Choosing the Best Flea & Tick Control
Jul 29 '04 (Updated Jul 31 '04)
The Bottom Line There are many different products available. Sometimes treating your pet is enough, but sometimes your home may also need treated. If in doubt, check with your vet.
Fleas are not only annoying to you, but also to your pet. They can make him miserable because of the itching caused by the flea. Pets will often scratch and bite at the flea causing sores and sometimes infections. Fleas can also carry diseases that can be transmitted to your pets.
Many years ago, my family moved into a home that had previously been occupied by a family with several indoor pets. Until we began the process of actually moving our belongings into the home, we had no idea that they had a flea infestation problem.
Though the house appeared to have been thoroughly cleaned, there were fleas living there that had not been eliminated. Before we could continue with our move, we first needed to eliminate the pests.
Since the problem was the home, and no pets were present at the time, we first chose to use a fogger, and a flea powder. After a couple of days, we returned to the house and cleaned it again before continuing with our move. Our pets were not brought to their new home until we were certain that the infestation was eliminated.
The reason we chose to use a fogger was because the infestation was so extreme. We wanted to be certain to get into all areas where fleas could possibly be hiding. A fogger works really well for this purpose. One thing you should take into consideration when using a fogger though is whether or not animals or people will be present right away. A fogger works best if the area is unoccupied long enough to effectively do its job.
One thing you should be careful about is the residue left by some foggers, powders and sprays. Whenever using any of these methods, be certain to thoroughly clean carpets afterwards to avoid the possibility of accidental ingestion by your pets.
Of course, anyone with a flea problem knows that pets are usually involved in the problem. The trick is to eliminate the fleas safely, conveniently and efficiently. There are many different types of products available for this purpose.
The most important consideration in flea removal is safety. Powders, shampoos, sprays and dips are usually your best options. Oral and topical medications also work quite well. Flea collars can be effective, but some pets are allergic to them. I have had this problem with 2 of our pets. Whichever types you decide on, always read and follow directions and use properly.
When treating our pets, we have had the best luck with dips and shampoos. As I mentioned, I have had allergy problems with the collars so I had to seek alternate methods. I have tried an oral and a topical product with only moderate success. They both lessened the problem, but neither eliminated the fleas completely. The shampoos and dips I have tried did a far better job.
It isn't always enough to simply treat your pet though. In addition to a thorough cleaning, your home may need to be treated as well. There are various sprays and foggers available for this purpose. Some sprays and foggers may also be used for outdoor areas where your pets may have contact with fleas. This could prevent re-infestation. Keep in mind that some products can be dangerous when used in combination with others. If in doubt, check with your vet.
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