An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to fighting disease in both people and pets. Fleas and ticks are known to cause various diseases in humans, cats and dogs. In recent years, an all-new line of preventive medicines has been created to keep everyone in the family healthy and bug-free. Popular products include, Frontline, Advantage and PetArmor. But how do they actually work?
The Lifecycle of Fleas and Ticks
Fleas and ticks each have a lifecycle with them starting out as eggs and ending up as germ carrying infants and adults. In the flea, the cycle goes from egg, to larva, to pupa, to adult.
In the case of fleas, the eggs are laid on pets like cats and dogs. The eggs get scattered around the house and hatch out, causing an infestation that can be hard to get rid of.
In the case of ticks, the eggs are laid in densely wooded areas, hatch into larvae and then become what are termed nymphs. These ‘teenaged’ ticks need to feed on blood in order to mature into adults. Most cases of Lyme disease are linked to the nymphs. They are ravenously hungry and hard to spot because they are so small, about the size of a sesame seed.
Two Main Prevention Methods
There are two main actions of the flea and tick protection agents. One form is what is termed a neurotoxic insecticide. It affects the nervous system of the adult fleas, ticks, and other insects, resulting in paralysis and death of the insect. Your dog or cat being a mammal, they remain unharmed by the insecticide.
A second type of prevention interferes with the reproductive and maturation cycle of the insects. These are termed insect growth regulators (IGRs). The eggs may be laid, but the fleas will not mature. Flea and tick eggs do no respond to neurotoxic insecticides, so IGRs are the best way to avoid infestation.
Choosing the Right Product for Your Pet
You should choose the product based on your pet’s lifestyle. If your cat spends its time indoors, for example, and is not exposed to any animals that go outside, such as a dog, chances are you don’t need to give them flea and tick protection.
If they spend time outside, such as being walked, then they need flea and tick protection.
If you live in an area where Lyme is endemic, such as the Northeastern part of the United States, systemic flea preventive, topical preventive such as a collar, and/or insect repellent can all help them stay safe.
A collar is not a good idea for a cat who wanders, because it can get snagged on something and trapped. Systemic protection and insect repellent can both help.
Using the Product
In the case of Frontline and similar products, they are usually applied directly on the animal. The two suggested areas are between the shoulder blades, and sometimes also at the base of the tale, especially if the dog is a large one. These would also be the best areas to apply an essential oils such as lavender, citronella or lemon grass that you might be using as a natural insect repellent.
Part the fur and apply directly to the skin. Try not to wash your pet 3 days before or 3 days after the treatment in order to ensure the right level of protection.
Be sure to use the right product for the right pet. Cats can be very sensitive to certain insecticides. Also pay attention to body weight, such as under 25 pounds, because you don’t want to give a dose for a 100 pound dog and overdose your pet.
Some products come in pill form, but if you have trouble getting your pet to take tablets, stick to Frontline and other topical treatments to keep your pet safe.
