Fleas are back, so it’s best that we all get prepared!
At Brook Farm Veterinary Center we know how difficult it can be for pet parents to deal with fleas. Fear not though, because our team has the experience and the expertise to help you along the way.
It’s likely that a pet who is experiencing itchiness, redness, and hair loss in the lower back region is likely experiencing a flea infestation or a form of flea allergy dermatitis. The thing with flea infestations is that typically the pet parent doesn’t know it, but their home might also be infested with fleas now too.
Understandably, some pet parents may feel insulted when asked if they have a flea issue in their home, yard, or neighborhood, but it’s an important fact that we need to address and bring to your attention. At Brook Farm Veterinary Center we make sure to discuss with our clients that flea cases are not an issue relating to cleanliness at all, but rather prevention and we can certainly help with that.
Fleas tend to spread rapidly during the summer months as they reproduce in warm and humid climates. Veterinarians see more cases of fleas in states such as Florida, South Carolina, Oregon, Louisiana, Georgia and Texas to name a few because of their naturally warmer climates. However, with that being said, as a pet parent in general it’s important to educate yourself on proper forms of prevention to avoid these types of situations from arising entirely.
Without a double, fleas are very annoying for both you and your furry friends but did you realize they can become a health hazard too? For example, pets can get tapeworms from having fleas. Fleas can carry the tapeworm larvae and if ingested can grow into a tapeworm in your pets intestine. If a lot of fleas were consuming your pets blood, there is a cause for concern regarding an iron deficiency, and should be discussed with your veterinarian.
Adult dogs are usually not affected by tapeworms. Occasionally dogs will drag their bottoms on the ground, a habit known as scooting, in order to calm any irritation associated with having tapeworms. It’s important to note that scooting can also occur for other reasons such as impacted anal glands. It is important to have your dog examined by your veterinarian if scooting is noted.
Heavy tapeworm infestation in puppies can be more serious and may cause a lack of growth, potential anemia, and intestinal blockages. In humans, we should be concerned with flea infestation because we can become infected with a bacteria known as Bartonella henselae.
With the summer months approaching and the weather getting warmer, it’s important for both you and your pet’s health that you’re both protected against fleas.
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