Fleas! Fleas! Fleas! Not only are they annoying, causing you and your pet to itch and scratch, they also cause illness that affect you both—and they don’t even have to bite you to cause you harm! These little critters are more than meets the eye…move over cockroaches, fleas may be “dirtier” than you!
Cat scratch disease anyone? How ‘bout anemia, severe rashes, or worms? You can have it all—for free! All you have to do is make sure that your dog or cat is NOT on a flea preventive. Pretty soon your household will be infested and you too can experience these things first-hand! Or maybe you would rather not…
It is wise to be informed of those diseases that you can prevent almost 100% of the time—all you have to do is keep your dog and cat on a flea preventive year-round. The following is a list of the most common diseases transmitted by the flea.

Bartonellosis
Also known as “cat scratch disease,” this illness is acquired most commonly through cat scratches. Feces (“poop”) from fleas accumulate in the nail of a cat and end up in your bloodstream. If the feces are from a flea that is carrying the bacteria Bartonella henselae, you can end up in the hospital with a high fever, nausea, swollen glands and respiratory illness. If left untreated, death can occur.

Tapeworms
The immature stages of these worms are carried by the flea. When a carrier flea is ingested by an animal, these worms develop into the adult forms. Typically, a cat or dog infected with this parasite may not have a clinical signs, but because the worm, which lives in the gastrointestinal tract, competes with the host for food and nutrients, the infected animal may start to lose weight and begin to appear unhealthy. Tapeworm segments, which look like small grains of rice or sesame seeds, may be seen near the animal’s anus or found on the bedding of the pet. If you unknowingly ingest one of these infected fleas, you may just have an unwelcome guest in your belly too!

Flea Allergic Dermatitis
It only takes one flea bite to cause a severe itchy reaction and a rash to appear on your pet if he or she is allergic to flea saliva. Lesions are usually apparent on the back near the tail on dogs and around the neck and head on cats, but can be located anywhere on the body. Sometimes lesions are not apparent and fleas are not visible. You may only notice that your pet is severely itchy. Even if your pet is a “couch potato,” and doesn’t frequent the outdoors, he or she is still susceptible if not protected. In fact, fleas can hitch a ride on you as you come in from the outdoors. And don’t be fooled in the cold weather, fleas can survive through the winter, all it takes is a warm body to help perpetuate the cycle.

Anemia
Fleas are also carriers of certain blood parasites that can cause severe anemia and even death in cats. These parasites are sometimes hard to find with laboratory testing, and most of the time the cat can be infected for a while before clinical signs become apparent. The parasites cause the red blood cells in the cat to burst, and jaundice (yellow discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes) usually occurs as the by-products red blood destruction accumulate in the bloodstream and tissues of the body. Liver disease can also occur as it tries to rid the body of the by-products.

From monthly topicals to oral medications to collars, there are many options for the prevention and treatment of flea infestations. So how do you decide what’s best? At Rocky Shores Veterinary Hospital, we recommend using a monthly topical such as K9 Advantix (for dogs only), FrontlinePlus, Advantage, or Revolution (for cats).

Although considered an insecticide, when used accordingly these topicals are relatively safe to use on normal, healthy animals, and most of these are not absorbed systemically. The substance, once applied, is stored under the first layer of the skin over the entire body, so no residue is present if applied correctly (a small amount may leave a residue on the surrounding fur at the site of application but can be washed off). About 48 hours after the application, the protection lasts from between 3 to 4 weeks, and the pet can be bathed or be exposed to water without a loss of protection.

Flea collars are the least effective as a means for protecting against fleas; in fact we have seen fleas living under the actual collar! Other family members are also constantly exposed to the chemicals in the flea collar, with residues often present on the entire pet and on the pet’s bedding.

Oral flea medications are available, but they do not stop the flea from biting and living on your pet. Some only render the flea unable to reproduce thereby acting as a population control, not as a protection against the biting flea. Although not effective as a means of protection, these products may be an option for those pets who are sensitive and/or allergic to the monthly topicals.

Before deciding what product is suitable for your pet, talk to the vets at Rocky Shores Veterinary Hospital for more information. Remember, we are your partners in helping you keep your pet as healthy and happy as can be…and flea-free!