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Fleas and Typhus Outbreak |
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CONTACT
Ark Veterinary Hospital
512 Lois St.
Kerrville, Tx 78028
Phone & fax:
830-257-6949
Send Us
E-mail
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| Fleas and Typhus Outbreak |
Every year, it's like a broken record. Fleas bite, and the scratching and chewing starts again. Adult fleas jump on your cat or dog. They bite them to feed on the blood. Then the fleas produce eggs. Eggs drop from your pet to the ground or carpet. The eggs develop over time into adult fleas. And the cycle starts all over again!
Adult fleas on your pet can actually cause serious medical problems -- like flea allergy dermatitis or tapeworms, and in some extreme cases, anemia. Flea-related diseases account for more than 50 percent of dermatologic cases presented to veterinarians and more then 35 percent of the total small animal veterinary effort.
In June of 2006, a murine typhus outbreak occurred near Junction, Texas. Three human cases have been reported and more are expected. Cats and dogs can both carry the infected fleas and cause this disease to their owners, but cats can harbor the disease for possibly years and infect next years fleas. Infected fleas do pass this to all of their eggs and offspring, thus spreading the disease in that area. Opossums are also known to harbor the disease and infect fleas in a given area. To prevent the chance of this disease, keep your dogs and cats flea free by using a good flea prevention.
Flea control should begin as flea prevention. Depending on which part of the country you live in, your flea season can last for four months or can be a year-long problem. Your veterinarian is a flea expert and can advise you on the latest new products that kill adult fleas, eggs, and larvae, and that take care of fleas in your environment. They will base their recommendation on your regional weather conditions (high humidity and heat means more fleas on the way), your pet's health and level of flea infestation.
Advantage
- Advantage is good for dogs or cats that have dry skin. It lasts for 1 month at killing fleas when applied to the back of the neck or shoulders.
Frontline
- Frontline is used for dogs or cats that have either adult fleas or ticks and can last 2 to 3 months on dogs with normal skin oils. It lasts 4-6 weeks on cats.
Program
- Program kills fleas 100% of flea eggs on your pets. This will effectively eradicate your entire flea population and keep any new population from ever starting. Dogs receive an oral monthly pill and cats receive a single injection that lasts an entire 6 months.
Revolution
- Revolution is on of the newest for heartworm prevention and kills fleas and ticks on cats and dogs.
Capstar
- This is a great pill that immediately kills fleas within 2 hours and only lasts 24 hours. Safe enough for a 4 week old kitten!
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