FLEAS

WHY IS IT SO HARD TO GET RID OF FLEAS? For every flea on your pet, there are likely to be THOUSANDS of fleas in the form of flea eggs and larvae in the areas that your pet lives (in the carpet, bedding, yard, beneath the house etc etc). This is why flea collars, washes, rinses, powders and many sprays do not control fleas very well. All of these products kill fleas, but they do so only when you first put them on. This means that fleas from the environment can jump straight on to your pet after application of the product, feed and produce more eggs in between each treatment.

Unfortunately there is NO product that totally prevents fleas from jumping on toyour pet. The only way to stop fleas is to either treat the environment so that every egg, larva and pupa is killed (very difficult to achieve), or, make sure that every flea that jumps on to your pet dies, stopping a "next generation" of fleas being produced.

This is why we recommend products such as Advantage, Advocate, Advantix, Frontline Plus, Revolution, Comfortis and Sentinel - all of these products have a constant effect to not only get rid of fleas on your pet, but also to stop the environment from being repopulated - breaking the flea life cycle.

Therefore, our aims of treatment are twofold - to make sure that your pet is covered all over and at all times with a product that kills fleas, or with one that stops them from reproducing.

MANY EFFECTIVE PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE: -

Advantage - a once monthly spot-on that kills adult fleas and flea larvae in the pet's surroundings. Fleas are not required to bite your pet to receive a lethal dose. It is also very safe, and extremely easy to apply. It is safe for use on pregnant and lactating animals, treatment of the mother of unweaned puppies and kittens protects their litter while they are in contact with her. It does not kill ticks or mites. Safe for use on Rabbits and Ferrets.

Advocate - a once monthly spot-on that kills and prevents fleas, prevents heartworm and treats some mites (sarcoptic and demodectic mange mites as well as ear mites), lice and, in cats, most intestinal worms (hookworm, roundworms and whipworm). Available for dogs and cats. Can be used from 7weeks of age.

Advantix - a once monthly spot-on FOR DOGS ONLY that kills fleas and ticks (2week protection against paralysis ticks). Advantix is also useful for repelling and killing mosquitoes and biting flies. Can be used from 7 weeks of age. TOXIC TO CATS.

Frontline Plus - a once monthly spot-on that kills fleas all day everyday, including all flea stages in the pet's surroundings. It is very safe for you and your pet and extremely easy to apply. It controls paralysis ticks for up to 2 weeks. Safe for use in puppies and kittens from 8 weeks of age. Also available as a pump spray which can be used on multiple animals and from 2 days of age. TOXIC TO RABBITS

Revolution - a very pet safe once monthly spot-on product that kills adult fleas, flea eggs and larvae in the pet's environment. It also prevents heartworm, treats and controls ear mites, and some intestinal worms (hookworm and roundworm). It does not kill ticks. Can be used from 6 weeks of age.

Sentinel Spectrum - Sentinel is a combined flea and heartworm/intestinal worm (roundworm, whipworm, hookworm and tapeworm) product given as a flavoured tablet once a month. Sentinel works as a flea control by stopping the fleas that bite your dog from reproducing. It works well as a long term solution for fleas but not as a short term one, and is best used either early in a problem, or in combination with one of the above products. It is very safe for your dog.

Comfortis - Comfortis is a flavoured monthly tablet that rapidly kills adult fleas on dogs over 14 weeks of age.

Capstar - Capstar is a short acting tablet that kills any adult fleas on your pet at the time it is given. It can be repeated on any subsequent day when fleas are evident but has no persistent effect. Safe for use from 4 weeks of age.

It will often take 1-3 months before flea eggs/larvae/pupae that are present in the environment all hatch, develop to fleas, and then die. Therefore it takes this length of time to eliminate fleas altogether. It is important to note that this will only occur if all animals on the property are treated - otherwise the untreated animal acts as a source of food allowing fleas to breed again and restart the cycle.

To help choose which product is right for you, click HERE, alternatively, give us a call on 4721 5494 and we can advise you on which product would be most appropriate for your situation.

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