Summer is in full swing, and if there’s one thing more common than bathing suits on the beach, it’s those pesky, itchy, parasites on our furry friends: fleas. Fleas are one of the most common external parasites for domestic pets and probably cause 90% of itchy skin disease. Ctenocephalides canis and Ctenocephalides felis are the scientific names for these parasites and they are found throughout the Southeast. They seem to enjoy our area here in coastal Georgia as much as we do but they are much less welcome. Fleas cause a myriad of problems and not just to our pets. They not only bite and cause itchy skin disease in both pets and people, but can also transmit intestinal parasites known as tapeworms to our household pets and, in some cases to their owners. In fact, it was the lowly flea that aided in transmission of one of the greatest disease plagues in history: the Bubonic plague. Although that particular disease was associated with rodents and fleas, minimizing exposure to fleas in general is the best method for preventing any of the diseases associated with flea bites.
Many pet owners are surprised to learn that their pet has fleas and wonder where the fleas originate. They often ask, “My dog (or cat) lives inside only, how could he have fleas?” The answer to that question is that fleas are “hitchhikers” and are often brought in on the legs of our pants. Fleas are generally not “caught” from other animals, rather they are picked up from sites of infestation such as the home, yard or dog park. Many pet owners think that fleas jump from one pet to another, but that is not the case. Once these pesky critters jump on a dog or cat, they live the majority of their life on the one pet. The flea, after it has fed, will jump off to lay eggs and then die. The source, quite often, for environmental infestations is most often neighborhood pets, wildlife and even our own precious pets.
Pet owners who have dealt with a flea infestation before are more than familiar with effects of these parasites. Severe itching, constant scratching, and even secondary skin infections, are some of the more common symptoms associated with flea related dermatitis. Some cases are so severe that treatment with powerful antibiotics and steroids are needed to bring relief. With symptoms like those you might think it would be easy to know if your pet has fleas, but in reality it is often quite difficult to determine from casual observation. Fleas are small and quick and unless you’re lucky or looking really hard they can be missed. One of the best ways to check for fleas is to look for “flea dirt.” This is actually flea feces and looks like plain old black dirt. However, if you place some of the “flea dirt” on a paper towel and wet it, it will turn a reddish brown color that identifies the material as “flea dirt,” and not just dirt from the yard. And, if your pet has flea dirt, your pet has fleas. A flea comb is another useful tool to look for fleas. These fine-toothed combs easily catch fleas as you run the comb through your pet’s fur. They’re readily available at most pet retail outlets and often at your veterinarian’s office.
So the next obvious question is, “How can I keep fleas off my pet and out of my home?” The answer is that it requires a multi-pronged approach. We must treat the pet, the pet’s environment (home and yard) and treat for all life stages of the flea. Treating the pet should be simple. There are a multitude of flea treatment and control products available that are safe and effective for treatment of fleas. Some of my favorites are Nexgard, Comfortis, Frontline Plus, Revolution and Advantage. We have these available for dispensing through our in-house and online pharmacies. You should consult with your pet’s veterinarian to determine which product is the best fit for your pet. None of these products, however, will be a cure all for a pet’s flea problem, and treatment of the home and yard will be required, especially in cases where the infestation is severe. Treatment of the yard and home environments requires product(s) that address both adult and juvenile stages of fleas. Based on the flea life cycle treatment may be required for 4-8 weeks before resolution of the problem is seen. If you chose to treat the environment yourself, be sure to read all labels and follow all instructions so that your treatment is both safe and effective. In many cases a pest control company can be helpful with the treatment of the environment for fleas. I have found their expertise in the areas of safety and efficacy very helpful.
Fleas are common summer parasites for our pets that can cause some serious skin problem. But the battle against these pests can often be won with the help of your veterinarian and a multi-pronged approach to management.
Jamey Hornbuckle has been practicing veterinary medicine for 19 years. He graduated Cum Laude from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 1996 and practiced small animal medicine in Charlotte N.C. for 3 years before moving to St. Simons Island in 1999 where he became the owner of Golden Isles Animal Hospital (formerly known as Disque Animal Clinic). He and his wife, Ashley, have two children, Jude and Merritt, and an Australian Labradoodle named Peanut. Dr. Hornbuckle enjoys Companion animal dermatology, internal medicine and general surgery, but his medical hobbies are Companion Animal dentistry and Diagnostic Ultrasound. Dr. Hornbuckle is currently in practice with Dr. Sarah Taylor, a lifelong resident of the Golden Isles who also graduated from the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Taylor enjoys practicing Companion Animal Behavior and will be starting puppy training classes later this year. Dr. Hornbuckle and Dr. Taylor are available to serve your pet care needs at Golden Isles Animal Hospital’s office at 9 Glynn Ave. in Brunswick from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and from 9:00 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Please call 912.267.6002 to schedule appointments.
