It’s that time of year again- flea season. If you have pets, one thing to make sure you NEVER do is to put a flea collar on your pets. Flea collars do not prevent fleas, but they can cause illness and harm to your pets. One local animal rescue recently reported an intake of an owner surrendered feline who was wearing a flea collar. The flea collar had burned off all of his fur around his neck- to the point that he was bald and seemed to have an allergic reaction to the collar that had caused red swelling and painful bumps. Upon entering the rescue, the flea collar was immediately removed and now after several weeks, his wounds have healed and his hair should start to grow back soon.
So how do you keep the fleas from biting your pets and entering your home? Products like Frontline, Revolution and Advantix are topical solutions that rid of fleas, ear mites, heartworm, ticks and worms (read labels carefully before applying. Different brands prevent different parasites in addition to fleas. Be sure to follow directions and use with caution). If you prefer not to use chemical products on your pet, try sprinkling Brewer’s Yeast on your pets food. Be sure to speak with your veterinarian before doing so, or before any dietary changes for your pet. Paulie of Montgomery County shared, “I sprinkle Brewer’s Yeast on my pets food and I’ve never had a problem with fleas for my two cats and dog in 10 years. I swear by that stuff.”
Keeping your pets on a healthy diet full of organic, nutritious foods can also help keep fleas and other “bad guys” away from your pets. How do you know if you are feeding our pets properly? Speak with your veterinarian and learn how to read the labels on your pets food- know what ingredients to look for and which ones to stay away from. Consider transitioning your pet to a raw food diet. There are many terrific options that can be found with a bit of research on your favorite search engine and speaking with your trusted veterinarian.
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