prevent fleas and ticks from getting on your dog or cat. As a matter of fact, it took a couple of hours for the medicine to kill fleas and it allowed ticks to bite and attach for several hours before killing them.
Fortunately, now we have products that not only kills fleas, flea larva and ticks if they get on your pet, but they also repel them. Additionally, these products repel mosquitoes which are responsible for carrying heart worms.
The newest products help control several parasitic conditions and several diseases that are carried by fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. Fleas can cause anemia, or low blood count. They can cause your pet to contract tapeworms, cause flea allergy dermatitis and severe skin infections.
Ticks are notorious for transmitting diseases. They can transmit Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, ehrilichiosis, babesiosis, tick paralysis, and hepatozoonosis. It’s pretty easy to see how important it is to prevent your pet from contracting ticks. As scientific research continues to produce better and better parasite control medicines for pets, pet owners are faced with the decision of which product best suits their pets. With so many products available, it can certainly be very confusing as to which product treats which parasites.
Additionally, the safety of such products is even more important than how well they work. It doesn’t matter if a product works great if it also causes your pet to become sick. I can certainly say, without question, that I often see pets that have become ill, even have seizures, from many products sold over the counter at local stores. Flea and tick products sold exclusively by veterinarians are much safer products.
Therefore, with flea and tick season right around the corner, see your veterinarian for advice about parasite control so that your pet lives a long, healthy and happy life.
