Pet Fleas

Every cat or dog will be visited by fleas during their lifetime. They jump onto a host to feed on their blood and will mate here with the eggs dropping off into the environment. Eggs hatch after 2 to 14 days producing larvae which will feed on skin debris, flea droppings and other organic matter. They will pupate after approximately 1 week and remain in this state for approximately 10 days although this can vary depending on environmental conditions. The flea will then wait for a sign that a host is nearby before emerging to feed. Only 5% of the flea lifecycle is represented by adults the remaining 95% is made up of larvae and pupae living in the environment

There are many different types of flea with the most common being the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis. This does not just feed from cats as its name suggests but will parasitize dogs as well. It is not uncommon for people to be bitten by fleas and some experience a reaction to flea bites in the form of an itchy red spot often on the legs or ankles. Some pets develop flea allergy dermatitis where a single flea bite can set off an allergic reaction in the skin causing the animal to become intensely itchy and develop small lesions over their body. It is therefore very important in these individuals to keep up to date with an effective method of flea control.

Fleas don’t just cause irritation they can carry and transmit diseases harmful to humans such as Bartonella henselae a bacteria which causes mild flu like symptom and Rickettsia species which are bacteria that can cause a fever and skin rash. Fleas can also be responsible for the transmission of a particular species of tapeworm so it is advisable to treat for worms if evidence of fleas is found on your pet.

Finding evidence of fleas Just because an adult flea has not been seen does not mean your pet does not have fleas. It is more common to see the evidence left behind than the adult flea itself. You are looking for small black specks in the coat which turn red brown colour when placed on white paper and dampened with water. The red brown colour suggests the presence of digested blood which is the main component of flea droppings. If the black speck turns grey then this is probably dirt picked up in the garden. The presence of flea dirt in the coat indicates a need to treat for fleas before the population in the environment increases to large numbers.

Treating for fleas There are a large number of products available which either kill fleas or prevent them breeding.

Shampoos Generally only effective whilst on the animal. Tend not to offer sufficient lasting protection and will not kill the life stages in the environment.

Sprays Effectiveness is determined by what they contain. The person applying the treatment is often at risk from inhaling the spray and so safety precautions should be taken. These can often be difficult to apply if the pet is uncooperative. They are not effective against life stages in the environment.

Spot on Treatments A large range is available and their effectiveness is determined by what the treatment is made up of. Prescription treatments available from veterinary surgeons can be effective against the life stages in the environment and should always be used in cases of heavy flea infestations or animals with allergies.

Collars Often rely on the flea coming into close proximity to the collar to get a dose. Does not kill life stages in the environment.

Tablets Are often effective for as long as the components of the tablet are in the body. After 24 hours the liver and kidneys may have broken down and excreted the active ingredients of some preparations so protection can be short lived. Has no effect on the life stages in the environment and pets can be easily reinfested. Can be useful when moving a pet into a new environment where no fleas are present to prevent the pet bringing fleas with them.

Cat Health Advice – A Simple Yet Effective Three Step Plan For Your Cat’s Health and Longevity

Are you looking for some good, reliable cat health advice? Are you interested in knowing the secrets of keeping a pet cat healthy and happy? Do you want to know how you can improve your cat’s health significantly by making small changes in its lifestyle? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, make sure you read this article fully. In the next few minutes, you will learn about a simple yet effective three-step plan for cat health and longevity. Now that you are ready, let us get started with the article.

Food

The importance of a well balanced diet for cats simply cannot be stressed enough. A lot of cat owners, feed a home made or raw diet and find that their cat develops a number of issues. The reasons is not that these types of diets are bad, its just that veterinary medicine has identified 40 nutritional components that are essential.

Commercial foods or cat raw food diets, when formulated to balance these 40 nutrients, are very helpful to maintain feline health. Either one is fine as long as the following criteria are met:

- If purchasing a raw diet, make sure the label reads “this food has been proven to be nutritionally complete or adequate for all life stages.” If it doesn’t specifically say this, it is not a complete diet and should be avoided or only used as a dietary supplement. If you want to make a diet at home, work with a veterinary nutritionist, since in almost all cases, supplements are needed to provide nutritional components not available in most food ingredients.

- If you prefer a commercial diet, make sure that the diet is AAFCO certified, canned, and specifically states that it was “tested and found to be adequate.” Preferably the pet food should contain human grade ingredients. If you can’t find one, then purchase a veterinary grade cat food such as Science Diet or a premium cat food found in any pet or grocery store. If you are living on a tight budget, buying a cat food in a discount store is fine, as long as it meets the AAFCO certification mentioned.

Water

Cats are reluctant water drinkers. They prefer to get their moisture through food, which is why canned food is preferred to dry. To encourage drinking, use a high quality water source (tap is fine if high quality). Many owners use filtered water. Give your cat what you give to yourself.

Providing an extra water dish in an area of the house your cat likes to rest will also encourage drinking.

Water encourages urination, which is natures way of keeping the urinary tract clean.

Health supplements

Have you ever wondered how animals in the wild stay so healthy? The secret is that they eat certain medicinal herbs to eliminate the toxins and cleanse their system periodically. It recharges their system, improves their metabolism, boosts their immune system, and makes them healthier. What is interesting is that your cat would do the exact same thing if allowed to roam free in the wild. Unfortunately, it does not have access to these herbs. It leads to a toxin buildup in its body, which affects its health adversely.

To avoid this problem, consider giving your cat a regular dose of these medicinal herbs in the form of an herbal supplement. You can choose a high quality herbal supplement that contains powerful herbs like mistletoe, milk thistle, huang qi, cat’s claw, and ashwagandha and make it a part of your cat’s diet. It is the most effective way to improve your cat’s health naturally.