The Family Pet Clinic

5151 Turney Road

Garfield Heights, OH 44125

(216) 662-1770

FLEA CONTROL

Understanding the flea’s life cycle is vital to understanding how to control them. The flea has four life stages: adult, egg, larvae, and pupae (or cocoons). Adult fleas account for a very small percentage of the flea population; the majority is eggs and larval stages. The adult flea lives its entire life on the pet; eggs fall off the pet and land in the environment. Within weeks, the eggs become larvae. Flea larvae like dark, moist places, such as deep in carpet fibers, and can crawl up to three feet before making their cocoons. Cocoons can remain in the environment for up to a year, waiting until conditions are perfect to emerge into new adult fleas.

We have chosen the most effective and safest flea products to recommend. Prevention and control are the ultimate goals. No two flea situations are the same, so it is necessary to be able to customize flea control products to your pet’s individual needs.

Frontline Plus is the gold standard for flea and tick prevention and treatment. Frontline Plus kills adult fleas and their eggs. It is formulated as drops to put on the skin on the back of your pet’s neck, and it works by spreading through the oils on your pet’s coat. Frontline Plus is also labeled for treatment of Flea Allergy Dermatitis, killing fleas within 18 hours, when used monthly. Frontline Plus can be used on puppies and kittens as young as 8 weeks of age.

Comfortis is available as a monthly chewable tablet for dogs. It leaves no residue on the coat, and it starts to kill fleas within 30 minutes, before they lay eggs. Comfortis is perfect for prevention of a flea infestation in your home. It also works great for Flea Allergy Dermatitis, since it kills fleas so quickly and so efficiently. Comfortis may be used for puppies as young as 14 weeks of age.

Revolution is topical drops, used also monthly on the skin of the back of the neck, but it soaks in systemically. Revolution also prevents Heartworm Disease, kills ticks, ear mites, mange in dogs, and intestinal worms in cats. We recommend that dogs over six months of age be tested for heartworms before starting preventative. Revolution can be used on pups as young as 6 weeks and kittens as young as 8 weeks.

A flea eradication and prevention plan is not complete without environmental control, including springtime (May or June) pretreatment of your home and frequent vacuuming. The house spray we recommend, Mycodex Environmental Control, remains active for seven months to continuously kill eggs and larvae in the environment, breaking the flea’s life cycle and controlling reinfestation. It is important to vacuum and spray all areas of the home where your pet goes, concentrating on pet bedding and dark, moist areas, such as under furniture and in closets.

The war against fleas can be won. We are happy to help you customize a program that best fits your individual flea situation.