Summer season is a preferred season for picnics in the park, delighting in the seashore, and dining al fresco– however with warm summertime temperature levels likewise come the fleas! Fleas can wreak havoc on cats triggering discomfort, severe skin problem, allergic reactions, parasites (tape worms), anemia and even death in the worst cases, if left without treatment. So it is necessary to protect your cat from fleas, however it’s likewise essential to know the threats of some flea control products on the market today. In this short article Flerm will explain about the different flea treatment choices, some of the health repercussions associated with them, and you’ll find out ways to offer your feline with the safest possible flea treatments and safety measures offered. Here’s the great, the bad and the ugly on preventing and dealing with fleas in cats.
Does Your Feline Have Fleas?
To examine whether your feline has fleas, you can run a flea comb through your cat’s fur pressing along the skin to look for adult fleas or flea feces and eggs. These will appear like little specks of salt and pepper or small black and white grains in the fur. The white grains are flea eggs, and the black grains are flea feces. If you have discovered and gotten rid of some grains on your flea comb, rub the grains onto a piece of white paper and if the grains turn a reddish-brown color, you know you have a flea issue.
Flea Treatment Options– Chemical vs. Non-Chemical Treatments
Flea treatments come in many forms– including chemical alternatives like “area on” topicals, sprays, flea collars, and powders that can be harmful and have understood health consequences– and non-chemical, natural alternatives like using diatomaceous earth (DE) on carpets, carpets, feline beds and cat trees. The most safe approach for preventing fleas is to utilize a combination of keeping your house environment actually tidy by vacuuming rugs, carpets and upholstery often; laundering cat beds, covers and cat trees frequently; feeding your feline a very high quality, premium feline food to keep them healthy and their body immune system strong; utilizing a flea comb weekly; adding omega-3 supplements to your feline’s food, and adding a food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) on carpets, carpets and feline trees. Doing these you will possibly prevent requiring to provide your feline a chemical flea treatment, and will not expose them to the potential health threats as a result.
Illness Triggered By Fleas
If you are dealing with a flea invasion or have a serious flea issue then it’s essential to deal with the fleas before major health repercussions take place. Health problems caused by fleas can consist of dermatitis (skin inflammation), flea allergies (extreme irritation and red rash), secondary bacterial infections, open and infected sores, and an inflammatory disease called eosinophilic granuloma complex.
2 years earlier, I saved a deserted adult feline with a horrible flea problem that almost killed her. She had actually been living outside, was malnourished and starving, and had ended up being badly anemic. Fortunately, I found her just in time and she didn’t need a blood transfusion, which is often what is required with severe cases of anemia. As quickly as I brought her inside, I bathed her with a safe non-toxic shampoo, combed all the visible fleas off her, totally dried her– then treated her with Advantage, a chemical flea treatment, to end up exterminating any existing fleas, flea eggs and larvae. The next day I took her to my veterinarian, and we put a treatment plan together to build her health and body immune system, treat her anemia and infections, and hydrate her for two weeks with sub-Q fluids.
Chemical Flea Treatments– Exercise Caution!
Beware of using any over-the-counter chemical flea treatment sold through a drug store, family pet store or online, as many chemical flea treatments produced today including spot-on, powder, sprays, flea collars, and now ingestible chews (the newest addition for canines), can be incredibly harmful and poisonous to your cat’s health. They are essentially pesticides or insecticides that you are using straight onto your cat’s skin and gradually can negatively affect your cat’s important organs and cause neurotoxicity and organ damage. The chemicals in these flea control items can trigger extreme and persistent health problems, some permanent and deadly. Research has revealed that direct exposure to these chemicals and insecticides over time can cause cancer. The Epa (EPA) has gotten tens of thousands of grievances about the adverse responses in felines and canines upon instant application consisting of vomiting, shivering, sustaining breathing issues, having seizures and dying. If you see any of these check in your cat after application, take your cat to your vet or emergency situation hospital immediately.
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has researched and evaluated over 100 flea and tick items on the market, and discovered that numerous consist of specific hazardous chemicals that can poison felines and pets and harm people, even when following the guidelines correctly. The NRDC list recognizes the product, supplies the health danger level, and recognizes the toxic substance and the health issues associated with that particular contaminant.
There is another chemical flea treatment that works a little bit various, in that it’s an insect development regulator (IGR), not an insecticide– called Program (Lufenuron). Offered orally once a month with food, it works by interrupting the life process of the flea by preventing eggs and larvae from turning into grownups. But this too has actually been known to cause adverse side results and health issues, especially when offered long term.
For severe flea problems that require chemical intervention, search for lower danger products such as those utilizing Pyriproxyfen, Nitenpyram, Spinosad, S-Methoprene, or Lufenuron as the “active” active ingredient. Be sure to inspect the active ingredient label. If you can’t do this or can’t find these products and need to treat a problem immediately– there are three chemical flea treatments that are typically sold in veterinary health centers and centers, and also in bigger family pet stores (under lock and secret), called Advantage and Frontline and Revolution. Of all the spot-on topical chemical flea treatments, these 3 seem to be the 2 most recommended by veterinarians– and if used, must be used precisely per the instructions and your cat’s weight. Be really cautious with Benefit– just purchase Benefit for Cats, do not buy Advantix, which is to be used on pets just and can be exceptionally harmful to cats. It includes Permethrins, which can trigger central anxious system toxicity in felines (tremors, fever, and in many cases, seizure or organ damage). Constantly examine the box and check out the label, and make certain the item is for cats only. Another chemical treatment that my vet has actually recommended and works effectively, is Transformation. Transformation is another topical medication provided month-to-month utilized to protect your pet from heartworms, fleas, and ear mites, and may also work to secure your cat from roundworms and hookworms. For finest effectiveness, and to deal with any existing flea or mite problem, use Frontline, Benefit or Revolution 3 months in a row to eliminate the fleas and the eggs/larvae, then figure out with your vet the very best procedure to follow moving forward.
Today, in some regions, fleas have actually established a resistance to these drugs. Personally, I do prefer Transformation and will use Advantage but just 2-3 (for 2-3 months in a row) times a year for my cats (considering that we have cat kennels outside). I work to keep my house super tidy year-round, vacuum consistently, regularly wash all bedding, feed them superior quality wet and dry food, and utilize a flea comb regularly. Far, this has worked for years– and no fleas. I am personally extremely concerned and cautious about using Advantage or Frontline or any chemical flea treatment, as they are insecticides that use harmful chemicals, so I use them only minimally, knowing the serious and major health dangers related to their long-term use.
Do not rely on the producer’s label to alert you either, they do not– and will not. As with many manufactured food and drug items in the U.S. today, there is very little government policy for these flea products and the associated health effects to pets– so it depends on you, your animal’s guardian, to exercise care when buying and utilizing these items.